Head of Community

SHELTER; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading charity as the Head of Community, responsible for driving change and managing teams focused on combating housing injustice. You will shape initiatives to empower communities while ensuring high standards in service delivery, all within a supportive and inclusive environment.

Benefits

30 days of annual leave

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Pension scheme

Interest-free travel loans

Tenancy deposit loan

Payroll giving

Cycle-to-work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong commitment to tackling housing injustice.
• Experience in managing budgets and internal projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the Community Function's three teams.
• Ensure quality, compliance, and contribute to income generation.
• Drive transformational change across community initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Budget Management

Communication

Strategic Planning

Safeguarding

Equality Advocacy

Job description

Do you have a proven track record of leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams and a strong commitment to tackling housing injustice in Scotland? Then join Shelter Scotland as our new Head of Community. You could be at the forefront of driving transformational change across our Community and Training Teams. Our new strategic plan offers a unique opportunity to shape and deliver initiatives that empower local communities, improve service delivery, and ensure that the voices of those impacted by the housing emergency are heard and acted upon.

About the role

This role is responsible for managing and developing the Community Function, comprising three Community Teams (North, East, West) and the Training Team. It shares joint responsibility with the Head of Services for the wider leadership and development of all functions and teams across Community & Services.

Flexibility is essential to support the ongoing development of our activities, aligned with the Shelter Scotland Strategic Plan. This may require changes to the teams or activities managed by this role.

Role specifics

We seek a strategic, collaborative leader to develop and deliver Shelter Scotland’s annual operational plan. The role involves managing internal projects, ensuring quality and compliance, and contributing to income generation through donor engagement and insight sharing. The successful candidate will manage teams and budgets, uphold high standards in service delivery, and support campaigns by leveraging evidence and lived experience. A strong commitment to safeguarding, equality, and Shelter’s values is essential, along with leading by example.

Join our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family-friendly policies, pension, and interest-free travel loans. Employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle-to-work scheme, and an employee assistance programme.

We are open to discussing flexible working, personal growth, and fostering a workplace where you can be yourself and succeed based on merit.

About the team

Shelter Scotland is a key part of Shelter, led by the Director of Shelter Scotland. The Directorate comprises two departments: Community & Services and Communications & Advocacy, both led by an Assistant Director.

Our services and community work respond to individuals and households affected by the housing emergency. We aim to bring about change in practice, culture, and policy.

About Shelter Scotland

Shelter Scotland is Scotland’s national housing and homelessness charity. Our vision is a home for everyone in Scotland. For over 50 years, we have advised and supported people in housing need and used insights to inform campaigns for change. We also set professional standards through training courses.

Home is a human right, yet thousands are affected daily by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home because home is everything.

We seek ambitious, passionate individuals to join us. This is your chance to contribute to the change we strive for.

Our fight is against social injustice at the heart of the housing emergency. We aim to be inclusive, equitable, and transparent, and are committed to anti-racism within and outside Shelter Scotland. Join us on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Shelter Scotland is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing, and human rights of those we support, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. All staff are expected to adhere to our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter Scotland does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor the associated fees.