Program/Service Manager

Family Service Manager (Scotland)

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Gambling with Lives
Home-based within Scotland, within reasonable travel of a major population centre (e.g. Edinburgh, Glasgow or Stirling), with regular travel across Scotland and occasional travel to Leeds/Sheffield and wider UK locations.
Salary
£45,000 £48,000 (dependent on experience)
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
7% employer pension contribution
Flexible working arrangements
Home-based role with autonomy
Opportunity to shape a new national service
Meaningful work within a lived experience-led charity driving systemic change
About Gambling with Lives
Gambling with Lives is a charity established by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide.
We exist to prevent gambling harm and save lives through support, advocacy and systemic change. We work alongside families to navigate complex post-death processes, access support, and advocate for change.
We are fundamentally led by lived experience. Families are central to everything we do shaping services, influencing strategy, and driving the organisation forward.
Following new funding through the statutory levy system, we are launching dedicated support services in Scotland and seeking an exceptional Family Service Manager to lead this work.
This is a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up.
The Opportunity
This is a newly created role in Scotland, based on an established family service model operating across England and Wales.
You will translate this model into the Scottish landscape building relationships, understanding systems, creating referral pathways, and ensuring families receive consistent support and advocacy.
This is not purely a service delivery role.
Initially, the focus will be on service development, stakeholder engagement, system mapping and establishing the service. Over time, the role will evolve into a more strategic leadership and management position.
You will act as the lead Family Service representative in Scotland, working closely with colleagues across Family Services and Public Affairs, with significant autonomy.
This role requires someone who can balance compassion with credibility, advocacy with professionalism, and independence with collaboration.
Reporting To
Head of Family Services
Key Responsibilities
Service Development & Implementation
Establish and embed the family service model across Scotland
Map post-death systems, including fiscal processes and stakeholder pathways
Translate the England & Wales model into a Scottish framework
Build referral pathways with key agencies and professionals
Develop relationships with fiscal services, NHS, local authorities and stakeholders
Identify gaps and opportunities for service improvement
Contribute to long-term strategy and sustainability
Family Support & Advocacy
Support families bereaved by gambling-related suicide
Conduct holistic needs assessments
Guide families through inquests, investigations and system navigation
Manage safeguarding and risk
Work alongside families as partners
Advocate within complex systems
Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
Represent the organisation across Scotland
Deliver presentations, training and awareness sessions
Build trust within communities and referral networks
Support public affairs and systems change work
Collaborate with Public Affairs and leadership teams
Internal Collaboration
Work with the Head of Family Services and wider team
Contribute to organisational learning
Engage with the Family Council and lived experience groups
Ensure alignment with lived experience-led values
Maintain accurate records and reporting
Who this role may suit
This role may suit individuals working as a Service Manager, Project/Programme Manager, Safeguarding Lead, Senior Social Worker, Mental Health Practitioner, or within bereavement, postvention or family support services. We also welcome those with experience in service development or stakeholder engagement seeking a purpose-driven role.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
Background in mental health, psychotherapy, counselling, social work, nursing, psychology, bereavement or safeguarding
Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience
Experience managing complex cases and risk
Ability to work independently with strong judgement
Experience building stakeholder relationships
Experience delivering services or projects
Understanding of trauma-informed practice
Strong communication skills
Ability to represent an organisation externally
Personal Attributes
Warm, empathetic and emotionally intelligent
Calm, resilient and professional
Organised and self-motivated
Confident in complex, sensitive environments
Credible with stakeholders and compassionate with families
Collaborative and values-led
Comfortable with ambiguity and building new systems
Motivated by purpose and impact
This role requires someone who can take the brief and run with it.
Recruitment Process
Stage 1: Screening and interview with Charity Recruit
Stage 2: Teams interview with panel and trustee
Stage 3: Final face-to-face interview (Leeds or Sheffield)
Apply
If youre looking for a role where your work will directly improve lives, shape systems, and build something impactful, wed love to hear from you.
This recruitment is managed by Charity Recruit. We work with charities across the UK to connect them with people who care deeply about their work. xwzovoh Our approach is hands-on, thoughtful and focused on finding the right fit not just the right experience.