Garvald Edinburgh is a long-established Scottish charity supporting adults with intellectual disabilities through
creative day opportunities, workshops, community participation, and public-facing social enterprise activities.
Rooted in the principles of social therapy inspired by Rudolf Steiner, Garvald places creativity, respect,
rhythm, individuality, and community at the centre of personal development. The organisation exists to offer
adults with intellectual disabilities meaningful opportunities to develop skills, confidence, and a sense of
belonging, achieved through purposeful creative work, strong community integration, and innovative social
enterprise.
Operating across multiple sites in Edinburgh, Garvald employs approximately 180 staff and has an annual turnover of
over £4.5+ million. The organisation is entering a period of important development, guided by a multi-year
strategic plan that includes organisational review, enhancing financial stability, facilities planning, digital
transformation, and the continued growth of social enterprise activity. This is a pivotal moment in Garvalds
history, offering the opportunity to shape the organisation’s future while strengthening its values-driven
culture.
The organisation is now seeking a Human Resources Manager to lead and develop Garvald Edinburgh’s HR function,
ensuring that the organisation has the people, policies and culture necessary to fulfil its mission. Working
closely with the Head of Finance and Resources, the Senior Management Team and managers, this is a key role in
supporting a positive and values-led working environment.
In this role you will provide strategic and operational HR leadership by overseeing the full employee lifecycle,
including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and staff retention. The role also encompasses
workforce planning, employment law compliance, learning and development, staff wellbeing, employee engagement
and volunteer management, ensuring HR practices are effective and aligned with organisational values.
The Human Resources Manager will play a central role in developing and implementing Garvald Edinburgh’s People Plan,
supporting organisational development and promoting a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. The
role will provide professional advice and guidance to managers and employees, while leading initiatives relating
to staff wellbeing, engagement, internal communications and volunteer development.
The successful candidate will bring demonstrable experience in an HR generalist or people-focused role, with a CIPD
Level 5 qualification or above, or equivalent relevant experience. You will have sound knowledge of UK
employment law and HR best practice, alongside experience of providing practical HR advice, managing employee
relations matters and developing policies and procedures. You will be confident balancing strategic priorities
with day-to-day HR responsibilities. You will also be an effective communicator, with excellent interpersonal
skills and the ability to build positive, trusting relationships across the organisation. You will manage
sensitive matters with discretion, professionalism and empathy, exercising sound judgement and initiative.
Above all, the Human Resources Manager will combine professional expertise with compassion, integrity and a genuine
commitment to people. You will be motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a purpose-driven organisation,
helping to create an inclusive and supportive workplace and enabling Garvald Edinburgh to continue delivering
meaningful and creative opportunities for the individuals supported by Garvald Edinburgh.