Assistant chief executive jobs in Edinburgh

Employment Type: Full time
Location: Remote · Multiple locationsIreland · UK
Salary: £62,000 - £72,000 (GBP)25 days holiday plus other benefits.
Seniority: Senior
Closing date: 9:00am, 4th May

About GLAN

GLAN is an independent non-profit organisation made up of lawyers, investigators and campaigners. We pursue legal action against powerful actors involved in serious human rights violations and environmental harms, working across borders with international and local grassroots organisations. 

Our vision is justice across borders.

We are a fully remote team - our committed colleagues are spread across multiple countries, and we have offices in Ireland and the UK.

We currently work across three key focus areas: 

• Accountability for Atrocity Crimes
• Environment and Climate Litigation
• Abuses in Value Chains

About the role

The Chief Operating Officer at GLAN will play a crucial role in steering the team in the successful implementation of the charity’s organisational strategy, and will be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day smooth running of the organisation – in order to build a sustainable, compliant, resilient and well-governed organisation.

The ideal candidate

We are looking for an experienced leader with a proven track-record of delivering financial oversight and overseeing complex budgets and projects to completion in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone who possesses excellent people skills, who is emotionally intelligent and can guide a dynamic team remotely.

The Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for the delivery of core services and will manage a core team of staff to deliver Finance, HR, Fundraising, Communications and Governance.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in a similar role, with in depth understanding of how charitable, purpose driven organisations operate. You must have excellent leadership skills, a solid grasp of data analysis and performance metrics, financial planning and budgeting skills, and an advanced understanding of business planning, budget and project management.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Leadership

• Lead the Senior Leadership team in the implementation of our revised organisational strategy 2027-2030.
• Ensure organisation-wide financial oversight and operational business planning.
• Provide guidance and support to GLAN’s team.
• Deputise for the CEO when necessary and take ownership of high-level decision-making.

Operational oversight

• Maintain operational oversight so that legal, advocacy, funding and finance align with GLAN’s organisational strategy.
• Oversee and facilitate the flow of information between the legal and operational teams so that our legal case works aligns with finances, commitments to funders, team capacity, and communications plans.
• Ensure that systems enable on-going monitoring of expenditure so that fundraising and finance are aware of gaps/underspends.
• Help ensure cases/teams are sufficiently resourced in terms of staff capacity.
• Ensure joined up working, and provide strategic guidance when challenges arise.

People and culture

• Provide strong leadership to ensure a professional and healthy working culture.
• Build on GLAN’s existing commitments to a working culture that is in line with our values, overseeing team-wide consistency to HR line-management, 1:1’s, annual 360 reviews and performance.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and staff development and staff feedback.
• Ensure policies on anti-racism, equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing are embedded in how we work.
• Support the embedding of GLAN’s values across GLAN’s work.
• Oversee relationship and dialogue between GLAN’s SLT and Trade Union representatives.

Governance and Board relationships

• Lead on ensuring that GLAN is compliant with our legal, regulatory, health & safety, data protection / GDPR and employment law obligations.
• Ensure we have all necessary policies in place and take the lead on coordinating the establishment and review of existing and further policies. Oversee the regular review of GLAN’s risk management frameworks and our risk register.
• Oversee GLAN’s governance structures (internal reporting, Board meetings etc.), ensuring decisions are well informed and documented.

Financial oversight

• Oversee financial operations: budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, expenditure controls, financial reporting, payroll.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, audit requirements and donor / funder financial reporting obligations.
• Manage relationships with external accountants, auditors, banks, and financial service providers.
• Ensure best practices are followed and financial risk is identified and managed appropriately.

Operations

• Ensure the smooth running of IT, data protection, office management. Managing relationships with our external providers.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in senior leadership roles, delivering successful organisational financial oversight- with expertise in business planning and complex project management.
• Demonstrable experience of high-level budgeting, forecasting, auditing, proven accountability for ensuring financial sustainability and compliance.
• Minimum of 10 year’s line management experience.
• Excellent strategic thinking and planning skills, able to bridge between high-level strategy and operational detail.
• Sound judgement, risk-management and governance experience; familiarity with compliance, data protection / GDPR, employment law etc.
• Exceptionally organised and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to present complex operational, financial or legal information clearly.
• Strong collaborative approach, ability to work across teams, offer guidance to other senior level staff, and clear people management skills.
• Expertise in ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and procedures, particularly in the charity sector.
• Understanding of UK charity law and governance, including experience with Board of Trustees.
• Aptitude in decision making and problem solving, and confidence in providing guidance to boards and CEO.
• Warm, people-centred and positive approach.
• Emotionally intelligent, able to self-reflect, be honest and conduct open conversations with sensitivity.
• Solution-orientated, able to anticipate and resolve challenges.
• Strong alignment with GLAN’s values and our mission.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and committed to GLAN’s ongoing anti-racist learning and practice.
• Commitment to developing an organisational culture in which our team thrives and we can achieve meaningful impact in our work.
• Ability to handle difficult situations and handle confidential information.
• Ability to balance GLAN’s operational priorities with our values.

