Early Years Education Lead West Dunbartonshire in Scotland

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced early years education professional to join Thrive at Five’s new programme in West Dunbartonshire. The successful candidate will play a key role in leading our local multi-disciplinary team, working to bring together local communities, families and partners, and to join-up and strengthen early years systems to support children to thrive from pregnancy to five. You will shape the direction of our multi-year programme as part of a young, dynamic national charity whose goal is to achieve long-term, sustained improvements in children’s developmental outcomes and reduce inequalities everywhere we work.

Location – This role is community-based in West Dunbartonshire, with some ability to work from home. There may also be occasional travel to other programme sites (currently Stoke-on-Trent, Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough) or travel to our Edinburgh or London offices.

Salary – Between £50,000 and £55,000

Employment Type – Permanent, 35 hours per week

Team – West Dunbartonshire Programme team

About you

• A relevant degree or professional qualification and experience of leading and managing in early years education. We would welcome applicants with a background in teaching or Early Learning and Childcare leadership, system improvement and support, or equivalent.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively about new approaches or ways of working which embed prevention and support measurable improvements in outcomes for children and families.
• Ability to work confidently in and across educational settings, with local authority leads and other relevant services, building effective, trusted relationships with stakeholders and other early years professionals to influence system change.
• Sound knowledge of relevant early years guidance and frameworks and the evidence base that supports them, including the Curriculum for Excellence at the early level and Realising the Ambition: Being Me.
• High levels of empathy, passion and care for children and families in local communities, with a strong commitment to putting children’s voices and rights at the heart of decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate and influence different groups of people.
• Someone who is self-starting and resilient, comfortable with working in complex environments and who is excited about the opportunity to shape the direction of our new programme from the beginning.
• Experience of programme or project management and/or improving practice is also desirable but not essential.

About the role

Thrive at Five brings additional capacity, coordination and expertise into local early years systems, helping to build trust, strengthen community connections and ensure families have the knowledge, confidence and support they need so that children can thrive. This is one of three Lead posts we are recruiting to over the summer to start delivery of our new programme in West Dunbartonshire, our first in Scotland. Alongside a new Early Years Health Lead and Parental Outreach and Engagement Lead, the post-holder will work to design and deliver evidence-based work-streams that respond to identified local needs, helping to reach up to 2,500 local children through our multi-year programme. Thrive at Five has recently signed an initial three-year partnership agreement with Dunbartonshire Council. Senior leaders in the Health and Social Care Partnership are also closely involved in shaping the programme.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building excellent relationships with decision-makers and leaders with responsibility for early years education and families, including those responsible for educational services, Additional Support Needs, Whole Family Wellbeing services and Family Hubs. Building strong connections with other charities and community organisations will also be critical. The successful candidate will build a clear understanding of Thrive at Five’s vision, theory of change and approach with these key stakeholders and partners.
• Working in partnership with education and allied professionals to build strong and trusting relationships, ensuring there is representation from all parts of the local system to co-design and take ownership of evidence-based workstreams that support better outcomes for children.
• Leading the process to co-design workstreams that enable the high-quality implementation of evidence-based interventions through close collaboration with our partners. Recent examples include the development of new ways to implement Peep Learning Together in nursery and school settings in Stoke.
• Working closely with the Scotland Director, Senior Research and Evaluation Manager and other members of the West Dunbartonshire team to build a strong team ethos and culture centred around Thrive at Five’s core values, helping to induct and support colleagues as the team grows.
• Supporting the Scotland Director to collaborate with Central teams on the development of strategy, implementation and evaluation plans for all workstreams, as well as funding applications.

About us

Thrive at Five is at an exciting stage, coming up to our 5th birthday. We have grown rapidly over that time and are now expanding into our third and fourth places, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the UK. Our mission is to help children develop strong foundations for life and learning, in and alongside communities where families face the most challenges. We do this in two key ways: we empower parents and carers as primary influencers of child development, equipping them with the tools and support they need to be the best they can be for their children. We also foster collaboration across public, private and voluntary sectors to create a more joined-up, effective early years system. Everything we do is in partnership with the whole community, including senior decision makers, local professionals working with families, parents and carers.

About our benefits

• Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST.
• 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays
• £100 contribution towards your professional body membership
• Enhanced sick leave and maternity pay (following qualifying period)

Please note that as this role works with children and families this role is subject to a successful Level 2 PVG check through Disclosure Scotland. If you have any spent or unspent convictions, warnings or cautions and bind-overs but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK.

To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV. Closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 26th July 2026. If you have any questions about this role, please contact.