Advertised from 13 April 2026

Role

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for improving outcomes for Scotland’s youngest children and their families? Early Years Scotland is seeking a dynamic and committed Service Manager to lead and grow our early intervention and prevention services, champion high quality practice, and contribute to sector wide professional learning.

Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will provide leadership to staff delivering community based early years and family support programmes, ensuring safe, trauma responsive and high quality practice. You will manage performance, risk and compliance, oversee budgets, and support strategic planning.

A key part of the role will include designing, delivering and quality assuring professional learning for EYS members, partners (including ELC settings) and internal teams. You will use digital platforms to create, host and evaluate engaging learning content aligned with national frameworks.

Early Years Scotland is a registered charity and Scotland’s leading national specialist organisation dedicated to supporting our youngest children, from pre-birth to age five. With over 50 years of experience as a Third Sector organisation, we take immense pride in our long-standing commitment to those who work for and on behalf of Scotland’s youngest children.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead, coach and develop staff teams, providing professional supervision and supporting a culture of reflective practice
• Design and deliver high-quality professional learning, facilitation and CPD to a range of audiences including practitioners, leaders and partner organisations
• Manage projects and services, ensuring risk, compliance and safe delivery for children and families
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of programmes using data and evidence
• Build and maintain effective relationships with partner agencies, local authorities and national and regulatory bodies
• Create and develop learning resources and content (digital and face-to-face)
• Contribute to strategic and operational planning and quality management
• Provide written reports and represent the organisation locally and nationally

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience of line managing, coaching and developing staff teams
• Experience managing projects and services, including risk and compliance
• Strong track record of working collaboratively with partner agencies
• Experience supporting families experiencing adversity, including trauma-informed approaches
• Experience monitoring and evaluating programme impact using data and evidence
• Up to date knowledge of ELC policy, legislation and frameworks (e.g. SSSC Codes, The Promise, Realising the Ambition, GIRFEC, National Standard for Funded Providers)
• Knowledge of child development and how children learn

What Early Years Scotland will offer:

• Competitive salary and generous annual leave
• Family-friendly policies that support work-life balance
• 5% employer pension contribution after 3 months
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing professional learning and development opportunities
• A supportive, collaborative team culture where your contribution is valued
• Hybrid working options following successful probation.

Application notes

If you're passionate about making a meaningful difference for Scotland’s youngest children and their families, we’d love to hear from you! Please return a completed application form to recruitment@earlyyearsscotland.org by 18 April 2026.

Full details of this post and the application pack can be found at Job Vacancies | Early Years Scotland.

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