Project Manager (West Central Scotland) in Glasgow

Early Years Scotland has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Project Manager to lead and support the delivery of Rise & Shine, an innovative whole-family wellbeing programme delivered through a collaborative, multi-agency approach.

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 nearly sixty years of experience as an expert 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.

The Project Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for Rise & Shine, ensuring the effective delivery, quality, sustainability and ongoing development of the service.

The postholder will oversee a relationship-based Stay, Play and Learn model supporting children from birth to five and their families through early learning, family engagement, attachment-focused practice and community-based support.

Working closely with local authority, health and third sector partners, the Project Manager will drive positive outcomes for children and families, strengthen partnerships, evidence impact and support future growth and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development and day-to-day management of Rise & Shine.
• Ensure delivery aligns with key national policies and frameworks, including GIRFEC, The Promise, Realising the Ambition, the Infant Pledge and Whole Family Wellbeing.
• Drive continuous improvement through evaluation, family feedback and emerging best practice.
• Manage programme budgets, resources, performance targets and reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR and organisational policies.
• Line management and support of Family Engagement Practitioners, Parent Connectors and project staff.
• Promote a culture of reflective practice, professional development and staff wellbeing.
• Champion high-quality early years practice, attachment-informed approaches and children’s rights.
• Support inclusive pathways for children and families, including those with additional support needs.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with local authorities, health services, community organisations and funders.
• Develop effective referral pathways and integrated approaches to family support.
• Represent Rise & Shine at strategic meetings, partnership forums and stakeholder events.
• Lead monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting, including the use of outcome measurement tools such as Family Star Plus.
• Produce high-quality reports and evidence of impact for funders, partners and senior leaders.
• Support the development of the Parent Connector model and promote pathways into volunteering, training and employment.
• Ensure the voices and lived experiences of children, parents and communities inform service delivery and development.
• Identify opportunities for service growth, sustainability and expansion.
• What We’re Looking For
• Experience of leading and managing early years, family support, community development or wellbeing services.
• Experience of managing staff, volunteers or multidisciplinary teams, with a commitment to coaching, support and professional development.
• A strong understanding of child development, attachment theory, parental engagement and relationship-based practice.
• Knowledge of current Scottish policy and legislation impacting children and families, including GIRFEC, The Promise, UNCRC, Realising the Ambition and Whole Family Wellbeing approaches.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with local authorities, health services, third sector organisations and community groups.
• Demonstrable experience of project management, including budget management, performance monitoring and reporting against outcomes.
• Experience of monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement, using data and evidence to inform service improvement and demonstrate outcomes.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, services and stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, build relationships and represent the service at a strategic level.
• Confidence in producing high-quality reports, presentations and funding updates for a range of audiences.
• Understanding of safeguarding, child protection and risk management within services for children and families.
• A commitment to children’s rights, participation and ensuring the voices of children, families and communities shape service delivery.
• Experience of supporting families facing poverty, inequality, trauma, social isolation or additional barriers to engagement.
• A collaborative and solution-focused approach, with the ability to work closely with colleagues, partners, funders and local communities.
• A passion for improving outcomes for children and families and a commitment to Early Years Scotland’s values.
• 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
• The opportunity to build a genuinely new function for the organisation, with lasting impact for children and families across Scotland beyond the funded period

Qualifications

Applicants’ qualifications should be consistent with those required to register as a Manager with SSSC (e. g., BA Childhood Practice, PDA Level 9).

Membership of the PVG Scheme will also be required.

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