Charity registered in Scotland SC026570
Top job! Head of Ceremonies
- Full time or Part time
- £29,393 – £36,742
- Home based role with travel across Scotland (Remote)
- Closing 30th April 2024
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join Humanist Society Scotland as our Head of Ceremonies.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be involved in far-reaching wedding, funeral and naming services across the entire country. Over one million people in Scotland attend a humanist ceremony every year and this role holder has a unique opportunity to shape how these services are delivered across a wide range of communities the length and breadth of Scotland.
As the Head of Ceremonies, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of our ceremonies department, ensuring seamless operations, maintaining high standards, and fostering relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
We are especially interested in hearing from someone who has experience in strategic development of marketing and promoting services.
As a highly motivated self-directed individual you will manage a network of over 140 celebrants and line manage two support staff. We are seeking someone with considerable people management skills and a strong knowledge of marketing and promotion to direct and ensure delivery of growing the current demand and market share for our services.
In order to avoid conflict of interest and as this role has key management responsibilities in overseeing the delivery of all of our ceremony services this role holder cannot also hold a position as a celebrant. Individuals who are interested in becoming a celebrant can register their interest here instead.
Responsibilities:
• Oversee Day-to-Day Operations:
- Provide guidance and support to the ceremonies support team, including line management of two staff.
- Maintaining strong relationships with key contractors such as our celebrant trainers, emergency out of hours support and celebrant area officers.
• Budget Management:
- Ensure good oversight and planning of related budgets including delegating responsibilities to members of team where appropriate
• Promotional Plan:
- Developing and implementing business plans for sustainable growth, based on sound research and analysis of the competitive markets and future opportunities and then creating and implementing strategies to grow the business.
- Utilise various marketing channels and techniques to reach target audiences effectively.
New Celebrant Recruitment:
- Oversee recruitment and training provision for new celebrants working closely with our trainers.
- Working with our celebrant network to develop meaningful mentoring relationships for new celebrants.
- Ensure feedback from trainees helps further develop and improve our training.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Coordination:
- Coordinate ongoing CPD opportunities for celebrants, including organising gatherings and training sessions to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Reviews Oversight:
- Oversee and coordinate professional reviews of ceremonies.
Complaints Management:
- Address and resolve complaints from clients in a timely and professional manner.
Relationships with External Stakeholders:
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including funeral directors, wedding venues and other relevant partners.
- Collaborate with external partners to expand our celebrant network and reach new audiences.
- Sharing best practices and learning from professional networks of other humanist leaders and groups.
Person Specification:
- Proven experience in a leadership role, preferably within service delivery. This could be in the public, private or third sector.
- Previous professional success in creating a meaningful promotional and marketing strategy to help increase market share.
- Ability to proactively anticipate emerging trends and threats and apply business intelligence to react in response.
- Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritise effectively.
- Sound people management skills including the ability to handle delicate issues such as bereavement, complaints and conflict resolution.
- Strong customer service experience both internal stakeholder facing and external public facing.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrated proficiency in budget management.
- Independent work ethic with ability to self motivate and direct including ability to work on own initiative and prioritise workload.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, and an understanding of GDPR principles.
- Has strong experience of ensuring that decisions are data-driven and evidence led.
- Is a committed team player and is used to collaborative working throughout the organisation.
- Good knowledge of humanist principles and practices.
- Professional experience of the wedding or funeral industries would be desirable but not essential.
Join our team and contribute to creating meaningful and memorable ceremonies that celebrate life and humanist values. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a dynamic environment, we want to hear from you!
Policy and Campaigns Officer
- Part time
- £24,836 pro-rata
- Home based and will involve occasional evening and weekend work when required.
- Closing 5th November 2023
Humanist Society Scotland is looking for someone with a proven track record in policy and campaign work. The successful candidate will develop and support the policy and campaign work of Scotland’s national charity for people seeking an ethical, rational, secular future. Our current campaigns include fighting for safe access to reproductive services for women, making the case for compassionate assisted dying laws, and working to reduce the influence of religious privilege in the Scottish education system.
