Country Director – Scotland - Glasgow

NFP People Limited; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national fostering charity is seeking a Country Director in Glasgow to provide strategic direction and manage operations across Scotland. The role involves leadership in fostering strategies, stakeholder relationship management, and budget oversight. Ideal candidates have substantial experience in children's social care or a related field, with a commitment to the mission of improving outcomes for children in foster care. The charity offers a competitive salary and considers hybrid working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience in children’s social care or related field.
• Ability to lead teams, manage change, and deliver strategic plans.
• Proven experience in securing funding and managing budgets.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for the organisation in Scotland.
• Develop strategies aligned with UK-wide objectives.
• Manage budgets in line with policies.

Skills

Senior leadership and management experience

Knowledge of foster care practice and policy

Relationship building and influencing

Communication skills

Organisational and IT skills

Education

Social work qualification (desirable)

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Office 365

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and credible senior leader to provide strategic direction and operational leadership for a national fostering charity’s work in Scotland.

Position: Country Director – Scotland
Salary: £53,836 to £59,012 per annum
Location: Glasgow, with hybrid and home based working considered
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: Sunday 25 January 2026

About the role

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for leading and delivering the organisation’s vision, strategy and impact across Scotland. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will provide strategic oversight, manage people and budgets, and act as a key external representative with government, regulators and sector partners.

Key responsibilities

• Providing overall leadership and management of the organisation’s work in Scotland
• Developing and delivering Scotland specific strategies aligned to UK wide objectives
• Leading, managing and supporting staff, volunteers and associates
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with national and local government, regulators, fostering services and members
• Acting as a spokesperson and senior representative in Scotland
• Overseeing the design, delivery and evaluation of impactful programmes for foster carers and children
• Driving robust monitoring, impact measurement and reporting
• Securing funding through grants, tenders and partnerships
• Holding and managing budgets in line with organisational policies
• Identifying opportunities for innovation, collaboration and sector improvement
• Growing individual and corporate membership across Scotland
• Acting as safeguarding lead for the country and ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies

About you

You will be an experienced senior leader with strong credibility across children’s social care and fostering, comfortable operating at strategic and operational levels.

You will bring

• Senior leadership and management experience within children’s social care or a closely related field
• In depth knowledge of foster care practice and policy across the UK
• Experience of working with statutory local authority services and senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage change and deliver strategic plans
• Experience of managing budgets and securing funding
• Strong relationship building, influencing and communication skills
• Sound safeguarding knowledge and practice
• Excellent organisational and IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Teams and Office 365
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to the organisation’s mission and values

Desirable experience includes a social work qualification, experience in the voluntary or independent sector, working across a national remit, or lived experience of foster care.

About the organisation

The organisation is the leading fostering charity in the UK, working to improve outcomes for children and young people through support, advocacy, programmes and membership services for foster carers and fostering services. It operates across all UK nations, working closely with governments, regulators and partners to influence policy and practice.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Director of Children’s Services, Head of Fostering, Assistant Director Social Care, Regional Director, Service Director, Programme Director, Policy Director, Operations Director, Strategic Lead Children’s Services, Senior Social Work Manager, National Manager.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.