Assistant jobs in Edinburgh, scotland

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a painful, lifelong inflammatory condition affecting around 1 in  people. Despite this, awareness remains low and diagnosis is often delayed.

ASIF brings together 60 patient organisations across 48 countries to raise awareness, strengthen patient voices and improve understanding of axSpA globally. We are a small, fully remote team who care deeply about the work we do and about working supportively and collaboratively with one another.

We are now looking for an organised, proactive and thoughtful Project Co-ordinator/ Operations Assistant to help us deliver a major international online research study, while also supporting our wider activities.

This is an opportunity to be part of something meaningful - research that will help shape advocacy, awareness and understanding for people living with inflammatory arthritis around the world.

The Role

Your time will be split approximately:

• 70–80% supporting an ambitious international research project·
• 20–30% supporting ASIF’s wider operations

You will work closely with our Project Manager, international member organisations and scientific partners to support all stages of the study, from set-up and ethics submissions through to recruitment, reporting and sharing findings globally.

Alongside this, you’ll help with events, communications and general organisational support, because in a small team, we all contribute where needed.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience supporting research projects (ideally in healthcare or epidemiology)
• Is highly organised and comfortable managing detailed documentation
• Communicates clearly and confidently in English         
• Is proactive, reliable and solutions-focused
• Is comfortable working remotely and independently
• Enjoys collaborating with people from different countries and cultures
• Understands what it means to work in a small organisation; flexible, supportive and hands-on

Most importantly, you’ll be someone who takes pride in doing careful, thoughtful work that contributes to real-world impact.

Key Information
Location: Fully remote (preferably within 2 hours of GMT)
Salary: £35,000–£40,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 per week (flexible working)
Contract: 18 months (extension subject to funding)
Closing date: 11 March 2026
Interviews: First interviews, 18/19 March (online)

Job Title: Assistant Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnership
Reporting To: Deputy CEO/Director of Fundraising and Communications
Manages: Head of Trusts and Foundations, Head of Corporate Partnerships
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week, flexible)
Salary band: £58,000 - £66,000 per annum
N.B. To ensure fairness and consistency across Home-Start UK, new colleagues usually join at the first point of the pay band for their role. This helps us maintain a clear and equitable approach to pay for everyone joining our team.

Location: Remote – with regular travel to meetings with donors, for events and to our central office in Leicester for collaborative meetings and team activities.

About Home-Start UK

Home-Start is a federated charity consisting of a central national office – Home-Start UK - and over 170 geographically dispersed local Home-Start organisations, all working together under the same identity.

We recognise that being a parent has never been easy. Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside parents to overcome the challenges they are facing. We work with parents to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need. We offer no judgement – just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. This peer-to-peer support is key to the difference Home-Start makes and often our volunteers have lived experience of the challenges their families are facing themselves.

About The Role

This is an important moment for us and for the families we support. Parents of babies and young children are facing huge pressures, and strong, values-driven partnerships matter more than ever. We’re looking for a senior leader who can help us meet this moment with confidence and ambition.

As Assistant Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships, you will help shape the future of our national work and support our federation of 170+ local Home-Starts working in communities across the UK. You will lead a talented team, build long-lasting relationships, and help make sure Home-Start has the funding, partnerships, and influence it needs to give every child the best possible start in life. This role will suit someone who is motivated by purpose, who values people and relationships, and who is comfortable working across a large and varied network.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record, someone who has already delivered high-value fundraising and partnerships at a senior level and is ready to take on a role with significant national influence. With responsibility for an annual income portfolio of circa £4 Million – with strong potential to grow this over the next 3-5 years to between £6Million-£8Million plus, you will work with a supportive Leadership Team and Board, who have already engaged external philanthropy expertise to develop a strategy and roadmap that you can build on. You’ll need to be confident working with high-value supporters: able to build trust, communicate clearly, and nurture long-term relationships with people who want to invest in families and early years support. You’ll bring the skills and confidence to grow a portfolio that is already strong and take it further, along with the ability to work well with others in a fast-moving environment.

You will be joining a warm, collaborative organisation that believes in the power of community, the strength of families, and the importance of early help. If you feel excited by the chance to make a national difference, to build partnerships based on trust and shared purpose, and to help shape the next chapter of Home-Start’s impact, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The people at Home-Start are its most important resource. Home-Start UK has been accredited with Investors in People since March 2005, which recognises the commitment we give to developing our staff.

