Service Manager

EARS Independent Advocacy Service

Salary: £40,000

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid – with regular presence across service areas, including at least weekly attendance at the EARS Livingston office

About EARS Independent Advocacy Service:

EARS Independent Advocacy Service is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) providing high-quality, rights-based independent advocacy across contracted areas in Scotland.

EARS exists to ensure that people who face disadvantage, discrimination or barriers to being heard are supported to understand their rights, express their views and have those views taken into account. Grounded in equality, human rights and social justice, EARS delivers independent advocacy that is principled, person-centred and accountable.

Working closely with commissioners, partners and communities, EARS plays a vital role within Scotland’s advocacy landscape, supporting individuals to navigate complex systems and ensuring their voices influence decisions that affect their lives.

The Role of Service Manager

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Service Manager will lead the day-to-day delivery and management of EARS Independent Advocacy Service, ensuring high-quality, rights-based independent advocacy across its contracted areas in Scotland. You will oversee service delivery, business operations and people management, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, governance requirements and relevant legislation and regulations.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will provide regular updates on organisational performance, finances and risks, supporting effective oversight and decision-making. You will manage budgets, financial controls, contract monitoring and funder reporting, while building strong relationships with commissioners, funders and partners.

You will provide effective leadership and support to the team, promoting a positive, collaborative and accountable culture. This will include staff supervision, performance management, training and development, alongside reviewing organisational policies and procedures with the Board. The role requires regular presence across service areas, including at least weekly attendance at the EARS office.

What you need to bring

EARS is seeking a values-driven and resilient manager with a strong commitment to equality, human rights and social justice. You will have experience in a management or leadership role within the third, public or care sectors in Scotland, with a track record in business or people management and experience of working effectively with a Board of Trustees.

You will bring strong financial management skills, including budget oversight and financial planning, alongside experience of contract management, stakeholder engagement, commissioning or tendering. An understanding of charity governance, regulatory compliance, risk management and performance monitoring is important, as is the ability to produce high-quality reports and identify opportunities for income generation and service development.

With excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills, you will be confident managing competing priorities, supporting staff development and handling complex people matters sensitively and fairly. You will be committed to the principles of independent advocacy and ensuring the rights, choices and voices of people experiencing disadvantage remain central to service delivery.

This is an opportunity to lead a valued independent advocacy service, support a dedicated team and work with the Board of Trustees and external partners to strengthen EARS’ sustainability, quality and impact across Scotland.

How to Apply:

Please email us at recruitment@brucetaitassociates.com to request an information pack and job description. You are advised to get in touch well in advance of the closing date to give us time to consider your application and pre-interview the strongest applicants.

Closing Date: Tuesday 3^rd November  

Interview Date: Monday 16^th November

This search is being conducted exclusively for EARS Independent Advocacy Service by BTA (Bruce Tait Associates). Our leadership team have all worked extensively in and with the voluntary sector and academia and we use this experience to match organisations and individuals to create great appointments.

VASLan South Lanarkshire

Chief Executive Officer

£70,000 - £75,000

Hybrid: Hamilton, ML3 0EW

Full Time and Permanent (35 hours per week)

VASLan (Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire) is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for South Lanarkshire, supporting and representing a diverse local third sector of approximately 1,400 community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations. Through its work in community development, partnership building, sector support and advocacy, VASLan enables local organisations to thrive, strengthens the voice of communities and helps create the conditions for a more resilient, inclusive and connected South Lanarkshire.

The organisation is now seeking a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead VASLan into an exciting new phase of strategic development, partnership working and growth. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation’s strategic direction, strengthening the sustainability and influence of the local third sector, and ensuring VASLan continues to play a leading role in shaping policy, investment and community outcomes across South Lanarkshire.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will provide strong, visible and values-led leadership across VASLan and the Third Sector, working closely with the Board, staff team, South Lanarkshire Council, Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Lanarkshire and wider Community Planning Partners. They will ensure VASLan remains an independent, credible and influential voice for the third sector, while fostering a positive and inclusive organisational culture where people are supported, empowered and equipped to deliver meaningful impact.

A major priority for the incoming CEO will be building on VASLan’s evolving strategic partnerships and ensuring the third sector is recognised as an equal and essential partner in local decision-making. This includes progressing the new Third Sector Partnership Agreement with South Lanarkshire Council, supporting the implementation of the Third Sector Grant Policy and strengthening collaboration around key policy priorities and community outcomes.

Funding, investment and long-term sustainability will also be central to the role. VASLan manages significant funding on behalf of its partners, amounting to almost £1.5 million in the current year, while supporting collaborative bids, partnership investment and funding opportunities across the sector. The CEO will provide strategic oversight of these responsibilities, working with public sector partners, funders and philanthropic organisations to secure new investment, promote fair and sustainable funding and strengthen the capacity and resilience of local organisations.

To succeed in this role, you will be an experienced senior leader with a strong track record of strategic and organisational leadership, partnership development, financial management and people development. You will bring a clear understanding of the Scottish third sector and the challenges facing communities, including poverty, inequality and social exclusion. You will be confident operating at Board level, influencing senior stakeholders and building trusted relationships across the public, voluntary and community sectors.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious and purpose-driven leader to shape the future of South Lanarkshire’s third sector. With an established network of local organisations, evolving strategic partnerships and significant opportunities to influence investment and policy, the incoming CEO will have a unique opportunity to strengthen the voice of communities, unlock new opportunities for collaboration and help make South Lanarkshire the best place in Scotland in which to start, run and grow a third sector organisation.

How to Apply:

Please email us at recruitment@brucetaitassociates.com to request an information pack and job description. You are advised to get in touch well in advance of the closing date to give us time to consider your application and pre-interview the strongest applicants.

Closing Date: Monday 9^th November

Interview Date: W/C Monday 16^th November

This search is being conducted exclusively for VASLan South Lanarkshire by BTA (Bruce Tait Associates). Our leadership team have all worked extensively in and with the voluntary sector and academia and we use this experience to match organisations and individuals to create great appointments.