Desirable

• Experience of operating in non-profit / mission-driven / legal organisations.
• Previous experience working in a human rights or environmental protection focussed setting.
• Legal or compliance experience.
• Experience of change management and scaling teams or systems.
• Experience of hybrid / remote team leadership .
• Experience of supporting culture building.
• Experience of working to decolonial commitments.
• Experience of delivering organisational change programmes.
• Legal or compliance experience.
• Experience of change management and scaling teams or systems.
• Experience of hybrid / remote team leadership 
• Commitment to equity, learning and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of HR practices and employment law.
• Fundraising experience.
• Accountancy qualification, Leadership or management qualifications, Project management qualifications e.g. Prince2

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We particularly welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of the issues that GLAN works on. We strongly encourage applications from disabled candidates, older candidates, and Black and racially minoritised candidates, who are currently underrepresented in our organisation. We use an anonymised recruitment process to ensure fairness. Each applicant will be individually assessed against the essential criteria regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or belief. We will use positive action on the basis of race and/or disability in case of a tie break situation.

Our values

Decolonial - We are committed to building decolonial, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approaches at GLAN.

Collective Power - We believe lasting change is built through collective action and power sharing. 

Responsive - Working across interconnected global systems that are ever in flux, we aim to be adaptable, nimble and responsive to make the biggest impact we can. 

Steadfast - We know the kind of change we want to see won’t happen overnight, that’s why we strongly value patience and persistence. 

Self-Reflective - We recognise the power and privilege we hold as an organization. We’re committed to fostering a culture of honesty, reflection, and continuous learning, constantly examining how we work within the system and why to help us strengthen both our organisation and the movements we support work within the system.

How to apply

To apply, please use our application portal. Applications are due by 9am 4 May 2026. We will not review applications sent via LinkedIn or email.

GLAN does not use AI to review applications, and we ask candidates to avoid its use in this process. We want to read about people’s experience in their own words.

If you need any reasonable adjustments, including this job pack to be sent in a larger font, in order to apply for this role, please contact us.

The Engagement Development Executive plays a key operational support role in supporting the charity’s engagement development activity. The role ensures that information, reporting, and resources are accurate, current, and accessible, enabling the organisation to respond effectively to funding opportunities, partnerships, and engagement needs while clearly demonstrating impact for the families we support.

Working closely with and in support of the Programmes Manager, the postholder underpins proposal development, reporting, and stewardship by coordinating high‑quality engagement, project, and impact information across teams.

Key Responsibilities 

Reporting, Data & Insights

• Collate engagement, project, and impact reports, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and readiness for internal and external reporting.
• Maintain dashboards and trackers, ensuring data is current and supports effective decision‑making and accountability.
• Develop and update impact report templates to ensure consistent reporting across partners and funders.

Porposal & Pipeline Management 

• Manage the proposal pipeline tracker, maintaining accurate records and reporting readiness.
• Collate and organise proposal information required for submissions, ensuring deadlines and funder requirements are met.
• Support proposal development by aligning appropriate family case studies, testimonials, and feedback with funding opportunities.

Resource & Content Management 

• Maintain the Engagement resource library, ensuring content remains relevant, up to date, and easily accessible.
• Create clear, fundable opportunity information documents to support fundraising and partnership activity.

Stakeholder & Team Support

• Respond to requests from the Engagement team, providing timely support for proposal development and reporting needs.
• Provide coordination and administrative support to the Engagement Development Manager, including organising engagement, project, and impact information to support strategic planning, reporting, and oversight.

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience supporting engagement, fundraising, development, or programme activity within a charity or purpose‑led organisation.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail, particularly when working with data, reports, and written content.
• Experience using trackers, dashboards, CRMs, or data management systems to maintain accurate records and reporting.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, with experience managing and presenting data; familiarity with Power BI or similar tools is desirable.
• Understanding of fundraising or proposal development processes, including the use of impact reporting and family case studies.
• Experience maintaining shared resources or knowledge libraries.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to write in line with organisational tone and values.
• A collaborative, proactive approach and the ability to handle sensitive information with care and discretion.
• A genuine commitment to RMHC’s mission, values, and focus on supporting families and creating impact.

