External consultant jobs in Edinburgh

Steamship Shieldhall is seeking to appoint an experienced freelance Commercial Manager to build new income streams to support the ongoing operation, conservation and sustainability of one of the country's most significant historic ships.

Shieldhall is berthed year-round in Southampton and welcomes passengers and visitors on board from 110 Berth in the Western Docks. She is capable of carrying up to 220 passengers and from spring to autumn each year operates a programme of public sailings ranging from two hour trips to full day cruises. She is also open for alongside events, and is available for private charters. In addition, she can be hired for use alongside such as for training activities, meetings, functions and filming.

The Commercial Manager will be responsible for identifying and realising new opportunities for revenue generation for Steamship Shieldhall, as well as supporting Shieldhall’s experienced volunteers with maximising income from existing activities.

This commission is an important element of the “Steamship Shieldhall: towards 2055, the next 10 years” project which is supported by a Development Phase grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.  The appointment is intended to cover both the Development Phase and the first two years of the Delivery Phase of our  project but will include a break-clause between the two phases. The Delivery Phase contract is contingent on a successful Delivery Phase grant application to the Heritage Fund

The successful candidate will have the right to set their own hours of work and will determine in agreement with the Shieldhall charity how best to undertake the work. This commision could be provided through self-employed individual, partnership or limited company.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The administrative coordinator will play a key role in providing administrative, coordination and financial support across AHS. The role focuses on managing core systems, inboxes and documents, ensuring information is accurate, accessible and compliant. Acting as a central point for organisation, the postholder will coordinate meetings, support teams with routine administrative tasks, and contribute to smooth financial processes. They will help maintain effective workflows in a virtual environment, escalating issues as needed to keep daily operations running efficiently.

Main responsibilities

 Administration and systems management

• Manage AHS central inbox(es) and escalate matters to the business administrator and business operations team as appropriate
• Provide day-to-day administrative support including preparing, filing, archiving and retrieving documents
• Manage and update shared digital platforms, databases and documents to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Manage administrative functions such as task tracking in a fully virtual environment

Team coordination and support

• Coordinate in-person, hybrid and virtual meetings and workshops, including scheduling and logistics, for AHS team members and external parties as required
• Provide key administrative support during meetings, including business and study meeting minutes as required

Finance delivery and support

• Support invoice processing, including maintaining accurate records
• Prepare payment requests and documentation in line with internal processes
• Maintain up-to-date financial administration files across shared systems

Operational delivery and implementation

• Provide hands-on support to teams and managers in rolling out new tools, systems and operational processes that are critical for the success of the longitudinal study
• Support the smooth, day-to-day running of business operations, ensuring tasks and processes are completed efficiently
• Identify operational issues or bottlenecks, propose practical solutions where appropriate, and escalate matters to the relevant members of the AHS team

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Qualified to A level or vocational qualifications, or equivalent, plus some experience in a relevant role
• Experience of working in an administrative role for a hybrid or virtual organisation, preferably a charity or small-to-medium (SME) organisation
• Experience of planning and delivering the logistics to in-person, hybrid and virtual meetings for 10+ team members across the UK
• Experience of financial administration
• Able to manage information electronically through databases and spreadsheets
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the proven ability to prioritise, at times under pressure, produce accurate work to deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to take ownership of problems and find solutions
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of software

 Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a health and/or data research environment
• Understanding and experience of using project management tools and techniques

Dimensions

• This is expected to be a full-time post
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK
• Primarily home working, with flexibility to travel across several geographical locations in the UK

Application Process

All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job. 

Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.

Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.

The closing date for this position is 11pm Sunday 26 July 2026.  

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the week commencing 24 August 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team in 2025. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. Recruitment will take place mainly through schools. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

 The Procurement Lead is responsible for developing and delivering a robust procurement and commercial strategy that ensures value for money, compliance with Procurement Act 2023 regulations in line with AHS being primarily public funded and supports AHS study and operational objectives. The role will lead on sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and commercial governance, ensuring ethical, transparent, and efficient use of public funds.

Main responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a procurement and commercial strategy aligned with organisational goals and funding requirements.
• Lead procurement planning across research programmes, operations, and corporate services.
• Act as a subject matter expert on public procurement policy and best practice.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, systems, and capability.

Tendering and Contract Management

• Oversee end-to-end procurement processes including tendering, evaluation, and contract award.
• Ensure compliance with UK public procurement regulations (e.g., Procurement Act and associated guidance).
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts, including research, clinical, and grant-related agreements.
• Manage contract lifecycle including performance monitoring, renewals, and extensions.