Benefits of working for Home-Start

• Flexible working
• Family friendly policy
• PayCare health cash plan
• Enhanced employer contribution pension
• Learning and development
• DAS Employee Assistance

If it sounds like your type of challenge, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The closing date for applications is Friday 27th March at 4pm.
As part of our recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a full-day assessment centre at our Leicester office on Tuesday 14th April.
The assessment centre will include a mix of individual and group activities designed to understand your strategic thinking, relational approach, and leadership style.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Home-Start UK is committed to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity. We wish to encourage applications from all parts of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability. 

No agencies please.

Help shape a future where people with motor neurone disease (MND) receive joined-up, person-centred support. As a Programme Lead - Integrated Support, you will guide the development of a new integrated support model, coordinating activity across seven connected work-packages and ensuring progress that is timely, focused, and grounded in real need.

As the Programme Lead, you will work across teams to plan, align, and drive programme delivery. You will ensure each area of work is clearly structured, purposeful, and supported, while maintaining strong relationships across the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning and delivery of projects within the Integrated Support Programme
• Maintain a clear programme framework that supports governance, prioritisation, rick-management and quality assurance
• Collaborate with senior leaders to inform strategic direction and future development
• Engage colleagues, volunteers, and community stakeholders to support innovation and inclusive co-production
• Track progress, evaluate effectiveness, and embed continuous improvement
• Oversee budgets, resources, timelines, and project standards
• Identify and manage risks and interdependencies
• Promote integrated, person-centred approaches rooted in lived experience and best practice

About You

• Experience leading complex project portfolios within service-focused settings
• Knowledge of service improvement and the ability to apply recognised Quality Improvement methods
• A formal project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, Agile)
• Skilled in programme framework development, resource planning, and financial oversight
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using metrics to inform decisions
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and clear, inclusive communication
• Ability to lead collaboratively, supporting both staff and volunteers
• Strength in risk management and constructive problem-solving

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached Candidate Pack.

This is a home-based role with a requirement to travel to Northampton, London and regionally in-line with role and organisation requirements.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

What We Offer

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave)
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Hybrid working

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

About RAP

The Regulatory Assistance Project is an independent, global nonprofit advancing the transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy systems. With teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, RAP works at the intersection of policy, markets, and implementation to accelerate decarbonization and equitable energy outcomes.

RAP is currently engaged in a strategic integration process to strengthen global impact and scale operational excellence. The Executive Assistant to the CEO plays a pivotal role in enabling effective executive leadership during this next phase of growth.

Position Summary

The Executive Assistant to the CEO is a highly trusted partner who enables strategic focus, operational effectiveness, and disciplined execution at the executive level. This role requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to anticipate needs in a complex, global environment.

The successful candidate is a quick thinker, resourceful problem solver, and mission-driven professional who thrives in fast-moving, international settings. They bring composure under pressure, strong prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple competing demands with professionalism and precision.

This individual will operate at the center of RAP’s leadership ecosystem, coordinating across senior leadership, board members, external partners, and global stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the CEO’s complex global calendar across time zones with proactive prioritization and alignment to strategic objectives.
• Anticipate emerging issues and flag risks or dependencies early.
• Ensure follow-through on key commitments, action items, and cross-functional deliverables.
• Act as a gatekeeper and facilitator to protect executive focus while maintaining responsiveness.
• Facilitate information flow between the CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Coordinate high-level external meetings with policymakers, donors, and partner organizations.
• Draft correspondence and executive communications that reflect RAP’s values and strategic voice.
• Support travel planning, logistics, and preparation for international engagements.
• Maintain structured systems for document management, tracking, and workflow coordination.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve executive support infrastructure.
• Support expense reporting, contract coordination, and light project management as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting C-level executives, ideally within international nonprofit, policy, or mission-driven environments.
• Experience operating in complex, multi-country organizational structures.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information with integrity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in other global languages is highly desirable.
• High digital fluency with productivity tools such as Microsoft 365 and collaboration platforms.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Understands organizational priorities and aligns executive time accordingly.
• Resourcefulness: Finds solutions independently and navigates ambiguity effectively.
• Agility: Adapts quickly to shifting priorities and evolving circumstances.
• Discretion: Exercises mature judgment in handling sensitive information.
• Global Mindset: Comfortable operating across cultures and time zones.
• Mission Alignment: Demonstrates commitment to clean energy transition and public interest work.

