Chief Executive

People First (Scotland); City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

People First Scotland seeks a values-led Chief Executive to guide an organisation run by and for people with learning disabilities. You will work with the Board and members to deliver the 2027–2030 business plan, strengthen governance, ensure strong financial management and lead income generation.

Above all, you will champion rights, agency and leadership for people with learning disabilities and help broaden member leadership across the sectors.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in the third sector, public sector or a similarly values-led organisation.
• Experience working with or supporting a governance Board.
• Strong financial literacy and experience with business planning.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly with diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the 2027–2030 business plan with the Board.
• Support the Board to exercise its responsibilities with confidence.
• Progress governance improvements and strengthen financial management.
• Lead income generation and diversify funding.
• Raise People First Scotland’s profile across disability rights and social justice sectors.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance

Financial literacy

Income generation

Stakeholder comms

Board collaboration

Job description

People First Scotland is looking for a values-led Chief Executive to help shape the next chapter of an organisation that is run by and for people with learning disabilities.

Established in 1997, People First Scotland is a national self-advocacy organisation supporting people with learning disabilities to speak up, make choices and have a meaningful say in the decisions that affect their lives.

This is an important time to join People First Scotland. Following a period of organisational and governance change, we are looking for a Chief Executive who can work alongside our Board and members to build a strong, sustainable organisation in which member leadership is at the centre of how decisions are made.

As Chief Executive Your responsibilities will include developing and delivering the 2027–2030 business plan; supporting the Board to exercise its responsibilities with confidence; progressing a new governance model; ensuring strong financial management; leading income generation and diversification; and strengthening People First Scotland’s profile and influence across the disability rights, self-advocacy and social justice sectors.

You will bring senior leadership experience gained within the third sector, public sector or a similarly values-led organisation, with experience of working with or supporting a governance Board. You will also bring financial literacy, experience of business planning, income generation and funder relationships, alongside the ability to communicate clearly and accessibly with a wide range of audiences.

Above all, you will have a genuine commitment to the rights, agency and leadership of people with learning disabilities. You will be comfortable distributing and rebalancing power, listening to members and creating the conditions in which their voices genuinely shape the organisation.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of disability or learning disability and from people from communities currently underrepresented in third-sector leadership.