Commercial Governance & Compliance

• Establish and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure all procurement activities meet audit, transparency, and reporting requirements for public funding.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks across supplier engagements.
• Support internal and external audit processes.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, ensuring high performance and innovation.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (research teams, finance, legal) to understand needs and deliver value-driven procurement solutions.
• Work with external stakeholders including funders, partners and strategic advisors to develop optimum outcomes
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to senior leadership and project teams.
• Promote sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.

Financial & Value Management

• Deliver value for money through effective sourcing and negotiation strategies.
• Monitor procurement spend and identify cost-saving or efficiency opportunities.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Ensure funding is used appropriately, ethically and in line with public funding requirements.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

1. Professional qualification in procurement or supply chain e.g., CIPS Level 5 or equivalent
2. Degree or comparable experience in business, finance, law, or related field.
3. Proven track record of managing complex procurement exercises and contracts.
4. Experience in procurement or commercial roles within regulated procurement environments, specifically those classed as a public authority
5. Strong understanding of UK public procurement regulations and best practice.
6. Commercial acumen with strong negotiation and contract management skills.
7. Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
8. Knowledge of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
9. Strong experience in supplier and stakeholder management.
10. Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities.
11. Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels of an organisation.
12. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.

Desirable

1. CIPS Level 6 or equivalent
2. Membership of a professional body (e.g., MCIPS or FCIPS).
3. Experience managing high-value and complex contracts, including collaborative or partnership agreements
4. Experience in procurement or commercial roles within charity and/or research sectors
5. Detailed understanding of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
6. Detailed knowledge of the UK Procurement Act (or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 historically) and transitions between them.
7. Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
8. Understanding of subsidy control, state aid, or funding compliance frameworks.
9. Ability to analyse procurement data and generate insights using tools such as Excel, Power BI, or similar.
10. Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes in procurement.
11. Ability to build procurement capability across a non-procurement stakeholder base.

Dimensions

• This is a full-time role, 37.5 hours per week, offered initially as an 18-month fixed-term contract with potential route to permanency.
• Flexible working across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be required to AHS locations and partner organisations.
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK.

Application Process

All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job.

Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.

Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.

The closing date for applications is 11:00pm on Sunday 12th July 2026.

Interviews are currently expected to take place on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th August 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of:

• Gender, including gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partnership status
• Having or not having dependants
• Religion or belief
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age

We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.  All job applicants and employees who work for us will be treated fairly and will not be unfairly discriminated against on any of the above grounds. Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training or any other benefit will be made objectively and without unlawful discrimination. 

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

Corporate Partnerships Manager, Primary Science Teaching Trust

Key info:

• Salary £40,000 - £50,000 p/a (35 hours a week)
• Home based, The role will require regular travel to PSTT’s premises in Bristol (at least 1 day per month)
• Closing midnight Wednesday 15th July 2026 
• Annual leave of 28 days, which can be taken flexibly throughout the year plus 3 days to be taken at Christmas
• Enhanced maternity pay and adoption pay, contributory pension scheme (5% employer contribution), 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme

Role 

PSTT’s long term vision is: Excellent primary school teaching in every primary school in the UK.

The goal of PSTT is to make science more accessible and attractive to children of primary school age throughout the UK. Research has shown that children’s interest in science is shaped before they leave primary school. That makes it vital for them to have a positive experience of science from their early years onwards.

The Corporate Partnerships Manager is responsible for developing and implementing plans to maximise income from corporate partners and trusts and foundations There is huge scope to develop both income streams at PSTT as this is a newly created position with the responsibility for growing and further developing these income streams. 

This is an exciting role for a candidate who wants to grow and shape the income stream, and demonstrate their personal impact on generating income, and providing partners with an incredible supporter experience. There will be an element of change as the organisation embeds an internal culture that effectively supports fundraising. 

This specialist manager role would suit someone who is already operating at a senior fundraiser or manager level, or someone who can demonstrate experience of developing a corporate and/or trusts & foundations pipeline, creating operational plans and delivering income. PSTT is an organisation with big ambitions so a background that includes working within a smaller charity would be helpful for the candidate to have but isn't essential. 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps. 

Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date. 

Closing date for applications: Midnight Wednesday 15th July 2026 

Interviews are expected to be held on the week commencing Monday 20th July in person.

