Family support services manager jobs in dumfries, dumfries and galloway

We’re looking for a self-directed and talented designer who is passionate about tech for good and how AI can support civil society organisations to achieve their missions.

• 4 days per week
• £52,000 salary FTE
• Remote location
• 1 year fixed term with possibility to extend

We are also recruiting for a Head of Technical AI Experiments, and we expect these roles to work closely together alongside our wider CAST team and partners.

Application deadline - Tuesday 6th May 12pm

About CAST

CAST helps people use digital for social good. We're on a mission to create a more responsive, resilient and digitally-enabled social sector by supporting nonprofits to embed digital and design across their services, strategy and governance and working with sector leaders, funders and government to make this happen.

CAST is a ten-year old charity made up of incredibly dedicated designers, technologists, activists and entrepreneurs. Collectively we have deep experience and a great reputation across charity and civil society, design, digital and innovation. 

The past decade has proven how vital digital is to charities, and with it, how important CAST’s work and mission is.

About the role

One of the core areas of CAST’s work is building the capacity of the social sector to respond to the rapid scale advances in AI. The evidence from the Charity Digital Skills Report; Joseph Rowntree's Grassroots and Nonprofits research and our own AI survey shows that charities are unlikely to benefit from - or respond to the challenges of - AI without intentional support and capacity building. To support charities’ (critical) adoption of AI we need to invest in supporting sector-experiments that create demonstrable impact (acting as showcases), working alongside the peer groups, charities and working groups to help move conversations into practical action.

To achieve that, we are looking to recruit a Head of Design for AI to focus on driving forward this work in a number of different ways:

• Blending expertise in AI technologies with human-centered design principles to foster innovation and inclusivity across the social sector;
• Providing direct support to organisations and specific product design advice;
• Designing a range of experiments and tools alongside the sector and CAST team;
• Supporting the design and development of specific programmes, training and interventions that will help shift the sector on AI

Whilst there is a lot of work underway and in the pipeline on AI this role will be expected to shape this work based on their deep experience and knowledge of AI and product design, and support the wider team at CAST to upskill in this area. 

You can find more information about CAST on our website.

What you'll achieve

• Develop and execute a vision for the integration of AI into CAST’s design methodologies, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission and values.
• Alongside the Head of Technical AI Experiments, lead the design, development, and deployment of AI experiments, tools and resources tailored to the needs of the social sector;
• Working with the wider CAST team, contribute to the ongoing development of ethical design principles in AI applications, ensuring transparency, accessibility, and fairness in all outputs;
• Work closely with charities, community groups, funders, and tech partners to co-design AI solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful outcomes;
• Support social sector organisations to develop the skills and resources needed to design and implement AI systems effectively, fostering confidence and innovation through both direct coaching and via networks;
• Stay ahead of developments in AI and design thinking, identifying opportunities to incorporate emerging trends and technologies into CAST’s initiatives;
• Support the wider CAST team in developing their knowledge and skills on AI and human-centred design, and how we can use AI to best effect within our own work;

Skills and capabilities required

• Demonstrated expertise in human-centered design, particularly in projects involving AI technologies or data-driven solutions; 
• Proven leadership experience in design and innovation, preferably within the social sector;
• Deep understanding of AI principles, including machine learning, natural language processing, and their design implications;
• Strong commitment to ethical design, accessibility, and inclusivity;
• Excellent collaboration and facilitation skills, with the ability to bring together diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals;
• High levels of autonomy with extraordinary organisation and communication skills.
• Able to thrive in a distributed team that changes and responds to the needs of the network and charity sector
• A strong commitment to the aims and objectives of CAST.

Benefits

• Working in a dynamic and creative team with an open and supportive culture
• Opportunity to make a positive social impact
• 30 days holiday a year (pro rata), plus bank holidays
• Flexible and remote working
• Family Friendly Benefits: we are committed to supporting staff in achieving a sensible work-life balance
• Group personal pension scheme

About us

We are National Energy Action (NEA) – and our vision is to end fuel poverty. Our work to improve and promote energy efficiency brings social, environmental, housing and employment benefits.  We believe everyone should be able to afford to keep their homes warm and safe. However, low incomes, high energy bills and poor energy efficiency currently deny this to millions of households across the UK.  Never has this been more important than today. 

NEA’s teams are friendly, knowledgeable and are dedicated to what we do.  We are proud of our expertise and proud of the service we deliver to our clients. 

We offer colleagues a friendly, rewarding workplace and the chance to build a worthwhile career with a not-for-profit organisation that makes a genuine difference to people’s lives each and every day.

The role

NEA has an exciting opportunity for a Training and Education Officer to support with the delivery of our accredited training and qualifications to stakeholders across the United Kingdom as well as develop and deliver our expanding education programme nationwide.

You will work across both the training and education teams to develop and deliver training courses and education workshops to frontline workers, volunteers and young people from a wide range of organisations, including local authorities, housing associations, voluntary and community groups, and commercial organisations.

Our training courses and workshops cover key issues associated with fuel poverty, fuel debt, affordable warmth, low-carbon technologies and practical energy efficiency advice. You will work alongside the training team to develop, design and deliver these engaging online and face-to-face courses and qualifications.  You will act as an examiner for all NEA qualifications, assist in the development of future assessment-based qualifications; and have the ability to identify new opportunities for training and assessment product development.

You will work closely with the existing education team to enhance the current education provision of the charity; you will develop and deliver education sessions in line with programme and funding needs. Delivery will include both Primary and Secondary school sessions as well as bespoke education sessions for care leavers, young carers, youth offenders and children soon to be attending university or college.

We are accepting applications from across the United Kingdom however, we are particularly interested in hearing from applicants in the Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North-East of England.

What you will need to succeed

You will possess a relevant training or education qualification and have recent, demonstrable experience in delivering adult training and or primary / secondary school sessions. Ideally, you will also bring experience in one or more of the following fields: energy, community development, debt or money advice, consumer issues, or housing.

With excellent communication skills and IT skills, you will be adaptable and bring a lot of energy to the team.  You’ll be brimming with ideas and enthusiasm and have a passion to deliver training and education to people from diverse backgrounds and the desire to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

You will be expected to deliver training and education sessions depending on organisational need, as well as occasionally delivery in wider England and Wales. This will require overnight stays and flexibility on the part of the post holder.

The role of Training and Education Officer will be part of the Development and Partnerships Directorate and the postholder will report to NEA’s Training Programme Delivery Manager.

Hybrid working is subject to necessary H&S and GDPR checks. Post holders must be resident within the UK and be able to provide their Right to Work in the UK. 

The job description provides a list of the duties of the post and the person specification provides the list of essential and desirable criteria. 

We are offering:

• £31,068 - £35,836 (Points 18 -25) (plus £3,300 London Weighting if applicable). New appointments are usually made at the starting point of the scale.
• 11.5% non-contributory pension.
• 25 days annual leave plus 3 additional days in between Christmas New Year Period when our offices close; plus, all public holidays per annum.
• Flexible working arrangements including the opportunity for Hybrid working.
• Enhanced family friendly payments.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Employee benefits platform.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 06 May2025 at 12 noon.  Interviews will be held Wednesday 21 May 2025.

Please be aware that National Energy Action is not a sponsoring organisation. Therefore, the successful applicant must already possess the right to work in the UK or be able to secure the right to work in the UK independently.

Please note CVs will not be accepted as part of the application process.  No agency or advertising enquiries please.

NEA aims to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all people with the necessary skills and experience for the post. Charity Registration No. 290511.  Company Registration No:  01853927