Head of Policy and Impact in Glasgow

Homeless Network Scotland is seeking to appoint a Head of Policy & Impact to a senior leadership role at a critical moment for homelessness in Scotland. This is an influential position for a strategic thinker who can shape policy, interpret evidence, and bring people together to drive system-level change. Despite Scotland’s progressive legislative framework, homelessness is rising and the pressures on services are intensifying. Against this backdrop, Homeless Network Scotland plays a unique national role – connecting people and organisations, influencing policy and plans, and translating evidence and lived experience into action that makes a difference.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working as part of a small, highly motivated leadership team, the Head of Policy & Impact will provide strategic leadership across policy development, programme impact and organisational learning, strengthening Homeless Network Scotland’s influence and effectiveness.

About Homeless Network Scotland

Homeless Network Scotland is the national membership body committed to preventing and resolving homelessness. Its vision is a Scotland where homelessness is prevented and everyone has a safe and settled home. Through convening networks, building cross-sector partnerships, amplifying lived experience and influencing policy with evidence and insight, the organisation works across boundaries to challenge inequality and support lasting change. Homeless Network Scotland leads and coordinates major national programmes including Housing First Scotland and Fair Way Scotland, operating at the intersection of policy, practice and people’s lived realities.

The Role

The Head of Policy & Impact will lead Homeless Network Scotland’s policy influence and impact agenda, ensuring the organisation continues to play a credible, authoritative and trusted role across the homelessness system. Key responsibilities include:

• Shaping, developing and communicating clear, evidence-based policy positions that influence decision-making at national and local levels
• Building and sustaining strong, relational partnerships across government, statutory bodies, funders, members and the wider homelessness sector
• Providing strategic oversight of multi-agency programmes, ensuring measurable impact, continuous learning and improvement
• Embedding organisational learning and impact analysis to strengthen programme delivery, strategy and decision-making
• Contributing to organisational leadership, strategic direction and risk management as part of the senior team
• Acting as a visible and credible public voice for Homeless Network Scotland through events, briefings, media engagement and publications

This is a highly collaborative and externally facing role, requiring confidence in convening diverse perspectives, navigating complexity and influencing without direct authority.

The Person

Homeless Network Scotland is open to candidates from a range of policy backgrounds. Deep experience in homelessness policy is welcome but not essential; equally valued is the ability to apply transferable policy, public affairs or system-influencing expertise in a complex environment. The successful candidate is likely to bring:

• Senior-level experience in a policy, public affairs, influencing or impact-focused role
• A strong track record of shaping policy or practice through evidence, relationships and credibility
• Experience working across multi-partner or networked environments, balancing differing perspectives and priorities
• The ability to interpret complex data, research and lived experience and translate this into clear, persuasive insight
• Confidence as a public-facing leader, with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of impact measurement, evaluation or learning frameworks (or the ability to quickly develop this)
• A coaching, enabling leadership style, able to get the best from skilled colleagues and collaborators

Above all, candidates will share a commitment to Homeless Network Scotland’s mission and values, and a belief in solutions-focused, evidence-led approaches to preventing and resolving homelessness.

Values, Leadership & Approach

Homeless Network Scotland operates a leadership model based on coaching rather than traditional line management, and a competency framework that emphasises connection, learning and action. This role operates at Senior & Strategy level, requiring someone who can:

• Provide clarity and strategic leadership in a fast-paced and politically sensitive environment
• Build trust and collaboration across diverse stakeholders and lived experience networks
• Question assumptions, challenge constructively and remain open to where evidence is pointing
• Communicate complex ideas clearly, accessibly and with purpose
• Create the conditions for collective impact, innovation and continuous improvement

Terms & Benefits

Include 35-hour working week with flexible and blended working (Glasgow office / home), employer pension contribution of 9.72%, death-in-service cover, access to free professional coaching and confidential counselling services, annual pay increments and cost-of-living increases.

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to take on a nationally influential role at the heart of Scotland’s homelessness system. The Head of Policy & Impact will help shape the agenda, strengthen collaboration and ensure learning and evidence-driven decisions that improve outcomes for people across Scotland.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Lauryn Pringle or Debbie Shields at Aspen People on 0141 212 7555. To apply, please upload your CV and cover letter (as one document) below. Closing date: Monday 2nd March 1st stage interview: Thursday 12th March 2nd stage interview: Friday 20th March.