Advertised from 29 June 2026

Role

Overview

Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) is the community of 28-member Mountain Rescue Teams. The teams deliver a world class Search and Rescue (SAR) Service and respond to requests from Police Scotland. Our 850 volunteers respond in a moment’s notice, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide assistance to people in the outdoors. They give up their time, their beds, abandon their work, and are often called away from their families to assist total strangers. Scottish Mountain Rescue is the representative and coordinating body for mountain rescue teams in Scotland. We support our 25-member teams in a number of areas including raising awareness of the teams through press and social media. This helps the public to know what teams do and supports many aspects of their work from recruitment of new team members to making links to new organisations that can potentially provide vital equipment.

The charity is undergoing a period of change, as it responds to the recommendations of an independent review by the Cranfield Trust. This will change the governance arrangements in the charity, introduce a single point of leadership in the organisation for the first time, and will ensure the charity is fit for the next decades. We also look forward to a new strategy, a refresh of our service offer, and a shift in key relationships as we move to a new governance model. This post is to support the Interim Director to bring energy and resource to the transformation that is required. 

Job Role

To support the Board and Interim Director to plan and implement a programme of work to manage a significant strategic and operational shift in the charity, informed by a recent independent review.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the development of a plan of work to support transition, including key milestones, deliverables and reporting arrangements
• Lead on the creation, delivery and monitoring of key strategic and operational projects and priorities, working in collaboration with the Board, wider members and other key stakeholders, overcoming obstacles and barriers to progress
• Lead a new and emerging governance arrangement, supporting the Board to strengthen its governance, improve its role in compliance and oversight of charity activities
• Develop a systematic approach to the management and implementation of the appropriate policies and procedures that comply with the law, and good practice
• Identify and maintain a record of the learning and development requirements for staff and Trustees during the period of change, tracking what is required and what has been provided to support effective transition
• Be the point of contact for contracts with third parties, including providers of HR services, ICT services, and financial support
• Manage the introduction of new governance arrangements including working groups and other committees, evolving a new network of working spaces and networks
• Where required, deputise for the Interim Director in meetings and events, including attendance and contribution to Board meetings

Benefits

• 28 days (FTE) annual leave
• 10 days (FTE) public holidays
• Access to our pension scheme- we offer a 5% pension contribution
• Remote working from home

Application notes

Please return your completed application form and supporting statement by 19.00 on Friday 10th July by email to: Beverley Francis — beverley@scottishmountainrescue.org

Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th July.

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