Head of Inclusion and Education: Dundee United Community Trust

Dundee United Community Trust is the official charity of Dundee United Football Club. The Charity relaunched in 2017 and aims to improve the lives of people in Dundee and the surrounding areas. We achieve this by delivering a broad variety of activities, supporting hundreds of people each week in the areas of Healthy Lifestyles, Lifelong Learning and Sport for All.

The Head of Inclusion and Education will lead the strategic development, delivery and growth of the charity's inclusion and education projects. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring the highest quality provision across disability sport, additional support needs (ASN) programmes, educational initiatives and school-based delivery, creating positive outcomes for children, young people and adults across the community.

Working as a member of the senior leadership team, the Head of Inclusion and Education will contribute to the overall strategic direction of the charity, develop sustainable participation opportunities, manage key stakeholder relationships and ensure all programmes deliver measurable social impact aligned with the organisation's mission and objectives.

Key Tasks and Expectations

• Contribute to the overall strategic leadership and operational management of the charity as a member of the senior management team.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation and partnership development across inclusion and education programmes.
• Develop annual operational plans, budgets and performance targets for the department.
• Ensure programmes align with organisational priorities, funder requirements and community needs.
• Oversee the planning, delivery and evaluation of all inclusion and education programmes.
• Lead the development of disability sport pathways and opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities.
• Ensure high-quality educational delivery within schools, community settings and partner organisations.
• Monitor programme performance against agreed targets and key performance indicators.
• Ensure robust systems are in place to measure and demonstrate programme impact.

Staff leadership and Development

• Lead, manage and support staff within the Inclusion and Education team.
• Conduct regular supervision, performance reviews and professional development planning.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment and retention across the department.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with schools, local authorities, governing bodies, health partners and community organisations.
• Create packages and programmes that the school engage with as paid provision to support income generation for the Charity.

Governance, Safeguarding and Compliance

• Ensure all programmes operate in accordance with safeguarding, health and safety and equality legislation.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practice in inclusion, disability sport and education.
• Ensure accurate monitoring, reporting and record keeping across all programmes.
• Support organisational compliance with charity, funding and regulatory requirements.

General Requirements

• Promote the values and objectives of the organisation at all times.
• Meet the operational and financial targets set within the annual plan and budget.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Chief Executive Officer.
• Work flexibly, including evening and weekend work to meet the needs of the role.

Personal Profile

• Essential Qualifications: Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in education, sport, inclusion, community development or a related field. Disability sport, inclusion or coaching qualifications. Relevant safeguarding qualification or willingness to obtain.
• Desirable Qualifications: Teaching qualification or recognised education-related qualification. Management or leadership qualification. Full UK driving licence and access to transport.
• Experience: Significant experience in managing programmes within education, inclusion, disability sport or community development. Experience of leading and managing staff and teams. Significant experience of delivering sport for people with additional support needs. Experience of budget management and financial accountability. Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders. Experience of monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting. Experience of managing grants or delivering against funded outcomes. Experience working within a football club charity, community trust or third-sector organisation. Experience of working within an SQA Centre environment. Experience of contract management and tender submissions. Experience working with children and young people with additional support needs. Experience of developing disability sport pathways and participation opportunities. Experience of influencing policy or contributing to strategic partnerships.
• Essential Skills: Strong leadership and people management skills. Excellent communication and presentation skills. Strong organisational and project management abilities. Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of client groups in a sports and non-sports setting. Strong relationship-building and networking skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Knowledge of the Scottish education landscape. Knowledge of disability sport and inclusive practice. Understanding of charity governance and funding environments. Experience using CRM, monitoring and reporting systems. Passion for inclusion, education and improving peoples lives. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Strategic thinker with a solutions-focused approach. High levels of integrity, professionalism and accountability. Ability to inspire, motivate and develop others.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a current CV and a covering letter (maximum two pages) outlining how their skills, experience and values meet the requirements of the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and may be required to undertake a presentation or practical assessment relevant to the position. The deadline for applications is 26th June 2026, 5pm. Applications should be submitted to Jamie.kirk@dundeeunitedct.co.uk.

Safeguarding and Protection of Vulnerable Groups

This post is considered a regulated role and is subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references and eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. The successful candidate will be required to undertake and maintain appropriate safeguarding training as part of their employment.