In this exciting and varied role, within our growing Engagement Directorate you will be part of the core team responsible for delivering the charities special events portfolio to maximise support and increase income.

In undertaking this work, you will always need to be one step ahead with excellent customer service skills. You will be organised and have proven project management skills, confident in solving problems, ability to deliver on KPI’s and take a creative and collaborative approach to deliver outstanding events.

Key Responsibilities 

Event Planning & Development 

• Support the management and delivery of a programme of special events across the UK.
• Collaboratively research and identify new event opportunities.
• Support the development and delivery of opportunities for corporate engagement and sponsorship.
• Identify opportunities to cross‑sell other projects and income‑generation initiatives at events where appropriate.

Financial Management & Performance 

• Assist with producing information required for budgets and event plans.
• Support the achievement of financial and non‑financial targets.
• Develop a network of leads able to provide gifts in kind to help reduce event expenditure.

Event Delivery & On-the-Day Support

• Attend events and support the Senior Events Fundraiser with on‑the‑day coordination and delivery.

Stakeholder, Supporter & Volunteer Engagement 

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams and contribute to the development of the supporter stewardship journey.
• Cultivate, steward and recruit new and existing supporters and volunteers to participate in a range of events.
• Arrange and deliver tours of Ronald McDonald Houses for existing and prospective donors.

Marketing, Communications & Representation 

• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications team to produce appropriate fundraising materials and maximise public relations opportunities.
• Represent Ronald McDonald House Charities UK at fundraising meetings and presentations as required.

Data Management, Reporting & Insights

• Manage and record event communications and information, including income and expenditure.
• Contribute to reports, data analysis and trend monitoring using database reporting.
• Identify issues, suggest solutions and support continuous improvement of events activity.

Skills & Experience 

• Experience working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, building strong and effective relationships
• Strong customer service, communication and presentation skills
• Well organised, with strong planning skills and attention to detail
• Able to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience supporting or working within a fundraising team (desirable)
• Confident developing and managing sensitive or complex relationships
• Proactive and creative approach to fundraising and problem‑solving
• Skilled in networking, negotiation and decision‑making
• Good numeracy skills, with the ability to analyse and report on financial performance
• Experience assessing and managing financial, marketing and reputational risk (desirable)
• Competent in MS Office and the use of databases to manage information
• Full driving licence (desirable)

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK is seeking a proactive and creative Mass Participation Events Manager to lead the delivery and growth of our mass participation portfolio. The role will lead on the strategy, performance and delivery of our challenge events programme, ensuring events achieve agreed income and participation targets and work closely with the Head of Mass Engagement to shape and test future Ronald McDonald House Charities UK owned mass participation events, supporting sustainable, diversified income growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Event Strategy & Planning

• Develop and deliver a clear strategy for challenge and mass participation events, aligned to fundraising targets and audience engagement objectives.
• Identify and assess new event opportunities, including third party and bespoke challenges, to diversify and grow income.
• To play a key role in developing new events, taking them to market and adopting a test and learn approach in collaboration with the Head of Mass Engagement & wider Engagement Directorate.

Event Delivery & Logistics

• Support the Senior Event Fundraiser to lead the end-to-end management of events, including budgeting, planning, supplier coordination, risk management, and on-the-day execution.
• Ensure all events are delivered to a high standard, providing an exceptional experience for supporters.

Supporter Engagement & Stewardship

• Build strong relationships with event participants, providing excellent supporter experience and tailored stewardship journeys.
• Support the development, delivery of and evaluation of effective supporter journeys across the events portfolio, focused on maximising net return and supporter retention.
• Create and develop engaging communications and materials to inspire fundraising and deepen supporters’ connections to the charity.

Marketing & Promotion

• Lead the delivery of an audience and insight led events marketing programme, working closely with the Brand, Communications and Digital team to maximise participation and net return.
• Keep abreast of income and data trends across the sector to help inform future activities and events fundraising programmes.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Agree and deliver against ambitious income and acquisition targets, maintaining costs within agreed budgets.
• Set, manage and report against budgets, milestones and KPIs across the events portfolio, demonstrating accountability for performance.
• Use data and insight to evaluate event performance, inform decision making and continuously improve participant experience.
• Produce regular performance reports and insights for internal stakeholders

Collaboration & Partnership

• Work closely with senior managers and colleagues across the department to maximise opportunities for collaboration and integrated delivery.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including but not limited to - McDonald’s Relationship Team, House teams, fundraising partners, suppliers and third party event organisers.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• A proven track record of excellent management of an event portfolio to meet income and acquisition targets.
• Experience of delivering data and insight led marketing and stewardship programmes to drive acquisition and net income.
• Experience of managing multiple projects with complex budgets, multiple stakeholders and stretching KPIs.
• Line management and team development experience.
• Knowledge of health and safety, risk management in event delivery & fundraising compliance.