This is a role that seeks to build on the charity's existing policy and campaign work and improve the organisation's ability to inform national policy and engage our supporters and members in making the case for change.
We are looking for an individual who has experience of the Scottish political and media landscape and can help make the case for the campaign issues we care about. You will be passionate about progressive change and share our vision for a caring and compassionate Scotland informed by reason. Your work will be in line with our organisational values of cooperation, integrity, reason, courage and sustainability.
The successful candidate will have experience of working on campaign and policy development. They will have excellent communication skills and knowledge of the Scottish parliamentary system and politics. They will relish collaborative working and be willing to represent the organisation at external events and through partnerships and umbrella groups. They will understand the role of media relations in awareness raising.
Key Responsibilities of the role
- Monitoring Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and local government to identify opportunities to advocate for humanist values
- Developing relationships with MSPs, local councillors, civil servants, media outlets, partner organisations, international humanist organisations and others to make the case on humanist causes
- Researching and developing policy papers and consultation responses on important issues for the organisation
- Devising and delivering engaging campaigns that put humanist values on the national agenda
- Represent Humanist Society Scotland externally, including at party conferences, national and local government meetings, inter-agency meetings, public talks and local group events.
- Collaborating with partner organisations and umbrella groups working towards the same goals such as assisted dying groups, human rights coalitions and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.
- Supporting the communications and media work of the Society as required by the Communications Manager
About Humanist Society Scotland
Humanist Society Scotland is part of the global Humanist movement of people and organisations. We are a registered charity of over 15,000 members, governed by an elected Board of Trustees. We are the longest-running and most trusted provider of humanist wedding ceremonies in Scotland, and we also offer humanist funerals and naming ceremonies through our network of trained celebrants.
Our Vision
A caring and compassionate Scotland informed by reason.
Our Mission
To be the champion for Humanism in Scotland.
Read more in our:
2021 Scottish Parliament Election Manifesto
Person Specification
Essential
- Professional experience of campaign development and delivery.
- Professional experience of policy research and development and consultation responses
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal and strong interpersonal qualities
- Strong knowledge of the Scottish political landscape and willingness to work on a cross-party basis to achieve aims.
- Experience of working collaboratively with other organisations and with local and national government partners to achieve shared goals.
- Ability to work with a variety of different stakeholders and manage relationships effectively, including through meetings with partner and umbrella groups
- Experience as part of a team working with the media to promote organisational values
- Ability to work flexibly in response to rapidly changing external events.
- Ability to travel within Scotland and attend meetings on behalf of Society
- Empathy with humanist values and Humanist Society Scotland’s charitable objectives
Desirable
- Knowledge of human rights and equality law and practice, especially concerning freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression
- Experience of fundraising for campaigns
- Experience of working first-hand with the media to promote organisational values
- Qualifications or professional registrations related to public affairs, research, campaigns and/or policy work
- Experience of data-led campaigning
- Experience of working in the charity/voluntary sector
This role will mainly be home-based. However the role-holder will need to be able to attend face-to-face events at the Scottish Parliament and meetings with Scottish Government staff and agencies, partner organisations, local groups across Scotland and occasional travel further afield. While every day will be different, the role holder will be therefore required to travel to locations across Scotland on a reasonably regular basis, although most events/meetings will take place in the Central Belt of Scotland.
Ceremonies Development Officer (Marketing and Events)
- Part time
- £24,836 pro-rata
- Home based.
- Closing 3rd September 2023
Humanist Society Scotland is Scotland’s national humanist charity and one of our key goals is to ensure everyone has access to humanist ceremonies to mark important life events. Our celebrant network conducts over 6000 funeral, wedding and naming ceremonies every year throughout the country.
We’re currently looking for an enthusiastic Development Officer to join our busy ceremonies team to support the growth and development of Humanist Society Scotland’s ceremonies. The role requires excellent communication skills, confident use of IT and social media, and entails working widely with our Celebrants, stakeholders and members of the public.
This is a key role for our ceremonies work, including supporting the development of our ceremonies digital marketing strategy and sharing with the world the great work our celebrants do, which includes conducting funeral ceremonies for families during difficult times in their lives.
