This is a rare opportunity for a dynamic, compassionate and person-centred nurse leader to deliver real impact for children and families.

In Scotland, three children die from a life-shortening condition every week. CHAS provides unwavering care for children who may die young, and their families. Our team includes nurses, doctors, AHPs, social workers and family support specialists. They work across two children’s hospices, in community settings and in hospitals in deep partnership with NHS staff.

We are seeking a Chief Nurse to lead the delivery of our nursing services across all these settings. Reporting to the Director of Nursing and Family Support, you will lead a team of approximately 180 nursing staff working in all parts of Scotland.

You will inspire nurses to deliver exceptional care every day. You will work closely and collaboratively with NHS Boards, HSCP’s and other organisations to plan seamless wrap-around care, which helps some of the most vulnerable families in Scotland.

Following a planned retirement and organisational restructure, this is a new role in a new structure. It offers a chance to join CHAS in a senior nursing role, set to shape the future of paediatric palliative care across Scotland.

About You

You will be an experienced nurse leader with a track record of delivering positive change across health care systems. Your experience will include:

• having significant experience leading nursing teams
• strong knowledge of Clinical Governance and Regulation, workforce planning, safe staffing and quality improvement
• proven ability to deliver on organisational targets
• excellent communication, influencing, and partnership skills
• commitment to staff wellbeing, compassionate leadership, and clinical supervision
• the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams with courage and compassion

We are particularly interested in hearing from children’s nurse leaders, but this role is open to nurse leaders from all backgrounds.

Why CHAS?

For families we support time is precious. This is an opportunity to lead a team that makes extraordinary things happen every day.

In 2024, CHAS launched our 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, setting out our vision to provide unwavering care to children who may die young, and to their families, at every step of their journey. Our work is grounded in three core fields of care:

• learning that your child is seriously ill and may die young
• living well
• dying well and bereavement

As Chief Nurse, you will play a pivotal leadership role in bringing this strategy to life - shaping practice, developing people, and ensuring the highest standards of safe, compassionate and effective care.

• Broad and impactful role: Representing CHAS nationally as an expert nurse leader, building strategic partnerships to influence policy, promote best practice, and enhance CHAS’s impact
• Flexibility: Your primary base will be either Rachel House in Kinross or Robin House in Balloch, with regular travel between both hospices. CHAS provides care and support to children and families across Scotland with staff bases in Aberdeen and Inverness. This role will require travel to all CHAS sites, including clinical settings and office locations, as well as attendance at external events. Flexibility is essential, and business mileage expenses will be reimbursed. As a family friendly organisation, we recognise that flexibility works both ways, and we will support a balanced and adaptable approach to working hours and locations wherever possible.
• Professional Growth: You will work with healthcare leaders in a visible role where you will be encouraged and supported to excel and develop your skills.
• Holidays: 35 days annual leave, increasing progressively to 40 days after five years’ service. For applicants coming from an existing NHS post, your current service-based enhanced annual leave entitlement will be honoured, up to 40 days (CHAS maximum entitlement).
• Pension: Continued membership of the NHS Scotland Pension Scheme or the opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme for Scotland, administered by Lothian Pension Fund.
• Comprehensive benefits: Including generous annual leave and pension, incremental salary progression, life assurance, employee assistance programme, access to Blue Light and Perkbox discount schemes, health and wellbeing support.

St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s leading first aid charity, dedicated to saving lives and strengthening community resilience through high-quality training and volunteer-led services. With a proud history spanning over 140 years. The organisation provides first aid cover at thousands of events each year and plays a vital role in national and emergency response and public safety across the country. Through a nationwide network of committed volunteers and professional staff, St Andrew’s First Aid delivers first aid training to individuals, communities and workplaces, while supporting major public events by providing surge capacity during national events and emergencies.

The Executive Team is now seeking a Head of Volunteer Operations as the organisation are entering an important period of development. You will be passionate about delivering a high-quality experience to all our volunteers and galvanising the staff team to deliver and support this. The role will have a strong focus on building and strengthening our volunteer infrastructure, enhancing operational resilience and modernising systems that support service delivery across Scotland. This is a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of volunteer-led first aid services within a respected national charity.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Operations and Business Development and working closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Management Team, the Head of Volunteer Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership for St Andrew’s First Aid’s volunteer-led services across Scotland.

You will be responsible for ensuring a resilient, inclusive and high-performing volunteer workforce that is recruited, trained, deployed and supported to deliver safe, high-quality first aid services at events, in communities and during major incidents. The role spans the full volunteer lifecycle alongside responsibility for operational planning, rostering, safeguarding, clinical governance alignment, logistics and partnership working with key stakeholders including event organisers, local authorities and emergency services. The role also involves working collegiately with our Head of Commercial Training.

A central focus will be strengthening organisational readiness for peak demand and emergency response. You will lead service improvement initiatives, embed strong systems and performance frameworks, oversee budgets for volunteer operations, and develop robust risk management and business continuity plans. You will also champion digital solutions that enhance efficiency and the volunteer experience.

The successful candidate will be an experienced operational leader with a background in volunteer services or comparable safety-critical environments such as charities, emergency services, healthcare or major events. You will bring strong strategic and operational planning skills, alongside a sound understanding of safeguarding, governance and service quality.

You will be confident leading dispersed teams of staff and volunteers, able to influence senior stakeholders and partners, and comfortable working at Executive and Board level. Above all, you will combine operational experience with emotional intelligence and strong values, remaining calm under pressure and committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture where volunteers can thrive.

This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape a national volunteer operation at a time of transformation, ensuring that communities across Scotland continue to benefit from high-quality, volunteer-led first aid services when they need them most.