As Social Work Scotland’s Children & Families Social Work Policy and Practice Lead you will provide the national team and partners with operational insight and expertise across the diverse range of children and families issues which, on a day-to-day basis, social work is involved in. You will play a key role in national discussions around the Promise, child protection, youth justice workforce capacity and the ongoing development of the profession. You will assist project leads in the delivery of their work programmes, and support colleagues and Social Work Scotland members to realise our organisation’s objectives; that includes playing a role in public facing communication about the role and value of social work.

You will link in directly with Social Work Scotland’s Children and Families Committee, our Board, local authority Chief Social Work Officers and key partners (such as the Office of the Chief Social Work Advisor) to progress the national agenda. You will be a visible representative of the profession, and you will assist others to articulate Social Work Scotland’s positions in a number of high-profile forums and settings.

In helping to support effective national leadership of social work in Scotland, you will be expected to ensure the voices of children, families, carers and communities inform all aspects of this role.

Who Cares? Scotland is the national membership body for Care Experienced people. Since 1978, we have worked to ensure that the voices of Care Experienced children, young people and adults are heard, respected and acted upon. As a membership organisation, Who Cares? Scotland protects and advances the interests and outcomes of Care Experienced people of all ages across the country. We deliver lifelong independent advocacy, create spaces of belonging and identity, and influence national policy to secure a lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people.

Reporting directly to the Board, the Chief Executive will be expected to build on the organisation’s monumental achievements, delivering our vision of a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people. Ensuring the organisation’s long‑term financial sustainability by diversifying income aligned to our mission, you will also lead the growth and effectiveness of our independent advocacy services across Scotland to uphold the rights of Care Experienced people.

Strengthening Who Cares? Scotland’s role as the first-choice voice of the care community, you will build strategic partnerships, create meaningful opportunities for members to connect, and drive our national policy influence, including shaping the Scottish Government’s work on the future of care to secure better outcomes for Care Experienced people.

As CEO, you will be a leader who can connect, influence, and build strong relationships at all levels. You will be confident in asserting the views and interests of our membership to policymakers, while remaining approachable and receptive to their perspectives. Your leadership will respect and amplify the voice of lived experience, taking a trauma-informed approach in all decision-making. You will bring proven experience in strategic thinking, financial planning, staff development, and managing budgets and relationships within a high-pressure, politically sensitive environment, while building strong partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders.

At a pivotal moment, as Scotland prepares for Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill and continues to strive to achieve The Promise, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of care in Scotland, ensuring that Care Experienced people have a voice in every decision that affects them.

For decades, FetLor Youth Club has been a cornerstone of north Edinburgh, providing young people with the support, opportunities and relationships that help them thrive. Rooted in the community it serves, FetLor has built a well-earned reputation for outstanding youth work that makes a real and lasting difference to young lives.

We are now entering an exciting new chapter. As we evolve towards a hub model of partnership working, we are looking for an exceptional leader to help us maximise our impact, extend our reach and ensure young people in north Edinburgh are supported holistically.

The Role

This is a rare opportunity to lead a much-loved and highly respected organisation through a period of meaningful change. As CEO, you will be the driving force behind FetLor’s strategic direction, its partnerships and the continued development of its talented team.

You will be accountable for three core areas: leading the FetLor team, building and sustaining partnerships that strengthen the support available to young people, and creating a strategic plan that ensures the long-term sustainability of the organisation.

This is a hands-on, visible leadership role that calls for someone who is as comfortable building relationships with funders and partners as they are supporting and inspiring the people around them.

About You

You will bring proven leadership experience and a genuine passion for improving the lives of young people. You will know how to build and sustain effective partnerships, manage competing financial demands and lead an organisation through change with confidence and care.

Experience in the third sector is helpful but not essential — what matters most is your values, your vision and your ability to bring people with you.

You will also bring, or be willing to develop, experience in fundraising, as securing sustainable income will be a key part of this role.

What We Offer

• A salary of £50,000 (pro rata from an FTE of £62,500)
• 30 hours per week with some flexibility in how these are worked
• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays
• The opportunity to lead a genuinely impactful organisation at a pivotal moment
• A passionate, committed team and a supportive Board of Trustees

With an annual turnover of approximately £2.5–3 million and a workforce of over 100 staff LASC is a community-based charity delivering childcare, young people’s services, and wider community benefit across multiple sites. We are seeking a Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic leadership and executive accountability at a pivotal moment for the organisation.

This is a senior leadership role focused on clarity, sustainability, and good governance. The CEO will work in close partnership with the Board to co-create organisational strategy, lead a capable senior team, and ensure the organisation remains financially resilient, well governed, and compliant within a regulated environment.

This is not a hands-on operational role. We are looking for a leader who can operate at the right altitude, bring sound judgement, and create the conditions for others to succeed.

About the role

The Chief Executive Officer will:

• Work in partnership with the Board to co-create strategic direction and lead delivery of agreed priorities
• Provide executive leadership across a multi-site organisation with a strong community presence
• Hold accountability for financial sustainability, organisational risk, and regulatory confidence
• Lead and support senior staff, shaping a professional, fair, and resilient organisational culture
• Represent the organisation externally and build confidence with key stakeholders and partners
• Lead senior relationships with public sector partners and commissioners, including negotiation of sustainable funding and fee arrangements

The role is offered on a three day per week basis with flexible and hybrid working. The postholder will be expected to be locally based, or able to attend sites and meetings as required, with presence focused on where it adds the most value.

About you

You will be an experienced senior leader who brings:

• Experience working effectively with a Board or governing body
• Accountability for organisational performance, budgets, or outcomes
• Confidence leading teams through change, growth, or financial constraint
• Strong judgement, calm leadership, and the ability to influence at senior level

You do not need to come from the childcare or voluntary sector. We are actively interested in candidates who bring transferable leadership experience from other public, regulated, or community facing environments.

If you are interested in this role but do not feel you meet every requirement, we would still encourage you to apply.

What we offer

• A senior, part time leadership role with genuine flexibility
• Hybrid working and an outcome-focused approach to hours
• Employer pension contributions
• A values-led organisation with a strong community purpose
• The opportunity to shape the future of a well-established local charity

Our commitment to inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We recognise that leadership experience can be gained in many different ways and value varied career paths. We particularly encourage applications from women and individuals from under-represented groups and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and flexible working needs as part of the recruitment process.