The role will be really rewarding and you will be joining an inclusive workplace. The role also offers flexible working hours. The post is home based and will involve occasional evening and weekend work when required.
We encourage everyone to apply to work for us including people with disabilities, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and the LGBT+ community.
Key responsibilities of the role
- Creating engaging, informative blog content to promote the work of our celebrants across Scotland
- Manage print and online advertising for ceremonies
- Manage social media presence for ceremonies including creating content with a view to growing our audience
- Support development of our ceremonies digital marketing strategy
- Support the co-ordination of the annual celebrants gathering
- Co-ordinate and support our nationwide exhibition stalls including wedding shows
- Support the running of online CPD training and webinars for our celebrants
- Collaborate and support the wider work of the Humanist Society Scotland team
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience using social media channels for marketing and promotion
- Experience of creating eye catching and engaging content for the web and social media
- Experience of developing and engaging with social media and digital marketing strategies
- High level of verbal and written communication skills, including confident presentation skills
- Experience of event planning including exhibition stalls and conferences
- Experience of customer service and responding to members of the public
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work on own initiative and prioritise workload
- Work well in a team, and be willing to collaborate and help others as required
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, and an understanding of GDPR principles
- Willingness to learn new software packages
Desirable
- Empathy with the aims and values of Humanist Society Scotland
- Experience of the wedding or funeral industries
- Experience using Google Workspace
- Understanding of digital marketing tools and platforms including Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Search Console
- Experience using CiviCRM, or other similar CRM systems
- Experience editing website content created using WordPress or similar CMS systems
- Experience using social media management tools such as Hootsuite
- Experience using design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva
Communications Manager
- Part time
- £31,600 pro-rata
- Home-based with requirement to attend Edinburgh Office from time to time
- Closing 4th December 2022
Humanist Society Scotland is looking for someone with a proven talent for engaging and effective communications. The successful candidate will lead the wide-reaching communications of Scotland’s national charity for people seeking an ethical, rational and secular future. This is an exciting role that focuses on the Society’s aim to grow awareness of
Humanism in Scotland to new audiences, as well as focussing on our key campaigns and ensuring the public are aware of the services offered by the Society.
As part of a small team of national staff, the Communications Manager is responsible for managing all communications and marketing activities, both at a strategic level and on a day-to-day basis.
Humanist Society Scotland offer benefits of 6% employers pension contributions, 35 days annual leave (pro-rata for part-time), winter flu jab and telephone counselling care.
Key responsibilities
- Develop new strategies and projects to increase knowledge and understanding of Humanism in Scotland.
- Plan and implement Humanist Society Scotland media strategy, with defined objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Supervise the production of content for all communication channels, including website, social media, magazine, podcast, campaign communications and supporter e-newsletter.
- Oversight of digital marketing and online messaging to strengthen knowledge of brand and work of the Society.
- Plan and arrange annual member and supporter in-person conference and other ad-hoc online events.
- Contribute to the production of content as required.
- Identify, plan and deliver effective online and offline campaigns that contribute to our strategic goals and objectives.
- Manage press and media activity, including working proactively with partners, internal and external stakeholders to boost awareness of the Society and its work.
- Drive fundraising activities and membership recruitment
- Line management responsibilities
Person Specification
Essential
- Minimum of five years of professional experience in communication and/or marketing / digital marketing.
- Experience of policy/campaign and/or public awareness campaigning.
- Ability to design communications that will recruit, engage and motivate members, supporters and other key stakeholders.
- Experience of working with the press and media.
- Experience of successful social media usage to promote a brand/organisation
- Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal.
- Ability to represent Humanist Society Scotland with the press/media.
- Ability to work flexibly and independently in response to rapidly changing external events.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Strong planning and strategy skills.
- Experience of project management.
- Strong computer, web and social media skills.
- Interest in Humanism and sympathy with aims and objectives of the organisation.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and implementing media strategy.
- Experience of managing budgets.
- Experience of fundraising.
- Experience of working in the charitable sector.
- Experience of using a CRM system.
- Relevant training/qualification.
