- Advertised from 7th September 2026
- 34.5 hours per week
Role
Who we are
Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) is Scotland’s national alcohol charity, committed to preventing and reducing harm to individuals, families, communities and Scotland as a whole.
Scotland had been making progress in reducing alcohol consumption and harm from record levels, not least due to the positive effects of minimum unit pricing of (MUP). Unfortunately, alcohol deaths have risen significantly since 2020, due to the effect of the pandemic on consumption by heavier drinkers combined with reduced access to services. Research suggests levels of harm will continue to rise for some time.
Join us at an exciting time as we champion evidence-based alcohol policies and advocate for better access to high-quality treatment and recovery support to tackle Scotland’s alcohol crisis.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a skilled policy professional to join our passionate team. You will have a varied and challenging role, providing policy and research support across a number of policy areas, with an initial focus on alcohol marketing and control on the sale of alcohol. Your excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills will be vital in ensuring we meet our goal of effecting policy change in Scotland, to reduce alcohol harm and improve lives.
We are looking for a candidate with:
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a fast-paced policy or practice environment
- Experience of analysing, interpreting and communicating evidence and research to support policy and practice development
- Experience of working collaboratively and strategically with external organisations and agencies to effect change
What we offer
Flexible and Hybrid Working
We offer flexi-time to give you more control over your working hours. We work a mixture of office and home-based days to meet the needs of the post and to accommodate the needs of the postholder.
Annual Leave
26 days paid annual leave, increasing after five years’ service. 10 days public holiday (incorporating closure between Christmas and New Year). An additional Celebration Day that may be taken at any time. Staff may purchase up to one week’s additional annual leave per holiday year.
Well-being support
We provide an Employee Assistance Programme which offers round the clock support for all staff.
Pension and Death in Service Insurance
4-6% matched employer pension contribution, rising to 7% after five years’ service. Death in Service insurance is calculated as two times salary.
Company Sick Pay
After completion of probation you can qualify for up to five months full pay then five months half pay, inclusive of SSP, in year one, increasing annually for five years.
Transport support
AFS is based in central Glasgow, close to transport hubs. We offer a Travel to Work loan to spread the cost of season tickets and access to the tax efficient benefits of the Cycle to Work scheme.
Learning
We offer a range of formal and informal training and learning opportunities to support your development.
Enhanced leave
Maternity leave and paternity leave are enhanced above statutory to help you and your family, after a qualifying service period.
Social Connection
As well as the satisfaction of working with a skilled, friendly and dedicated team to make change happen, we support formal and informal opportunities to take part in different activities and get to know your colleagues.
Alcohol Focus Scotland is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Application notes
To apply, please provide a Supporting Statement, demonstrating how you meet the criteria in the ‘Critical knowledge, experience and skills’ section of the job description, and your CV showing your qualifications and experience. Please email these to enquiries@alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk with ‘Senior Coordinator (Policy) Application’ in the subject line.
A Right to Work in the UK check is required for this post.
To find out more about this role please visit our website alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/about-vacancies or contact Enquiries@alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 6 October 2026, 12 noon
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 28 October 2026
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Employability Support Worker - PSP
- Full time or Part time
- £24,479
- On site: Based within Murray’s Initiative’s Head OƯice in North Claremont Street with travel throughout Glasgow City for service delivery
- Closing 18th September 2026
About Us:
Murray’s Initiative (formerly known as Glasgow Council on Alcohol) is an independent Scottish charity that works to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm at both individual and community levels. Established in 1965, Murray’s Initiative adopts a long-term, trauma-informed and asset-based approach to changing the culture around substance use. Its services are built on a person-centred, harm-reduction model, supporting people whether their goal is to reduce consumption or achieve abstinence.
Murray’s Initiative offers free, confidential counselling services for people concerned about their own or someone else's drinking. Murray’s Initiative delivers a range of interventions including groupwork and employability support as well as a number of holistic and inclusive services, such as a women’s service for survivors of gender-based violence, young person’s peer education service, LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing support and tailored wellbeing programmes.
Murray’s Initiative is also a recognised provider of professional development, offering a comprehensive training portfolio including education aimed at increasing awareness of alcohol use and promoting healthier lifestyles, COSCA Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Murray’s Initiative delivers services over 6 days per week and throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, helping people make meaningful, positive change in their lives.
The foundation of Murray’s Initiative is our supportive and inclusive culture for all who engage and work with us.
About the Role:
The role of the Employability Support worker is to support participants who are in the earlier stages of their employability journey. The Employability Support Worker will support participants with confidence building and motivation and will prepare participants to work towards training, education and volunteering.
The Employability Support Worker will make a real impact to individuals’ day to day lives as they uniquely tailor their personal development, offer emotional and practical support and set realistic goals as part of their journey to employability opportunities.
The Employability Support Worker will report to the Service Manager - Employability.
This post requires membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for children and/or protected adults. Successful applicants will be required to join the PVG Scheme.
