Head of Scotland and Northern Ireland (FTC until December 2025)

The Head of Scotland and Northern Ireland is responsible for leading our vision to end the need for food banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scotland currently leads the way in having a rights-based, progressive agenda to ending the need for food banks, but there is much to do to ensure political intentions become a reality. This role directs Trussell Trust’s policy and public affairs work in Scotland and Northern Ireland, leads our Scotland and Northern Ireland department as they support our network of food banks and works strategically with key partners to tackle the underlying reasons why people need to come to food banks.  

Based in Scotland or Northern Ireland, with travel around the UK as necessary

Role responsibilities 

• Lead the delivery of the Trussell Trust strategy for ending the need for food banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland, working to embed the Changing Communities, Changing Minds and Changing Policy programmes across the network, including through providing strategic support for the effective delivery of the Pathfinder, FI and organising programmes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

• Work with key partners to direct Trussell Trust’s policy and public affairs and work with the Scottish government and local authorities across Scotland. 

• Facilitate the sharing of learning from Scotland to help shape our long-term policy and public affairs work in Northern Ireland. 

• Lead the Scotland and Northern Ireland department to ensure the safe and effective operations of the food bank network. 

• Work with our Head of Strategic Church Engagement to deliver a church engagement strategy that will mobilise the church in Scotland and Northern Ireland to work to end the need for food banks. 

• Work with the Policy, Research and Impact, and Network Programmes and Innovation directorates to ensure effective cross-departmental working on policy and research opportunities, strategic priorities, church engagement, external partnerships and impact reporting. 

Person Specification 

Technical skills and minimum knowledge: 

• Senior level experience of leading delivery programmes nationally and locally. 

• Senior level experience of directing policy and public affairs programme nationally and locally, and representing the Trussell Trust to senior government representatives, national stakeholders and the media. 

• Expertise of significantly growing and managing services, project and programmes to drive change; leading, motivating and inspiring teams; leading culture change; able to manage multiple projects, identifying conflicting demands and establishing clear priorities in order to meet agreed objectives. 

• An effective communicator, verbally and in writing. Diplomatic and with the interpersonal skills required by the role. 

• Ensure that due regard is given to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within all objectives that report into this department. 

Behaviours and competencies: 

• Demonstrate a commitment to the values of the Trussell Trust. 

• Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds. 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and high-performing organisation, combining problem-solving with collaborative interpersonal skills. 

• Effective communication skills; diplomatic; effectively builds rapport with individuals and groups; presents information accessibly and in a format appropriate to the audience. 

• Role model inclusive behaviour and leadership.