Join the team

Life at the Social Enterprise Academy:

At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.

We realise the importance of our staff in everything we do and that is why you will find the Academy a kind, warm and collaborative place to work with every role contributing towards real-life impact taking place across the globe. Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.

We would love for you to join us on this journey.


 

Current vacancies:

 

Head of Finance and Resources

Salary: £60,000 (pro rata)

Benefits: Company pension (up to 8%), 35 days annual leave (pro rata), an employee assistance programme and learning and development opportunities.

Status: Permanent / Part-time (28 hours per week, flexible working options)

Closing date: 9am, Monday 21 July 2024

Location: Based in Edinburgh with the option to work hybrid

We’re on a journey to create fairer communities by facilitating 10 million social entrepreneurs globally by 2030. Do you want to help make this a reality?

We are looking for a qualified and experienced Finance professional to join our team and oversee the Finance & Resources Department within the business.

We’re looking for someone with a passion for social enterprise, a strong track record in financial management, and experience leading a multi-disciplinary team in a similarly sized organisation.  As well as the right qualifications, we value a mindset that ensures high-quality, rigorous financial oversight and creative thinking to support our future vision.

This is a pivotal time for the Academy.  Last year brought significant challenges — from economic pressures and public funding cuts to internal financial management issues.  With full Board support, we’ve taken decisive action: rebuilding our financial systems, restructuring to improve resilience, and implementing a recovery plan that’s already delivering results.

We’re pleased that our core funder, the Scottish Government, has renewed its support — a strong endorsement of our direction.  We’re also launching exciting initiatives to grow our impact and diversify income, including new work through our schools programme and fresh approaches to leadership learning in the social economy.

As Head of Finance & Resources, you’ll provide strategic leadership across finance, HR, Health & Safety, IT and office services.  You’ll ensure compliance, support governance and act as Company Secretary.  The role is key to driving long-term sustainability through robust financial planning, performance analysis and effective reporting.

Just as important as experience and skills is the right mindset. We know the best candidate might not tick every box — but if you bring the right attitude and a commitment to our mission, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Strategic Leadership of the Finance & Resources Team to deliver on the Academy’s strategic goals and to ensure appropriate development of the Team
  • Develop and regularly review the Academy’s short and long-term financial planning, budgets and forecasts with a focus on long-term sustainability.
  • Management of financial accounting processes ensuring appropriate controls & compliance with statutory requirements, production of Statutory Accounts & management of the annual audit.
  • Production of the monthly Management Accounts pack, analysis and insight including Income & Expenditure, Balance Sheet, monthly and weekly cash flow analysis, reporting to Board, Sub-Committees and Senior Leadership.
  • Develop and maintain commercial pricing frameworks, critically appraise new project budgets and provide support to the bid process to improve income generation.
  • Engage as an effective business partner at senior management and team level to challenge, identify risks and opportunities, drive performance management and improve decision-making.
  • Review and advise on funder agreements, sales and supplier contracts to optimise commercial benefit and minimise financial risk for The Academy.
  • Develop and maintain organisational policies across all areas of the Finance & Resources Department.
  • Ensure accuracy and compliance in relation to payroll and pensions requirements
  • Oversee the management of Human Resources services including the development of toolkits & business partnering to enable colleagues to manage teams effectively.
  • Oversee the management of Health & Safety, Office and IT Services.
  • Oversee all Company Secretary & GDPR requirements for The Academy including compliance with statutory responsibilities including the provision of EA services and administration to the CEO and Trustees.

For a full set of criteria and information on how to apply please download the recruitment pack.

Organisation profile:

At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.

We strengthen their role in local communities through transformational learning programmes that will increase their community impact.

Our programmes are accredited, responsive to learner needs, and are delivered by experienced facilitators who are social change leaders themselves.

Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.

Application notes:

  1. Send your CV and a cover letter in Word format outlining:
    • Why you are interested in the post and joining the Academy team.
    • The experiences, skills and qualities you have that match you with the post’s job description and person specification. along with a completed copy of our equality and diversity monitoring form (downloadable below) to seahr@socialenterprise.academy by 9am, Monday 21 July 2024
  2. Please note that interviews will take place at our Edinburgh office on 30 July 2024

If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments for the application or interview process e.g. application form in a different format or extra interview time please get in touch: Karen Veitch | 0131 243 2670| seahr@socialenterprise.academy

View the job pack

Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form

 

Young People Coordinator

Salary: £26,594.00 (pro rata)

Benefits: Company pension (up to 8%), 35 days annual leave (pro rata), an employee assistance programme and learning and development opportunities.

Status: Permanent/ Part-time (17.5 hours per week), working Wednesday, Thursday and half day Friday

Closing date: 9am, Monday 18 August 2025

Location: Home based in the central belt (Scotland) with option to work from our Edinburgh office

We’re on a journey to create fairer communities by facilitating 10 million social entrepreneurs globally by 2030. Do you want to help make this a reality?