Wellbeing Support Worker – LGBTQ+ Health and Wellbeing Service
- Part time
- £24,479 pro-rata
- On site: Based within Murray’s Initiative’s Head OƯice in North Claremont Street with travel throughout Glasgow City for service delivery
- Closing 9th September 2026
About Us:
Murray’s Initiative (formerly known as Glasgow Council on Alcohol) is an independent Scottish charity that works to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm at both individual and community levels. Established in 1965, Murray’s Initiative adopts a long-term, trauma-informed and asset-based approach to changing the culture around substance use. Its services are built on a person-centred, harm-reduction model, supporting people whether their goal is to reduce consumption or achieve abstinence.
Murray’s Initiative offers free, confidential counselling services for people concerned about their own or someone else's drinking. Murray’s Initiative delivers a range of interventions including groupwork and employability support as well as a number of holistic and inclusive services, such as a women’s service for survivors of gender-based violence, young person’s peer education service, LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing support and tailored wellbeing programmes.
Murray’s Initiative is also a recognised provider of professional development, offering a comprehensive training portfolio including education aimed at increasing awareness of alcohol use and promoting healthier lifestyles, COSCA Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Murray’s Initiative delivers services over 6 days per week and throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, helping people make meaningful, positive change in their lives.
The foundation of Murray’s Initiative is our supportive and inclusive culture for all who engage and work with us.
About the Role:
The Wellbeing Support Worker will provide safe and eƯective health and wellbeing support tailored to individual needs for LGBTQ+ community members experiencing issues with drugs and/or alcohol. The service addresses health and wellbeing while promoting trauma-informed practice, introducing tools to develop coping skills and supporting individuals to live healthier, more manageable lives while reducing the harms associated with alcohol and/or drugs.
The Wellbeing Support Worker will report to the Service Manager – Wellbeing.
This post requires a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme membership for both Children and Adults - successful applicants will be required to join the PVG Scheme.
In Work Employment Advisor – Recovery Employability Service
- Part time
- £26,002 pro-rata
- On site: Based within Murray’s Initiative’s Head OƯice in North Claremont Street with travel throughout Glasgow City for service delivery
- Closing 23rd September 2026
About Us:
Murray’s Initiative (formerly known as Glasgow Council on Alcohol) is an independent Scottish charity that works to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm at both individual and community levels. Established in 1965, Murray’s Initiative adopts a long-term, trauma-informed and asset-based approach to changing the culture around substance use. Its services are built on a person-centred, harm-reduction model, supporting people whether their goal is to reduce consumption or achieve abstinence.
Murray’s Initiative offers free, confidential counselling services for people concerned about their own or someone else's drinking. Murray’s Initiative delivers a range of interventions including groupwork and employability support as well as a number of holistic and inclusive services, such as a women’s service for survivors of gender-based violence, young person’s peer education service, LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing support and tailored wellbeing programmes.
Murray’s Initiative is also a recognised provider of professional development, offering a comprehensive training portfolio including education aimed at increasing awareness of alcohol use and promoting healthier lifestyles, COSCA Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Murray’s Initiative delivers services over 6 days per week and throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, helping people make meaningful, positive change in their lives.
The foundation of Murray’s Initiative is our supportive and inclusive culture for all who engage and work with us.
About the Role:
The In Work Employment Advisor will provide tailored support to individuals in recovery from drugs and/or alcohol who are in employment, helping them to sustain and progress within work. The role involves delivering one-to-one guidance, identifying and addressing barriers to employment retention, supporting career development and liaising with employers and partner agencies to ensure participants achieve positive and sustainable employment outcomes.
The In Work Employment Advisor will report to the Service Manager – Employability.
This post requires membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for children and/or protected adults. Successful applicants will be required to join the PVG Scheme.
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National Family Support Development Officer (Neurodiversity and Substance Use)
- Part time
- £35,264 pro-rata
- On site: Glasgow
- Closing 13th September 2026
We are seeking a National Family Support Development Officer (Neurodiversity and Substance Use) to join our national team. This is a new post and project area developed in response to an identified need. Through our ongoing work with families, we have identified that substance use can create additional challenges for neurodivergent individuals and their families.
The post-holder will be responsible for leading the development, delivery, support and promotion of a range of family and peer support opportunities for family members affected by someone else's substance use and neurodiversity. This role will operate on a national basis and in partnership with statutory and third sector partners, including but not limited to CAMHS , Social Work, the Children's Panel and Reporters Office, as well as through engagement with local Alcohol & Drug Partnerships. This role will entail working alongside families, using evidence-based practice to tailor and develop our support offer, ensuring neurodivergent individuals and their unpaid carers can access the right help in a way that works for them.
This is a national post which will involve significant travel across Scotland, as well as work at our national office at Robertson House in Glasgow. It is expected that the post holder will be required to work some evenings and occasional weekends. This post will be part of Scottish Families’ staff team and be managed by the Senior National Family Support Practitioner.
We are looking for candidates who are educated to degree level or have a relevant professional qualification and have experience of supporting neurodiverse individuals or families. Candidates should have strong organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
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