This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled and experienced social entrepreneur to support the establishment of a new charitable organisation, Changing Realities. What started life as a research project in 2020 has now become a fixture on the policy and anti-poverty scene, with Changing Realities working with academic researchers, parents and carers on a low-income and Child Poverty Action Group to document life on a low-income and to push for change.

We are looking for a consultant to develop a business plan and to work with the project team to support the project’s ambition to establish and scale.

The ideal consultant will be an experienced social entrepreneur with a proven track record in generating sustainable revenue and the successful development of charities, ideally within the policy and/or anti-poverty spheres. We are looking for someone who can build upon extensive relevant networks to promote the venture externally to strategic partners, stakeholders and potential funders. Additionally, the Commercial Champion must be willing and capable of mentoring the project team, ensuring transfer of knowledge and experience.

Key Tasks

• Develop a funder-ready business plan that optimises income opportunities and supports the charity's ambition to scale
• Review and build on existing market data to identify the strongest financial and philanthropic opportunities for the project.
• Work with the team to develop a business strategy and commercial plan including financial budget.
• Verify the plan with commercial feedback from potential funders and partners (e.g. at partner meetings) and cultivate strategic relationships within the relevant sectors (across anti-poverty charities, think tanks and government).
• Provide a strategic vision and evaluate its relevance with the ability to review and change direction if required.

Skills / Experience

The ideal consultant will meet most of the following criteria:

• Highly motivated, entrepreneurial personality.
• Value and mission-driven with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Experience of, and knowledge of the anti-poverty and policy sectors
• Strong commercial credentials and background in charity development and growth.
• Experience of producing and implementing business plans.
• Demonstrable commercial achievements and experience.
• Proven track record of raising funding from funders, partners or high net worth philanthropic donors.
• Excellent leadership qualities and strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience of, or interest in, engaging with applied research
• Demonstrable ability to provide hands-on support, guidance and advice to those joining the spin-out charity.
• Extensive network of relevant contacts, including potential stakeholders, development partners and funders.
• Ability to clearly articulate core value propositions and develop and optimize corresponding business models.
• Ability to utilise innovative thinking to devise creative and entrepreneurial solutions to overcome the many challenges in spinning out a social enterprise with high-impact potential.
• Experience of the corporate governance and financial management obligations of managing a charitable entity, ideally as a Company executive director.
• Experience of leading a small, results driven project team.
• Ability to mentor and identify skills gaps within an existing team.

We are looking for a Partnerships Manager based in East or South East Scotland, someone who wants to help build our programme across these regions. You’ll join a friendly, supportive and values-driven team, working with employers, public sector organisations and communities to create life-changing opportunities for young people through mentoring.

About the role

This is a unique opportunity to help shape MCR Pathways’ growth. As Partnerships Manager, you’ll build relationships with employers, public sector organisations and community partners that create sustainable pipelines of volunteer mentors and wider organisational support.

You’ll enjoy a varied and autonomous role, combining business development, relationship management and regional partnership building. Working flexibly between home, partner locations and communities across the East & South East of Scotland, you’ll have the opportunity to influence how mentoring grows across the region while being supported by an experienced national team committed to achieving lasting impact for young people.

Key responsibilities

• Research, map, and secure new corporate, public sector, and SME partners whose CSR, ESG, and D&I pillars align with MCR Pathways’ mission.
• Deliver compelling pitches, proposals, and workplace engagement events to drive high-volume mentor recruitment and hit ambitious monthly regional targets.
• Serve as the primary account manager for regional partners, delivering exceptional service to nurture long-term commitment and turn partners into active champions of the program.
• Collaborate with the Communications team and local networks to execute place-based campaigns and social media drives that raise brand visibility and generate prospective mentor inquiries in priority areas.
• Work closely with cross-functional internal teams to optimise the conversion process, guiding prospective mentors seamlessly from initial inquiry through to active onboarding.
• Utilise CRM systems and dashboards to track pipeline activity, evaluate campaign ROI, and monitor key recruitment and retention metrics.

About you

• Experience of and expertise in relationship-building on an organisational and individual level
• Experience presenting compelling and emotionally engaging information sessions to stakeholder organisations and individuals
• Experience and understanding of the importance of recruiting a diverse range of volunteers
• Can-do, proactive, flexible, solution-focused attitude
• Belief in young people’s potential, modelling motivation, commitment and resilience
• Knowledge of East and South East Scotland, including community groups and organisations

This role would suit someone with experience in business development, partnerships, account management or fundraising who is ready to take the next step in their career. You’ll have the opportunity to shape partnerships across the East and South East of Scotland while being supported by an experienced national team.

About us

MCR Pathways is an award-winning mentoring charity, founded in Glasgow in 2007 and now expanding across East and South East Scotland. Every week, our volunteer mentors give just one hour of their time to help young people build confidence, recognise their strengths and realise their potential. Through trusted, long-term relationships, mentoring helps young people navigate challenges, broaden their horizons and create brighter futures.

Our mission: To connect every young person with a trusted adult mentor, someone who sparks confidence, fuels ambition, and walks beside them as they find their way.

Our vision: MCR Pathways will work until every young person has someone to help them find their way.

You will be joining a friendly and supportive team who love what they do and enjoy working with each other. MCR Pathways’ values are Respect, Communication, Trust and Growth and they inform everything we do.

Benefits include: 30 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) in first year rising to 35 days from 2nd year of employment, 7% Employer Pension Contribution, 3 further days of annual leave between the December and January public holidays, additional day off for your birthday, annual salary increment, Employee Assistance Programme, Life Assurance – 4 x salary.

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.