Top job! Chief Executive Officer
- Full time
- £60,000 – £70,000
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 1st November 2026
- Advertised from 14th October 2026
- 35 hours per week (with flexibility for evening and weekend work)
Role
The Scottish Youth Parliament is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people. We provide a national platform for young people to discuss the issues that matter to them, defend their rights and influence the decisions that shape their lives.
Around 160 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament – MSYPs – represent communities and voluntary organisations across Scotland. Our organisation is genuinely youth-led: our campaigns and priorities are shaped by young people, and our Board is made up entirely of young Trustees aged between 16 and 25.
We are now looking for our next Chief Executive. This is an opportunity to lead a respected national organisation with a strong political profile and a proud record of achieving change. SYP’s campaigns have contributed to Votes at 16, equal marriage and the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.
Working closely with our Chair and Board, you will help set SYP’s strategic direction and turn the ambitions of our Strategic Plan and Dear Scotland’s Future manifesto into meaningful action. You will lead and develop our staff team, strengthen our relationships with decision-makers and partners, and ensure that SYP remains sustainable, well-governed and equipped for the future.
You will also be a visible ambassador for SYP and young people’s rights. You will build trusted relationships across government, Parliament, local authorities, funders, the third sector and the wider youth work community, influencing effectively while protecting SYP’s political impartiality.
We are looking for a values-led, inclusive and ambitious leader with experience of delivering results within a complex organisation.
You will bring strong strategic and people leadership skills, sound judgement and an understanding of governance, finance and organisational risk. You will also understand how policy is developed and influenced in Scotland.
Most importantly, you will believe in youth leadership. You will know how to advise, support and constructively challenge a young board without taking ownership of its decisions. You will listen carefully, communicate openly and create space for young people to lead.
You do not need to be an existing Chief Executive. You may be ready to take your first step into a CEO role, having already demonstrated the leadership capability, values and potential to succeed at this level. Experience of youth work would be valuable but is not essential. What is essential is a genuine commitment to young people’s rights, meaningful participation and social justice.
SYP wants its leadership and staff team to reflect the diversity of Scotland’s young people. We therefore welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage interest from candidates whose perspectives and experiences are underrepresented in senior leadership. A flexible approach to evening and weekend work will be required.
For more information: Chief Executive Officer – Scottish Youth Parliament
Application notes
SYP are working with LHH Executive Search on this opportunity. Enquiries and applications should be made via LHH.
To apply for the post, please send a tailored CV and covering letter to ScotlandExecutive@LHH.com
Please note that the covering letter should be no more than two pages of A4 and should summarise your relevant skills and experience and motivations for applying for this role. If you would like a confidential, informal discussion about the role then please contact Fizza Islam, LHH on +44 (0)141 220 6460 or email the above address.
Our members reflect the diversity of Scotland’s young people. The diversity of our members means we are able to authentically reflect the views of all of Scotland’s young people in all our work. We are constantly reviewing our approach to ensuring equality and diversity in our applications and would be pleased if you could complete an Equalities Monitoring Form.
Should you require any modifications or wish to speak with a member of our team to discuss any particular circumstances, please email the above address.
Top job! Chief Executive Officer
- Full time
- £49,992 – £54,853
- On site: This role can be based in either of our centres (Edinburgh or Glasgow) but will require travel to the other centre normally 2 days a week (travel will be paid by Venture Scotland).
- Closing 25th October 2026
Venture Scotland are looking to recruit a skilled and experienced, values led CEO to lead our organisation. This is a unique opportunity to join a well-established charity, to work as part of an inclusive, supportive team culture and to make a real, often life-changing difference in the lives of our participants. Our work is meaningful, varied and challenging and in return, you will be able to lead on the delivery of our organisation’s strategy and direction, have opportunities for self-development and training and benefit from our comprehensive staff support package.
Venture Scotland offers a long-term, outdoor-based personal development programme which empowers young people aged 16-30 and adults in addiction recovery, who face complex and difficult challenges in their lives, to create and sustain change. There are currently 9 employees and we have a turnover of just over £600,000.
We focus on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our participants, working with them both in group settings and 1-2-1, to make lasting changes in their lives and help them play a positive role in their communities.
We are seeking a CEO, who identifies with our values of Trust, Respect, Belonging, Compassion and Empowering, to lead our team to deliver on our strategy. Volunteers are at the heart of our organisation and you will support our volunteer team and young ambassador programme. We welcome applications from diverse communities.
As the key leader within our organisation, the CEO evaluates, supports and develops volunteers and staff, manages logistics and ensures the highest standards of safety while building on our caring, open, collaborative and inclusive work culture.
As CEO within the organisation, you will also manage and work closely alongside the Senior Management Team comprising Programme Delivery manager, Finance and Administration Manager and Fundraising Manager to use your skills and experience to lead the organisation forward. You will report directly to the Chair and Board of trustees.
