- Hybrid: Scotland, Office Based in Edinburgh with some flexible home working available on application.
- Closing 2nd May 2025
- Advertised from 8th April 2025
- 35 hours per week. Permanent position subject to funding, currently secured to 31st March 2026
Role
About Play Scotland and the role
Formed in 1998, Play Scotland is the lead organisation for children’s play in Scotland and works to make every child’s right to play a reality.
Play Scotland has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated, competent and innovative leader, with a successful background as a strategic manager to lead and shape the future of the organisation.
The successful candidate will be an effective communicator, confident in public speaking, stakeholder engagement, and policy representation at a national level.
They will bring a natural ability to develop effective partnerships across public, private, and third sector organisations and have strong experience developing and delivering a strategic vision and leading successful staff teams.
A genuine enthusiasm for the work of Play Scotland is essential and you will bring a strong commitment to the mission and vision of this important charity.
An understanding and appreciation of the legal framework and policy for play in Scotland is essential, together with the ability to work across Scotland’s national and local government structures.
Play Scotland is committed to building a fair, equitable and diverse organisation, so we welcome applications from all sectors of society, regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, disability and/or religious persuasion. In return, we offer you an employee-friendly organisation with flexible policies.
The role is based in Scotland, and it is essential that you have a right to work in Scotland and be a resident in Scotland. For more information on Play Scotland, visit: playscotland.org
Closing Date: Friday 2nd May 2025 at 4pm
Interviews are planned for week beginning 19th May 2025 in Edinburgh.
The Position
You will join the Board of around 10 other trustees and will be expected to attend and participate in up to 5 Board meetings a year as well as an annual Strategy Day. You will also be expected to sit on one subcommittee of the Board and attend meetings of that subcommittee 3 to 4 times a year. The Law Agent will be appointed for an initial term of 3 years and is eligible to seek nomination to serve a further 3-year term.
Board Trustees are asked to contribute actively to the Board by providing strategic guidance, setting objectives and goals, evaluating performance and providing challenge and support. You will also be an ambassador for the Charity and are expected to respect, promote and protect the culture and values of the Charity.
All Trustees are expected to have a good understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of the position of a Trustee on a Board.
As Law Agent, you will ensure that the Charity complies with its governing document and wider legal responsibilities and you will use your legal experience and knowledge to help inform decision making and to support strategic planning at Board meetings. You will be able to apply legal principles to managing risk and ensuring that the policies and processes of the Charity are in line with best legal practice. You will have the ability to identify when the Charity should seek external legal advice.
The formal appointment to the Board will become effective from the date of the Charity’s AGM in September 2025. There will, however, be opportunity to attend Board meetings as an observer before then. New Trustees will participate in an induction process and will be supported in spending time getting to know the organisation.
The Candidate
We are looking for a committed and enthusiastic qualified lawyer to join our Board. Whilst it would be beneficial, you do not need to have specifically worked in the area of child or family law but a keen interest and passion in protecting children’s rights is essential, as well as a commitment to the values of Children First. An understanding of good governance is also required.
You must be able to demonstrate sound, independent judgement and have an ability to be open-minded and work collectively. You must have an ability to challenge constructively where required and be able to critically assess and analyse complex issues. Good listening and communication skills are essential.
Children First is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation that is representative of the families and communities it supports. The Board supports this commitment and seeks to enhance its diversity from the perspective of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender and disability. We believe that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
We welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties who believe they can help make a difference.
The position is voluntary, however reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed.
Harmeny Education Trust is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse, neglect and family disruption, referred from all over Scotland. We currently work with children and young people aged 5-18, both on a day and all-year-round residential basis.
We are seeking new Trustees to join the organisation and oversee its governance, and we are particularly keen to find candidates with knowledge and experience in any of the following:
- social work/ residential care;
- children and families research;
- therapeutic work with children and young people;
- experience of care growing up directly or indirectly; or
- health, ideally in the area of mental health.
Trustees are expected to prepare for and attend four Board meetings per year. Meetings are ideally in-person, albeit we can accommodate remote attendance as required. Additional meetings may be held for urgent matters that do not fit with the set calendar of meetings.
Trustees are also expected to be involved in other matters, for example to join a sub-committee relevant to their skill set or working group, take part in a recruitment panel, attend Harmeny events or support Harmeny’s work externally. Sub-committees meet in advance of the main meetings for a shorter duration, and are generally conducted virtually.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of Trustees in a friendly organisation making a difference to the lives of some of Scotland’s most remarkable children. Support and mentoring can be provided to the successful candidate, particularly those who may be early in their career and/or lacking experience in acting as a board member. An induction programme will be provided.
A fuller job description and person specification can be found using the link below. Harmeny is a values-led organisation and a good fit with our ethos is as important to us as having relevant experience.
If you would like to find out more about this rewarding opportunity, please contact Gavin Calder, Chief Executive, on 0131 449 3938.
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