Strategic Lead – Social Justice - Citizens Advice Scotland

Scotland’s Citizens Advice Network is an essential community service that empowers people through our local bureaux and national services by providing free, confidential, and independent advice. We use people’s real-life experiences to influence policy and drive positive change. We are on the side of people in Scotland who need help, and we change lives for the better.

The Citizens Advice network is made up of 59 local Citizens Advice Bureaux, each its own independent charity, and Citizens Advice Scotland as the national charity and membership body, which includes the GB delivery of Extra Help Unit service, a group of specialist case workers supporting vulnerable energy and post consumers. We provide advice across over 200 locations and deliver 12 national advice projects for UK and Scottish Government including the Money Talks advice service and the Help to Claim Universal Support advice service. 

Last year the network helped nearly 180,000 people and unlocked £147million for people through things like social security payments and employment entitlements. Our online advice received over 5.4 million page views and our awareness raising campaigns reached millions of people.

Our vision is for a Fairer Scotland where everyone has the advice and information they need to realise their rights, and that the barriers to accessing those rights are effectively challenged.

Making change happen at Citizens Advice Scotland

The Impact team has access to the incredible wealth of data generated through advice giving by our network of Citizens Advice Bureaux and through the Extra Help Unit at Citizens Advice Scotland, and our online advice which is accessed by over 2 million people every month.

We hold the largest dataset on social issues outside of the public sector and this allows us to understand what is happening on the ground in communities across Scotland and reflect our client’s experiences to government and to those who can make a difference. We campaign and influence to tackle the root cause of the problems people face, and to work to strengthen their rights. To achieve change we work with governments, regulators and business at a UK and Scottish level on improving areas of particular detriment, and undertake research and delivering awareness and education campaigns.

Our network mission

• We help people navigate systems and access their rights
• We build resilience in local communities
• We support the realisation of human rights
• We help change policies and practices to ensure they work for people

This opportunity

We wish to appoint a dynamic and driven individual to lead our work on Social Justice, which spans a diverse range of policy areas but which includes Social Security, Housing, Employment and Net Zero.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape and implement a programme of work that will achieve positive social change in this area, working alongside and with a talented team of research, policy and communications professionals in a dynamic and creative environment.

You will be able to demonstrate significant experience working in policy development, advocacy or a public affairs environment and have a sound working knowledge of Social Justice issues

You will be given freedom to lead on achieving change for the people who use our services and will be responsible for setting our strategy in this area of work. You will ensure that the network is plugged into the right people in the right places, that messages are landed effectively, progress is measured and goals are achieved.

You will be an effective spokesperson for Citizens Advice Scotland on Social Justice and you will develop and build relationships at all levels of government(s), with regulators, opinion formers and make a measurable impact on the organisation’s reputation in the UK and Scotland. You will develop strategic alliances with other organisations, including cross sector coalitions, and build relationships with influential stakeholders, and importantly you’ll share your knowledge and experience within Citizens Advice Scotland and our wider network.

This exciting and empowering role provides the ideal opportunity to develop your own career and skill sets in a collaborative, innovative and supportive environment.

For more information, please refer to the Job Pack which can be downloaded on our vacancies page.

*This role is based in our Edinburgh office.  Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the majority of Citizens Advice Scotland staff have been working from home, but we have now started a transition back to the office and expect all staff to be attending the office in some capacity from the end of May 2022.  CAS have introduced a blended working policy to allow our employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home, and the number of days you will be expected to attend the office each week can be discussed as part of the recruitment process. Candidates should be prepared to attend the office on their first day for an induction, and to attend the office thereafter as required.

Employee benefits 

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 40 days leave (including public holidays) and a pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution. We have a flexitime scheme which enables our employees to work flexibly in line with organisational requirements, and as an inclusive employer we are happy to consider other flexible working arrangements where appropriate. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the Job Pack.

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