Managed By: Chief Executive
Policy and Campaigns Officer
- Full time
- £23,074
- Currently home working / Post COVID restrictions, option to work a blend of remote / Edinburgh office.
- Closing 6th February 2022
Humanist Society Scotland is looking for someone with a proven track record in policy and campaign work. The successful candidate will develop and support the policy and campaign work of Scotland’s national charity for people seeking an ethical, rational, secular future.
This is a new role that seeks to build on the charity's pre-existing policy and campaign work and improve the organisation's ability to inform national policy and engage our supporters and members in making the case for change.
The Policy and Campaigns Officer will lead on:
- Monitoring Scottish Government and Scottish
- Parliamentary work to identify opportunities for the charity to make the views of humanists known
- Developing relationships with MSPs, civil servants, media, partner organisations, international humanist organisations and others
- Overseeing research and developing policy papers for the organisation on issues of importance to humanists
- Developing responses to consultations and engaging at events on issues of importance to humanists
- Working with the Communications Manager to ensure that our members and supporters are engaged in the campaign work of the charity
- Engaging with partner organisations working towards the same goals and working in a collaborative spirit with them
We are looking for an individual who has experience of the Scottish political and media landscape and can help make the case for the campaign issues of importance to humanists. You will be passionate about progressive change and
share our vision for a caring and compassionate Scotland informed by reason. Your work will be in line with our organisational values of cooperation, integrity, reason, courage and sustainability.
The successful candidate will have experience of working on recent influencing campaigns. They will have excellent writing skills and a good understanding of the role media relations play in raising awareness of a cause. In addition they
will have a good knowledge of the Scottish parliamentary system and politics.
A full job description is attached below
We’re currently looking for an enthusiastic administrator to join our busy staff team who will support our activities, mainly across our Ceremonies and Community Engagement teams. The role requires excellent communication skills, confident use of IT, and entails working widely with our Celebrants, stakeholders and members of the public.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver first-class support to our celebrants, members, volunteers and supporters.
- First point of contact for wedding, naming and funeral ceremony enquiries via phone, email and social media.
- Monitoring bookings coming through our Secure Your Date booking system.
- Support the Ceremonies and Community Engagement teams on key projects and administration tasks.
- Maintain accurate data on CiviCRM (membership database) relating to all ceremony bookings. This includes financial information and recording communication.
- Co-ordinate and maintain the ordering of promotional materials, this includes materials to support celebrants attending wedding shows and an annual conference event for celebrants.
- Support national events such as our annual gathering for celebrants.
- Support Celebrants with their online booking system and monthly financial returns.
- Develop and maintain databases for key stakeholders, such as Funeral Directors.
- Provide administrative support for Celebrant recruitment, training and onboarding
This is not an exhaustive list of activities.
A copy of our strategic plan and most recent annual report is included below for information.
Ceremonies Manager
- Part time
- £29,416 pro-rata
- Currently home working - Post COVID restrictions, option to work a blend of remote / Edinburgh office
- Closing 21st June 2021
We’re currently looking for a Ceremonies Manager to manage the day-to-day operations of our ceremonies team. We have a network of around 150 celebrants across Scotland who conduct over 7000 naming, marriage and funeral ceremonies each year, and we require an enthusiastic manager to support our ongoing growth and development.
The role requires excellent communication skills, confident use of IT, and entails working widely with our Celebrants, stakeholders and members of the public.
Key Responsibilities
- Day to day management of our ceremonies function
- Communicate key information to Celebrants and relevant stakeholders
- Ensure appropriate processes and policies are in place
- Ensure online content re Humanist Society Scotland ceremonies is up to date and accessible
- Oversee promotion of Humanist Society Scotland ceremonies through a range of activities such as social media, wedding exhibitions, promotional packages
- Managing relationships with external stakeholders such as funeral directors, wedding suppliers etc and being a champion for Humanist Society Scotland ceremonies
- Support the professional development of Humanist Society Scotland Celebrants
- Manage delegated ceremonies budget
- Line management responsibility for support staff
- Work as part of the Humanist Society Scotland team
This is not an exhaustive list of activities
A copy of our strategic plan and most recent annual report is included below for information.