Working Model

This role can be structured as part-time or full-time, depending on candidate experience and organizational need. Flexibility in working hours is essential due to RAP’s global footprint.

The position may be based in Greater London or Berlin, with remote flexibility consistent with RAP’s operating model.

Project Trust is an education charity with over fifty years’ experience in international volunteering for young people.  We organise challenging, long-term placements for 17–25-year-olds with partnership organisations in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

We annually select up to 200 young people from across the UK for immersive and focused teaching and youth development projects around the world.  Our Volunteers are provided with training and support before, during and after their international placements and return home with broadened horizons and an impressive range of transferable skills, true Global Citizens.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised Digital Marketing Assistant to join our digital engagement team.  This new role could be ideal for someone starting their career in digital communications, content creation or marketing.

As our Digital Marketing Assistant, you will support the day-to-day delivery of our digital content across social media, our website and other online platforms, telling the stories of our Volunteers and the impact of our work at Project Trust.  You will support our digital marketing activity and fundraising campaigns, contributing to our digital engagement strategy.  You will also be involved in wider organisational activities working directly with young people.

The role is home-based with some UK travel and the occasional requirement to work evenings and weekends.

Main areas of responsibility include:

· Collect stories, quotes, photos and videos from Volunteers before, during and after their placements

· Create engaging content and share on Project Trust’s social media channels (including posts, stories, reels, and simple graphics)

· Support digital campaigns to promote Volunteer opportunities, increase applications and fundraising

If you are passionate about youth development and want to use your digital skills to inspire the next generation, apply now.

DIGITAL MARKETING ASSISTANT

Responsibilities & duties

Digital content and communications

· Create engaging content for Project Trust’s social media channels (including posts, stories, reels, and simple graphics)

· Help plan, draft and schedule content in line with marketing and fundraising campaigns and key dates

· Support with maintenance and updating of Project Trust’s website

· Create digital assets such as images, short videos, blog posts, and email content

· Create content for and distribution of our newsletters

Story gathering and impact

· Collect stories, quotes, photos and videos from Volunteers before, during and after their placements

· Turn these into compelling digital content that shows the impact of Project Trust’s work

· Curate our library of digital content

· Support basic reporting on digital engagement and audience response

Volunteer recruitment and applications

· Develop digital campaigns to promote Volunteer opportunities and increase applications

· Assist with keeping application-related web pages and digital recruitment materials used up to date

Team and organisational support

· Work closely with the Digital Engagement Coordinator and Volunteer & Schools Engagement Team to support campaigns and day-to-day digital activity

· Contribute to wider organisational work with young people directly, such as Volunteer selection, training, pre-departure briefings and ongoing Volunteer support where needed

· Participate in events such as virtual open evenings and in-person sessions

Miscellaneous

· Administrative tasks associated with all of the above

· Within the job holder’s skills and abilities, support the Digital Engagement Co-ordinator and Volunteer & Schools Engagement Manager as required in other tasks or activities which contribute to the achievement of Project Trust’s objectives and its development

· Travel to attend meetings elsewhere in the UK, plus some evening and weekend working, required

Essential skills

· A demonstrable genuine interest in digital media, social platforms and storytelling

· Experience in creating content for social media, blogs or websites (this could be personal, voluntary or from studies)

· Good written communication skills and attention to detail

· Creativity and willingness to try new ideas

· Ability to organise your time, work independently and manage multiple small tasks

· An interest in international volunteering, youth development or the charitable sector

· Ability to travel to other parts of the UK as required

· Ability to work remotely from an appropriate home base

· Willingness to undertake work outside standard office hours

· Commitment to Project Trust’s purpose, approach, ethos

Desirable

·       Understanding of running and supporting digital advertising, such as paid social or search ads (eg setting up campaigns, monitoring performance or supporting optimisation)

·       Skills in tools such as Canva, Adobe, social media platforms or content management systems

·       Knowledge of analytics tools (eg platform insights, Google Analytics) and an interest in using data to improve content

·       Interest in photography, video or design

· Marketing or digital marketing qualification

Conditions of Service

The appointment will be made subject to Project Trust’s detailed terms and conditions of employment. Candidates should be aware that:

· The post holder will be required to obtain an enhanced Disclosure Scotland check (PVG)

· Any offer of appointment will be made subject to the receipt of satisfactory references

·       The post holder must have the right to work in the UK

If you are passionate about youth development and want to use your digital skills to inspire the next generation, apply now.