Do you want to lead a supportive team of people who really care about the people we are helping? Do you want to work in an organisation which listens, values everyone’s views and cares about the health and wellbeing of their staff? Do you understand the transformative effect of the outdoors? Are you passionate about #ChangingLivesOutdoors?
This role is considered ‘regulated work’ as it involves activities with both children and protected adults. Under our safeguarding policy, this role will require a PVG.
If you are applying for this role, you need to prove that you have the right to live and work in the UK. If you do not possess this right, then your application will not be considered.
**Please note - Unfortunately, we are not able to support sponsorship to work in the UK at this time**
Outreach Worker (PT)
- Part time
- £27,295 pro-rata
- On site: Leith & North East Edinburgh
- Closing 23rd October 2026
The Junction is looking for a friendly, confident and engaging Outreach Worker to join a project delivered in partnership with The Citadel and funded by CashBack for Communities.
This is a hands-on youth work role, reaching out to young people in the places where they spend their time, building trusting relationships and helping them connect with opportunities and support.
About the Role
You’ll work with young people across Leith and North East Edinburgh with a focus on engaging with young people who have experience poverty, inequality and disadvantage, or are at risk of becoming involved in antisocial behaviour.
Working alongside The Junction team, The Citadel and other local partners, you will:
- Deliver regular detached and street-based youth work, meeting young people in streets, parks and other community spaces.
- Help deliver one evening youth group each week, creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive space.
- Build positive, trusting relationships with young people and support them to build confidence, identify their strengths and make positive choices.
- Help young people connect with activities, opportunities and wider support where needed.
- Listen to young people and involve them in shaping the activities and outreach work.
- Work closely with The Citadel and other community partners to make sure young people receive joined-up support.
About You
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has great communication skills and can build positive relationships with young people.
- Is comfortable approaching and engaging young people in community and street-based settings.
- Takes a non-judgemental and inclusive approach to youth work.
- Understands the challenges facing young people experiencing disadvantage.
- Enjoys working collaboratively as part of a team and with community partners.
- Is willing to reflect on their practice, learn and develop.
Hours, Salary & Contract
Hours: Up to 17.5 hours per week, with some evening work required
Salary: £27,295 FTE / £13,647.50 per year at 17.5 hours
Contract: Fixed term until March 2029
Base: 82–86 Great Junction Street, Edinburgh EH6 5LL, with work across North East Edinburgh and a focus on Leith
We are also happy to hear from people who would prefer to work fewer hours, with part-time and sessional arrangements available. Sessional work will be paid at a minimum of £15 per hour.
Working hours will be agreed mutually and organised flexibly to meet the needs of the project and, where possible, fit around your existing commitments.
The postholder will have a key role in the Citadel’s 13+ Team, working across our services for young people aged 13 to 19. These include evening youth clubs, detached youth work and employability services for young people aged 16 to 19 who are not in education, training or employment. The postholder will also be based in a local high school one day per week, providing mental health and wellbeing support for targeted pupils.
Awards Co-ordinator
- Full time
- £26,583 – £28,201
- Hybrid: Based in Edinburgh, with hybrid working available. There is an expectation that the postholder will be in the Edinburgh office 2 days per week
- Closing 23rd October 2026
Youth Scotland, Scotland’s national charity for the support and delivery of communitybased youth work, would love you to come and join our team.
Youth Scotland’s Youth Awards recognise and accredit young people’s learning and achievement through community based youth work, schools, local authorities, national charities, and a wide range of other partner organisations.
Following an internal promotion, we are looking for an Awards Co-ordinator to join our Awards team and play a key role in providing a responsive and efficient service to our Awards users and partners.
The Role
You will co-ordinate the day-to-day administration that supports Youth Scotland Awards, including managing and triaging enquiries, processing registrations and renewals, maintaining accurate customer records and coordinating the production and distribution of Awards materials and certificates.
The role will also help us maintain high standards of customer service by improving customer communications and supporting efficient systems and processes across the Awards team.
This role would suit someone with strong administrative and organisational skills who enjoys working with customers, solving problems and making sure services run smoothly.
You will also share our commitment to recognising and celebrating young people’s achievements.
The Organisation
Youth Scotland is the largest national youth work organisation in Scotland, supporting 116,979 young people, 2,430 youth groups from 628 member organisations and over 12,348 youth workers. Youth Scotland has been around since the early 20th century and has a diverse membership network – from small rural youth groups to large urban projects. The common goal that we all share is better outcomes for young people.
Our membership network is made up of local youth groups of all sizes, Area Associations and Youth Scotland staff who can provide support and training on a range of youth work topics. We are proud of the varied, universal youth work our network delivers and the innovative solutions our members create in an ever-changing youth work landscape.
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