We are looking for someone with a passion for empowering young people to join our Young People Learning team to support the coordination of our programmes across Scotland.

More than ever, we need social entrepreneurship to tackle the challenges we face as a society.  In 2007, we launched Social Enterprise Schools in Scotland, and since then we have worked with 77,000 young people in 8 countries across the world.  We ask young people what they care about and how they will make change happen then support them to launch their social enterprise to bring about that change.  Find out more about the programme here.

As our Young People Coordinator, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to develop the next generation of young changemakers through social enterprise.  You will use your organisational skills to coordinate the delivery of our Social Enterprise Schools programme and other events such as workshops, Dragons Dens and Awards ceremonies.  Building and maintaining relationships you will work closely with schools, youth partners and clients to ensure every interaction is meaningful and every experience is memorable.

You will also play a key role within our Young People Learning team – working with fellow coordinators to share insights, improve systems, and continuously enhance how we support young people.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a passionate and collaborative team who believe in young people’s potential – and you can help turn that potential into action.

Having the right mindset, attitude and approach is as important for us as having the right experience and skills.  We appreciate that the best person might not have all the listed criteria yet so if you feel your experience, skills and attitude will help you to make a great contribution in this role and you have the right mindset, we would welcome an application from you.

Job Purpose:

This role works to coordinate the delivery of the Young Person learning, supporting the roll out of the Social Enterprise Schools, Young person development as well as our collaborative partnerships with corporates and funding partners across a designated area and the achievement of annual team-based targets.

Works closely under the guidance of the Young People Development Lead, this role implements procedures and maintains operational delivery relationships with key partners in schools, youth work and clients. External influencing is primarily through provision of exceptional customer service to encourage retention of young people and support effective delivery of our young person offering the programme.

In addition to the ongoing remit of the job description, the post holder will work towards individual goals/outcomes as agreed with the line manager and aligned to the team’s annual business plan.

Main Responsibilities:

  • To be the main point of contact for schools, young people delivery partners and coordinators for mentors in ensuring effective programme delivery.
  • Establish strong working relationships and provide outstanding customer service to teachers and schools, youth workers and mentors, providing guidance, sharing best practice and useful materials and signposting to additional support.
  • Support the Young People Development Lead and Head of Young People Learning in tasks relating to day-to-day young person learning delivery.
  • Work collaboratively with fellow Young People Coordinators to lead the continuous improvement and innovation of processes and procedures, enhancing the Young People Coordinator’s team efficiency while developing your capability, confidence, and skills.
  • Support the effectiveness of young people learning activities by appropriately preparing facilitators and following up with operational delivery partners following learning activity to ensure sessions meet highest standards and exceed expectations.
  • Support delivery of successful young person events (Awards ceremonies, Dragons Den events) responsible for implementing plans, coordination and logistical arrangements.
  • Responsible for gathering and collating evaluation data and case study information at CPDs and events to evidence impact.
  • Maintain up to date database of lead contacts.
  • Providing accurate management information and case studies for reporting to funders, schools, local authorities.

For a full set of criteria and information on how to apply please download the recruitment pack.

Organisation profile:

At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.

We strengthen their role in local communities through transformational learning programmes that will increase their community impact.

Our programmes are accredited, responsive to learner needs, and are delivered by experienced facilitators who are social change leaders themselves.

Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.

Application notes:

  1. Complete the application form and the equality and diversity monitoring form (downloadable below)
  2. Send your application form and equality and diversity monitoring form in Word document format to seahr@socialenterprise.academy by 9am, Monday 18 August 2025
  3. Please note that interviews will be held at our Edinburgh office w/c 25 August 2022

If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments for the application or interview process e.g. application form in a different format or extra interview time please get in touch: 0131 243 2670| seahr@socialenterprise.academy

View the job pack

Download the application form

Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form

Employee Benefits

Flexible Working

Dependant on role, we are open to flexible hybrid working between your home and our office in Edinburgh or co-working space in Farringdon, London.

Enhanced Annual Leave

25 days annual leave plus 10 days public holiday.

Learning and Development Opportunities

You will have the opportunity to attend Academy programmes as well as other development opportunities.

Enhanced sick and maternity leave

Our policies are flexible and generous, meaning you can have peace of mind when it comes to matching them with your circumstances no matter what may come up in life.

Pension

Up to 8% pension contribution, because we know planning forward is important.

Further Benefits

Employee assistance programme, life insurance and access to our wellbeing toolkit which includes a monthly wellbeing hour.

I had high standards about what the ideal workplace should be but the Academy is way beyond my expectations, thanks to this amazing team!

Elsa Vibert, Senior Programme Officer

Learn more

Send us a speculative CV

Can’t see your dream job just yet? Not to worry, we’d still love to hear from you in case of future opportunities.

Meet the team

Meet the current staff which make up the SEA team.