Chief Executive Officer

Dyslexia Scotland; Stirling; On-site; GBP 71,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme (8% employer)

Time off in lieu

Travel across Scotland

Job summary

Dyslexia Scotland is seeking a senior leader to guide the charity from the helm of the Board. You will champion our purpose, lead strategic delivery, and ensure financial sustainability while building strong relationships with government, funders and partners.

You will drive inclusion, engage volunteers and staff, and uphold high standards of governance and accountability across Scotland. Based at Stirling with travel across Scotland.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience with strategy delivery and results.
• Strong financial planning, budgeting and sustainability skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, equity and lived experience in decision-making.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate staff and manage change.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible leadership and champion Dyslexia Scotland's purpose and values.
• Govern to ensure financial sustainability and impact over the coming years.
• Lead delivery of the five-year strategy and translate ambition into priorities.
• Build relationships with government, partners and decision-makers.
• Represent the charity publicly and in media, policy forums and partnerships.
• Engage members, volunteers and branches and foster inclusive practice.
• Oversee governance, risk, compliance and financial reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Financial acumen

Inclusion & equity

People management

Governance & risk

Stakeholder engagement

Public policy influence

Lived experience & volunteers

Job description

Location: Stirling Head Office with travel throughout Scotland

Reports to: The Board of Directors

Terms and Conditions:

Salary: SJC pts 56-63 (£71,361 - £83,832) - 35 hours per week

Pension: 8% Employers Contributions to a pension scheme of choice

Time off in lieu will be provided for periodic weekend and evening work.

Travel throughout Scotland.

Role Responsibilities:

1. 1. Strategic leadership
   • Provide visible and values-led leadership for Dyslexia Scotland, championing our purpose, values and ambition as a trusted and influential national voice on dyslexia and inclusion.
   • Work with the Board to ensure Dyslexia Scotland is well governed, financially sustainable and positioned to maximise its impact over the coming years.
   • Lead the delivery and evaluation of our five-year strategy, “Working Towards a Dyslexia Friendly Society” while translating strategic ambition into clear priorities, plans and measurable outcomes.
2. 2. Policy, influence and public profile
   • Work collaboratively with Dyslexia Scotland’s President, Vice Presidents and Ambassadors and identify opportunities to build awareness and understanding of dyslexia across Scotland.
   • Build and sustain trusted relationships with Scottish Government, public bodies, partners and decision-makers to strengthen Dyslexia Scotland’s influence on policy and practice.
   • Represent Dyslexia Scotland publicly and with credibility across media, policy, professional and public forums.
3. 3. Lived experience and engagement
   • Continue to ensure that meaningful opportunities are created for people with dyslexia to inform the organisation’s services, policy positions, influencing and public voice.
   • Build strong and trusted relationships with Dyslexia Scotland’s members, branches, volunteers and the wider community.
   • Champion inclusive practice across the organisation and in Dyslexia Scotland’s external work.
4. 4. Financial sustainability and income generation
   • Lead the organisation’s approach to long-term financial sustainability and income diversification.
   • Protect and grow existing income while identifying and developing new opportunities across grants, statutory funding, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, sponsorship and other appropriate income streams.
   • Build and sustain strong relationships with funders, donors, corporate partners and supporters.
5. 5. Organisational leadership and people
   • Lead, support and motivate Dyslexia Scotland’s staff team, to continue the organisation’s embedded culture of inclusiveness, creativity and high performance
   • Ensure appropriate people policies, systems and practices are in place.
   • Recognise the nature of leading a small organisation and be willing to work directly across operational priorities where required.
6. 6. Governance, risk and compliance
   • Ensure Dyslexia Scotland complies with all relevant legal, regulatory, statutory and contractual requirements, including those of OSCR and Companies House.
   • Maintain an effective corporate governance framework, including risk management, internal control and financial reporting.
   • Support the Board in maintaining the highest standards of transparency, accountability and ethical leadership.
7. 7. Impact, evidence and learning
   • Ensure Dyslexia Scotland can demonstrate the difference its work makes for people with dyslexia.
   • Use evidence, data and lived experience to inform organisational decision-making and priorities.
   • Oversee the measurement and reporting of organisational performance and impact.

Person Specification

The successful candidate does not need to arrive with every aspect of specialist knowledge. We are interested in the leadership capability, values, judgement and experience required to lead Dyslexia Scotland successfully into its next phase.

• Significant senior leadership experience, with evidence of developing and delivering strategy and translating ambition into organisational results.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience of budgetary oversight, financial planning, sustainability and making sound decisions about organisational resources. Experience of generating and diversifying income, and developing strong relationships with funders, partners, donors or other sources of investment.
• A strong personal commitment to inclusion, equity and social justice, with the ability to ensure that lived experience meaningfully influences organisational priorities and decision-making.
• A track record of leading, developing and motivating people, building positive organisational cultures and managing change.
• A strong understanding of effective governance, organisational risk and accountability, with experience of working constructively with a Board or equivalent governing body.
• Evidence of building effective relationships and partnerships with senior stakeholders and influencing beyond organisational boundaries.
• An excellent communicator with the confidence and credibility to represent Dyslexia Scotland publicly, communicate complex issues clearly and build support for the organisation’s purpose.
• Knowledge and understanding of dyslexia and inclusive practice and the experiences of people with dyslexia.
• Experience of influencing public policy or practice.
• Knowledge of the Scottish policy and public-service environment.
• Experience within the third sector, public or purpose-led sectors.
• Experience of working with or alongside people with lived experience and with volunteers to shape organisational strategy or services.

Additional information

This is a hands-on role within a small, ambitious national organisation. The successful candidate will be comfortable taking responsibility for the overall leadership of the charity while working collaboratively with a supportive Board, staff, volunteers, branches, members and partners.

A Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Check is required for this post.

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Scottish Charity No: SC 000951 Company No: SC153321