How to apply

Download the job pack and return completed documents by 4 March 2026.

Please don't use AI in your applicaiton.We want to hear about you, your genuine interest in the role and why your skills, personality and values make you a great fit for the role.

First round interviews will take place in the week beginning 9 March 2026, on Microsoft Teams.  Short-listed candidates will be asked produce a piece of work as part of the selection process.

Please note, we will be reviewing applications as they are received and reserve the right to close the advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.

The start date is late March/early April 2026.

Project Trust recognises the positive value of diversity and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

About Care4Calais

Care4Calais is a volunteer-based charity providing essential aid and support for refugees in France and the UK. 

In the UK, we collect and distribute clothing, shoes, mobile phones, and other essential items, alongside offering social support and access to legal, medical, and educational services. In northern France, we operate year-round from Calais, working alongside local communities in Calais and Dunkirk to provide warm clothing, bedding, and services to displaced refugees living in challenging and dangerous conditions.

All of Care4Calais' operations are supported by a small, dedicated staff team, who supervise large volunteer teams to provide critical support to asylum seekers and people on the move in both the UK and France.

About the Role

Care4Calais is recruiting an Operations Support Assistant to support its humanitarian operations in the UK. You will join our team in a remote and part-time capacity, offering regular steady online support delegated by our Operations Support Officer for the UK.

The role requires a proactive, detail-oriented, IT-competent individual with strong written communication skills to offer ad-hoc support to a busy team - a team which registers UK volunteers, responds to incoming queries from the public, and manages ongoing administrative tasks for Care4Calais’ UK-based operations. 

Having an understanding of the asylum system within the UK, and therefore the environment that our volunteers work within as they support people that are seeking sanctuary here, is useful for the role. You will receive a thorough induction, and work alongside experienced team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide core operational support for Care4Calais’ operations in the UK alongside the UK Operations Support Officer and team of admin volunteers.

• Communicate with and register new volunteers joining our work, both virtually and on the ground, across the UK.

• Liaise with the public via email by responding to new incoming enquiries.

• Manage volunteer data as part of the registration process and store it appropriately, in-keeping with GDPR and Care4Calais policy.

• Navigate the spreadsheets and CRM systems used by our teams for volunteer information storage and management.

• Work alongside a small team to increase the speed and efficiency of our existing processes and procedures, and bolster operations whilst new processes are introduced.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

• Interest in, and alignment with, the work of Care4Calais, including justice for migrants and refugees

• Competent digital literacy, including the ability to use Google Workspace and spreadsheets effectively

• Strong written communication skills

• Excellent written and spoken proficiency in English

• An eye for detail

Desirable Criteria:

• Administrative and/or communications work experience

• Having an understanding of GDPR

• Experience working with teams from diverse cultural backgrounds

Diversity and Inclusion

Care4Calais is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with lived experience of the asylum and migration systems.

As a proud member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network (EBE), Care4Calais is dedicated to creating inclusive employment practices that recognise and accommodate the unique experiences of individuals with lived experience. We ensure that our recruitment processes are fair, transparent, and accessible to all candidates, regardless of background.

We strongly encourage individuals with lived experience to apply, particularly those who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Application process:  Please submit your CV, and you will be invited to answer some brief questions. No cover letter is required.

Closing Date:  This job ad closes on 13th March. We are actively interviewing and this job opportunity may close early if we find an appropriate candidate before the closing date. We are looking for immediate starters.

Interviews:  Will take place on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.

Forest Peoples Programme is seeking two Programme Assistants to provide vital administrative, logistical, and project support, helping Indigenous Peoples and forest communities secure their rights and protect their forests. 

About Forest Peoples Programme

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is an international NGO that has been working with Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples for 35 years since it was established in 1990. As of 2026, we work in 18 countries across South and Central America, Africa and Southeast Asia, with over 50 partners based in the tropical forest belt. We work directly and in solidarity with communities and peoples, supporting them to secure their rights to their traditional lands, territories, and resources, protect their forests and ways of life, and choose their own futures.