Location: Fully remote with flexible working arrangements
Salary: £39,742 per year FTE, dependent on experience
Contract: We are open to this role being part time (0.8FTE minimum preferred) or full time. We offer fully flexible working.
Closing date for applications: 12th July

Due to high numbers of applications, prior to interview we plan to carry out initial screening calls with prospective candidates before selection for interview. We will be asking about your reasons for applying and how you think your skills and experiences align to the role.

First interviews: w/c 22nd July
Start Date: ASAP

About the Warm Welcome Campaign

Founded in 2022, the Warm Welcome Campaign wants everyone in the UK to find a place of belonging and reconnection at a Warm Welcome Space near their home. We have a bold purpose to enable a more deeply connected society where we all have free access to welcoming community spaces.

We resource, connect and champion a network of over 6,300 Warm Welcome Spaces and bring together a growing coalition of local, regional and national partners representing the worlds of charity, faith, business, government and philanthropy. By working together, we can unlock the power of community spaces made by and for everyone, creating a thriving network of hope and reconnection fuelled by human warmth.

We’re working hard to reach everyone with the message that a Warm Welcome is waiting for them just around the corner, all through the year.

Throughout all our work and within our team we live out our values of being inclusive, collaborative and courageous and our personality that is friendly, adventurous and uplifting.

It’s an important moment for us - we have launched a five-year strategy, our 100% Pledge Campaign and an established programme of corporate events. We have also successfully delivered Warm Welcome Week for two years in collaboration with a wide range of partners and are looking forward to continuing to build on this success.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and creative Communications and Brand Manager (Partnerships) to join a small, friendly and ambitious team in a varied role with genuine opportunity for development and impact. The Communications and Brand Manager (Partnerships) is primarily fundraising focused, delivering compelling communications strategies to support individual giving, fundraising events and our growing number of Corporate Partnerships, including Sky, Co-op, National Grid, OVO, Cadent, UKPN, Barratt Redrow and SGN. The role will specialise in maximising brand impact and income-raising potential.

The role sits within the growing Communications Team, which is led by the Director of Communications and includes the Communications Manager and Communications Assistant. 

Reporting to the Director of Communications, the postholder will play a key role in telling the Warm Welcome Story for positive change, raising awareness to grow the brand and creating campaign strategies to support income generation. 

We are looking for someone who is highly organised, agile and collaborative, whilst bringing creativity and initiative to their work. Relationship building will be key, working with a wide variety of high-profile corporate partners, stakeholders and ambassadors. You will be an excellent brand champion with the skills to develop stand out creative ideas for partnership campaigns, awareness campaigns and activations. While the role is primarily fundraising focused, you will support the delivery of the wider Warm Welcome Communications Strategy.

In this role, you will work across all aspects of communications strategy including, PR, events, brand asset development, storytelling, digital marketing, and campaigns.

• Act as the primary communications adviser for the fundraising team, including the Corporate Partnerships Manager and corporate partners, identifying communications opportunities and advising on strategic messaging, content, PR and tactics.
   

• Manage the development and execution of communications strategies for Warm Welcome’s flagship partnerships, specialising in maximising brand impact and income-raising potential.
   

• Deliver communications strategies to inspire audiences and support organisational goals, working closely with colleagues across the Communications and Fundraising, and with external partners.

• Develop stand out creative ideas for campaigns and activations to shape and deliver integrated activities that cut through, including Warm Welcome Week. 

• Act as a brand ambassador, advising and supporting the team to deliver brand-aligned messaging and content. Plus, crafting messaging and designing brand assets, marketing materials, presentations and resources.
   

• Create content to show the impact of Warm Welcome Spaces, including delivering hard-hitting press releases and impact reports.
   

• Create content for social media channels, website and digital newsletters.

• Develop case studies and organise photoshoots to tell the Warm Welcome story for positive change.
   

• Support the delivery of the Patrons and Ambassadors Strategy.

• Help manage the systems and processes needed for effective partnership and stakeholder management, including CRM use, reporting and tracking.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Warm Welcome Campaign to connect partners with Warm Welcome Spaces and activities across the UK.

• Contribute to wider communications activity and team objectives.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Proven experience designing and executing high-impact brand or corporate partnership communications plans, ideally for a non-profit organisation.
   

• Strong track record of developing and delivering integrated communications campaigns across multiple channels, targeting a range of audiences.
   

• Highly collaborative and able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
   

• Proven experience of crafting messages and stories. 

• Experience creating brand assets using Canva or similar tools.

• Experience of crafting compelling content for press releases and liaising with journalists.

