About the RSE

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland’s National Academy. For over 240 years, we have advanced learning and knowledge for the benefit of society. Through our Fellowship, research awards, public engagement programmes, enterprise activity, and international collaborations, we bring people together to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.

As we enter an exciting new chapter - developing an ambitious fundraising strategy and launching a major multi-year campaign - the RSE is investing in its fundraising function. This role offers a rare opportunity to join at the beginning of this journey and play a key part in shaping the future of philanthropy at the RSE.

About the role

We are seeking a proactive and highly organised Development Officer (Research, Events & Operations) to join our growing Development team. This is a new role that will support the implementation of the RSE’s emerging fundraising programme by providing essential research, operational, and event management expertise.

Working closely with the Director of Development, you will play a central role in strengthening the organisation's fundraising infrastructure. This includes developing high-quality prospect research, supporting donor stewardship activity, coordinating events that deepen supporter engagement, and ensuring our systems and processes reflect best practice in data governance and fundraising compliance.

This role would suit someone with strong analytical and organisational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. You will have an opportunity to shape how operational excellence underpins a transformational fundraising campaign for Scotland’s National Academy.

About you

You will bring:

· Excellent organisational and project management skills

· Experience of prospect research

· A strong understanding of fundraising CRM systems

· Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach

· A commitment to high standards of accuracy, integrity and professionalism

Experience in a fundraising or events environment would be beneficial, though not essential. Above all, we are looking for someone curious, motivated, and eager to grow with the team.

We’re on a journey to create fairer communities by facilitating 10 million social entrepreneurs globally by 2030. Do you want to help make this a reality?

We are looking for a new team member with customer facing experience along with excellent administrator skills.

In this role you would join a team of Programme Coordinators who are highly organised and customer-focused individuals with a strong commitment to social enterprise. As part of the team, you would support effective delivery and maximise the impact of the Academy’s adult learning programmes by providing proactive, flexible administrative, coordination and customer service support. Critically you would play a central role in the learner experience, acting as the primary point of contact for the Academy and delivering consistently high standards of customer care throughout the learner journey.

We’d love to talk to you if you have experience in a customer-facing or coordination role, have strong organisational, administrative and communication skills and are confident working with multiple stakeholders and teams. If you also speak Gaelic that would be amazing, but it’s not an essential requirement.

Having the right mindset, attitude and approach is as important for us as having the right experience and skills. We appreciate that the best person might not have all the listed criteria yet so if you think your experience, skills and attitude will help you to make a great contribution in this role and you have the right mindset, we would welcome an application from you.

For a full set of criteria and information on how to apply please download the recruitment pack from our website.

Organisation profile:

At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.

We strengthen their role in local communities through transformational learning programmes that will increase their community impact.

Our programmes are accredited, responsive to learner needs, and are delivered by experienced Facilitators who are social change leaders themselves.

Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.

Post 1: Project Officer, Literacy Champions – North East Scotland

You will need to live in or around Aberdeenshire, and have an excellent understanding of the communities and families in the area

Post 2: Project Officer, Literacy Champions – West Scotland

You will need to live in or around Glasgow or Ayr, and have an excellent understanding of the communities and families in the area.

We empower people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. Together we're helping people change their stories. You could join us to help mobilise thousands of local volunteers in support of 2026 National Year of Reading.

What you’ll be doing

2026 will be a National Year of Reading, a once-in-a-generation, UK-wide campaign to engage new audiences in reading and change the national reading culture for good. The National Literacy Trust will lead, develop and coordinate the National Year of Reading, ensuring a powerful and engaging national campaign which redefines reading for a new generation.

A core part of our plans is to mobilise thousands of volunteers across the UK, including through our own Literacy Champions project, which identifies, trains and supports volunteers to promote literacy in their local area. This may be in person or online and includes everything from community book-swaps and reading corners, to setting up homework clubs and creating videos. Some of those volunteers are Lead Literacy Champions – volunteers who take on a planning and coordination role working with others.

Through the National Year of Reading, we want to expand the number of Lead Literacy Champions – who in turn will engage other volunteers through their networks and connections. You will coordinate this work across north east Scotland, with a focus on the Aberdeenshire area. You will identify and engage existing groups of volunteers and suitable organisations, providing training so they can become Lead Literacy Champions.

This is an opportunity to build a new network of volunteers promoting reading and enhancing the many offers and opportunities in Scotland.

These are home-working roles and will involve regular travel around your area. There will also be some national travel – for our organisational away days, which take place in London three times per year, as well as approximately three team days per year. All travel expenses will be covered.

What we’re looking for

You will be experienced in recruiting, training and supporting volunteers, and providing project support in a charity or educational context. You will also have experience of working with early years settings, schools or community organisations, and good knowledge of safeguarding practice in this context.

Experience of community mobilisation, and developing resources and training materials, would be an advantage, as would an excellent knowledge of literacy issues.

Due to the nature of delivery, you will need a full clean driving license and access to your own vehicle. You will also need to be able to manage physical aspects of the role, including managing book stocks and other resources.

Why our work is so vital

Literacy changes everything.

It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. It’s the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. It’s better results at school, and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, it’s harder to get where you want to go.

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity helping people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words – reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days to training, jobs and beyond.

• We work collaboratively in local communities, focusing our work in 20 areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges.

• We support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children.

• We campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and decision-makers.

• We support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders’ institutions to build their literacy skills

What we offer you

Our team are passionate about our mission and we have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect. We offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are.

As well as a competitive salary, we offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year), pension contributions of 8% of annual salary, a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and other health and wellbeing benefits.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong organisational and people skills to lead a dedicated team within our All in Edinburgh Supported Employment Service, who support individuals with disabilities and long-term health conditions to gain, sustain and progress in paid employment. The role focuses on team management, leadership, performance management, and overseeing service delivery, as well as data analysis and reporting, and processing claims for income from our funders.