Working at local, national and global levels FPP supports Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples to effect change from the bottom up – grounded in struggles to advance the enjoyment of their rights and seek remedy for violations. At the same time, we work to ensure the voices and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples shape national and international law and policy – e.g. relating to business and human rights, climate, and biodiversity – so that resulting regulatory and market reform better serves and respects their rights.

Role summary

The work of Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is organised via three core programmes, each of which is led by a Programme Coordinator. The Programme Assistant position provides a broad support function for the Programme Coordinator, principally in relation to administrative and logistical support, as well as supporting programme and project monitoring and management (including some financial management). Programme Assistants need to be able to work at pace on multiple different tasks concurrently; to be proactive and take initiative under broad direction; to be able to work directly and respectfully with Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples and their organisations; and to be able to write well, taking notes and distilling information in English (and ideally also in a second relevant language).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development and tracking of the Programme’s work, including key dates, deliverables and actions, and help maintain internal knowledge management systems and channels.
• Support Programme and sub-programme team meetings, including organising meetings, drafting agendas, taking minutes, and monitoring and following up on action points.
• Support the Programme Coordinator and other programme colleagues in communications with grant partners, donors and other parties, including liaising with partners and programme colleagues to prepare Partnership Agreements, Letters of Agreement, and consultancy contracts (from templates).
• Work with the Programme Coordinator and the finance team to track expenditure across relevant programme budgets, monitor progress (including spend) on key projects within the programmes, track key donor reporting deadlines and help compile and submit narrative and financial reports to donors.
• Support fundraising, including compiling and checking grant applications.
• Support finalisation of publications and communications.
• Assist in planning, preparation and organising of events, workshops or meetings, working closely with FPP’s admin/logistics and finance teams, and supporting the attendance and participation of partners and staff at other national and international events. Accompanying programme colleagues on international trips and meetings to lend a hand where needed.
• Provide (where able) or facilitate access to, remote (and potentially also in-country, as needed) capacity building support to local partners in relation to project management, finance, planning, reporting, computer/IT skills, communication and procedures, monitoring and evaluation etc.
• Act as a port of call for programme staff seeking programme or project information or information about wider organisational policies and processes.
• Support the tracking of impacts against an established Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework, working with programme colleagues to assemble and systematise information.
• Participate in FPP meetings and staff sharings (online or in person) and attend FPP’s Annual General Meeting.
• Other tasks incidental to these or otherwise as agreed with the line-manager.

Person specification

Essential experience

• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector, ideally with an international focus
• Experience with project administration and logistics work, supporting fundraising and donor reporting, and supporting meetings and events.
• Experience of supporting financial management of grants and projects, including drafting and monitoring large and complex budgets.

Desirable experience 

• Experience of working in FPP’s niche (or related), including with Indigenous Peoples, forest peoples, and global south organisations and/or networks
• Experience of working in the geographical regions were FPP works
• Experience of remote working, particularly with people from different cultures
• University degree in a subject relevant to the work of FPP

Essential skills and qualities

• Highly proficient in written and spoken English
• Ability to work effectively, sensitively and proactively as part of a multi-cultural, dispersed team of FPP staff and partners to achieve shared objectives.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build healthy working relationships both internally with colleagues and externally (including with partners from global south, remotely and in person)
• Proven organisational and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to multiple deadlines, and the flexibility and agility to respond to multiple and evolving priorities and timelines
• Alignment with the vision, mission and core principles of FPP’s work
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to synthesise information from various sources and express it concisely
• Availability to travel overseas for 1-2 weeks at a time (likely no more than 2-3 times per year, if at all)
• Strong skills in Microsoft applications, including in particular Word and Excel

Desirable skills and qualities

• Fluent or highly proficient (professional working level) in one or more of the following languages: French, Spanish and/or Bahasa Indonesia
• Understanding of human rights and Indigenous Peoples
• Working knowledge of the themes relevant to FPP work, e.g. environment governance, responsible finance, and gender justice.

We encourage candidates to apply who do not strictly meet all the criteria listed above and yet are confident in their transferable skills. We value individuals who demonstrate commitment to FPP’s vision, mission and core principles, motivation to learn, and the potential to thrive in the role. When reviewing the specified essential and desirable qualities, remember that relevant experience can be demonstrated through academic studies, work experience (paid or voluntary), lived experience, skills, and achievements from any area of your life that relates to this role.

FPP is unable to sponsor visa applications for this role.