• Strong track record of delivering content for digital media channels.

• Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

• Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications impact, using data and insights.

Desirable Experience

• Experience using CRMs or databases for relationship management and reporting.

• Experience working within the charity, community or social impact sector.

• Experience of delivering patrons and ambassadors programmes.

• Experience of developing new brands.

Abilities and Understanding

• Ability to brief, critique and develop creative work constructively, with a good eye for brand, design, film and photography.

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.

• Ability to communicate confidently and professionally with a range of audiences.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Understanding the importance of accurate record keeping and effective systems.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a small and fast-moving team.

• Confident using Google Workspace, Microsoft Office and CRM systems.

Competencies and behaviours in our team

The core competence of everyone in our team is the ability to build trusted relationships among people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We are looking for people who are:

• Committed to the power of relationships to facilitate social change 

• Collaborative, inclusive, ambitious, aligning with our core values 

• Self-starter with high level of commitment, energy and motivation 

• Curious and show initiative, with problem-solving skills and an ability to learn quickly and adapt to a rapidly changing context 

• Calm under pressure, and can adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment 

• Willing to pitch in to help other team members if needed 

• Organised with effective time management skills. 

Working Arrangements 

• Current members of the team are based across the UK, with some in London, Reading, Bristol, Manchester, York and Northern Ireland. Applicants must be able to travel to Bristol once a month for a Tuesday full team meeting. Given the nature of this role we would also expect the applicant to carry out a reasonable amount of travel to both Warm Welcome Spaces and partners across the UK. 

• This role is fully remote, with flexible working arrangements. 

• All employees, volunteers, partners, suppliers and consultants working with GFP are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies. GFP’s commitment to safeguarding means we seek to ensure that no harm comes to people as a result of contact with the organisation’s programmes, operations or people.

• You will need to have the right to work in the UK.

For full details on how to apply, please view the attached role description. 

Part-funded by a generous donation from Backstage Trust, this is a new and pivotal role designed to transform Theatre Centre's fundraising capacity by strengthening systems, increasing income diversity, and building long-term financial resilience. The postholder will play a key role in helping the organisation capitalise on its artistic impact and case for support, while building momentum towards its 75th anniversary in 2028.

This role will keep us focused on our development strategy and will have support from across the whole company: the Board, Executive and the core TC team. We have been steadily building our foundations and have some good funding relationships in place, committed individual givers, a strong, evidenced case for support, some incredible stats and feedback and above all an inspiring and exciting programme of work to offer for young people, artists and teachers across the country.

Our Development Manager will help us to bring in resources so that we can continue share our high-quality, specialist work as far as we can. We see development as a collaborative effort and we understand the need for the whole team to support development, that effective fundraising needs to be resourced with realistic timelines and expectations.

About the Role

Contract type: Fixed term to March 2028

Hours: 30 hours per week (0.8 FTE) - we're happy to discuss flexible working patterns that work best for you.

Salary: £24,000 per year (based on £30,000 per year pro rata)

Location: This role can be hybrid or predominantly home based, with some time spent working with colleagues in the office. Theatre Centre is based near Three Bridges station at Unit 4 Crawley Business Centre, Stevenson Way, Crawley, RH10 1TN.

Job Requirements

• A strong affinity with Theatre Centre's mission and a passion for creating opportunities for young people through the arts.
• A values-driven approach, with commitment to equity, inclusion, social justice and environmental responsibility.
• Collaborative, open and transparent working style.
• Comfortable working in a changing environment.
• Proven experience of fundraising within an arts organisation.
• Strong strategic thinking skills.
• Good written communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling cases for support and reports.
• Good understanding of the financial context of this work.
• Experience of building and managing relationships with funders, donors and stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including data management.
• Experience of monitoring and reporting to demonstrate impact.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work flexibly under pressure, and meet deadlines.

Job Responsibilities

The Development Manager will lead delivery of a phased fundraising strategy:

Phase 1 - Foundation: Build on our strong systems and processes and give us consistency in fundraising delivery, including building a robust pipeline of Trusts & Foundations and developing place-based income in Crawley and the Gatwick area.

Phase 2 - Private Phase: Expand individual giving by deepening relationships, developing major donors, and securing multi-year funding partnerships.

Phase 3 - Public Bring together all strategic and fundraising priorities in our 75th year, amplifying them into a public campaign that advocates for our change-making work.

If you'd like more information you're welcome to visit our website and download the job pack.