Desirable

• Experience of virtual fundraising and development of new events.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and balance a busy and varied workload.
• Familiarity with digital fundraising platforms and MS Dynamics.
• Experience supporting innovation or new product development, working with agencies to deliver new fundraising products.

JOB TITLE: Kinship Community & Family Support Worker

RESPONSIBLE TO: Kinship Services Manager

HOURS OF WORK Part-time 28hours (evening and weekend work will be required)

LOCATION: Hybrid – in person community delivery, with requirements to attend office base in Edinburgh/East Lothian, and home working possible

SALARY / GRADE: Fixed term 24 months (with potential for extension, funding allowing)

Grade 4 / £28,615 per annum fte – pro-rata

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

•Kinship Services Manager

•Adoption UK Scotland and Kinship service colleagues

•The Adoption and Kinship Community in Scotland

•Local Authorities and external commissioners

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

·To support the community work of Adoption UK Scotland and their kinship services, to provide professionals, parents/carers, children, and young people access to information, resources, and services for kinship communities and to engage with families in their local communities.

·To offer a front-line service, primarily to kinship families based in the East Lothian Community, by supporting delivery and administration for activities and events, including regular support groups delivery, youth and family events. Support of events in other areas in Scotland based on resources and availability.

·To hold and manage kinship care family cases, providing direct family support within service guidelines and delivery model.

·Support planning, organisation of, and attendance at, in person and online events through funded projects and services to bring together kinship families and individuals, enable peer support, build a sense of community and promote an active and supportive Community Network.

·To respond to enquiries received via the Information and Support Service and relevant email inboxes with relevant information and/or signposting.

·To be part of the wider kinship service team within Adoption UK Scotland, working across teams and services.

·Work collaboratively with colleagues across all services areas of Adoption UK

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

·Working alongside service leads within the kinship teams, and with the wider community team members to plan and deliver specific events and activities for East Lothian Council Kinship community members, and kinship families in wider areas where resources and availability allows.

·Provide administrative coordination for community groups, including collating event materials, gathering feedback and evaluations for reporting purposes, supporting delivery of events, maintaining records using existing required systems, and responding to enquiries via our Information and Support line and relevant email inboxes.

·To facilitate referral meetings with new kinship carers accessing the East Lothian Kinship Support Service, including initial assessment of need to identify suitable support and signposting requirements

·To hold responsibility for administrative requirements relating to referrals and cases within the East Lothian Kinship Support Service, including setting up new cases and recording service delivery interactions, using existing Adoption UK systems and processes

·To work with colleagues in the Foundations for Families kinship support service to support delivery where time and resources allow, and coordinate activities between services where appropriate.

·To report to line manager and directors in Adoption UK Scotland relating to service delivery, including contributing to monitoring and reporting on activities.

·To work alongside Adoption UK colleagues to develop and improve resources and services for kinship carers

Knowledge and experience

• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the kinship legislation system, issues and challenges faced by kinship individuals. (Essential)
• Experience of engagement and direct work with families (Essential)
• Experience of facilitation of in person and online groups (or commitment to learn) and commitment to digital safeguarding (Essential)

Qualifications and Education

• Relevant degree or qualification (e.g. community work, social sciences) or equivalent experience (Essential)

Skills and abilities

• Report writing and record keeping (Essential)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (Essential)
• Ability to build and maintain relationships (Essential)
• The ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) (Essential)

Accountability

• Liaise with colleagues to share updates and information
• Report to supervisor and relevant managers and external commissioners on activities

Behaviours

• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values and mission in all interactions with external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.
• Follows all policies and procedures relating to risk assessments, safeguarding and youth service delivery
• Contributes to an open and honest culture
• Encourages challenge and creativity, transparency and consistency.
• Leads by example.
• Offers outstanding service to members.
• Promotes cross functional team working, sharing skills and knowledge
• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.
• Valuing the opinion of other. Treating colleagues and other stakeholders with respect.
• Takes pride in own development, committed to achieving high standards and agreed objectives