deputydirector

Deputy Chief Executive Officer £80,607- £88,312 Montrose Candidates should be located within a reasonable distance to commute to Montrose or be willing to relocate. Reasonable relocation expenses can be provided, if applicable. Rossie is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to take on the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) at a critical moment in its organisational journey. With the incoming CEO taking up post in July 2025, the DCEO will play a key role in supporting the delivery of Rossie’s mission to improve the life chances of children and young people through trauma-informed, rights-based care, education and secure services. The Role Reporting directly to the CEO and forming part of the Senior Leadership and Management Team (SLMT), the DCEO will provide strategic and operational oversight across all internal services, including secure care, residential care and education. This is a senior leadership role that requires an individual capable of managing complexity, bringing cohesion to multi-disciplinary teams, and sustaining a strong internal culture grounded in values and outcomes. Working closely with the Heads of Care, Education, and Specialist Intervention Services, the DCEO will focus on aligning operational delivery and ensuring that young people experience joined-up, high-quality support throughout their journey with Rossie. The DCEO will focus on internal leadership, service performance, staff development, and delivery of the strategic plan. The successful candidate must be confident deputising for the CEO when required and able to hold accountability for internal consistency, cohesion, and quality. Key Responsibilities * Provide leadership and strategic oversight across Rossie’s core operational services, ensuring alignment and shared responsibility for outcomes across care, secure and education. * Lead, coach and support senior managers, setting clear expectations and building a collaborative and high-performing culture. * Act as a key internal driver for reducing restrictive practices and embedding trauma-informed, rights-based approaches. * Deliver effective project and change management across services; experience with innovation, bids, or service development would be advantageous. * Support strategic development and business planning, with a particular focus on secure care as a growing and evolving part of the organisation. * Lead on service-level governance, ensuring standards align with inspection requirements and national care frameworks. * Serve as a trusted deputy to the CEO, stepping in to lead the organisation when required and contributing to long-term succession planning. The person Rossie is seeking a capable and compassionate leader who brings a balance of operational rigour, emotional intelligence, and strategic insight. Secure care experience – particularly in the Scottish or English context – is welcomed but not essential. Essential attributes include: * Significant senior leadership experience in a complex setting such as care, education, justice, health or local government. * Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing operational delivery at scale. * Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence, align and motivate teams with diverse professional backgrounds. * A proven ability to deliver projects or service developments, ideally with an understanding of funding, commissioning or bid processes. * A values-driven approach, with a clear commitment to rights-based, trauma-informed practice. * Sound understanding of governance, risk, inspection and safeguarding requirements. * Ability to work on-site full-time, with a willingness to relocate if required (accommodation support available). This role requires someone who can balance authority with empathy, provide strong leadership while enabling others, and who is comfortable operating at executive level in a dynamic, fast-moving environment. The ideal candidate will be capable of building a strong working relationship with the CEO, complementing their direct leadership style with a thoughtful, collaborative approach. This is a rare opportunity to join a well-established, mission-led organisation at a time of positive change and ambition. The DCEO will play a key role in strengthening Rossie’s impact, driving forward its commitment to excellence, and championing the rights and voices of children and young people. If this sounds like you, you can contact Lauryn Pringle or Debbie Shields at Aspen People for a confidential discussion about the role on (phone number removed)