Chief Executive

Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust

Location: Edinburgh/Hybrid

Salary: up to £75,000 (Open to four days pro-rated and flexible hours)

Our vision is to help raise attainment and broaden achievement amongst Scotland’s state school pupils, and to safeguard Scotland’s musical traditions, by supporting the development of schools pipe bands.

Today, more than 2,500 young people are learning our national instruments every week in state schools, many in disadvantaged areas, because of the Trust’s intervention and support. But we know we can do much more.

The Scottish Schools Pipe and Drums Trust (SSPDT) is in good health and our appetite to reach even more children and introduce them to the pipes and drums remains undiminished.

We are now recruiting for a new Chief Executive Officer with exceptional leadership skills and a passion for working with young people.

You will relish taking on the role of being the organisation’s ambassador and through your creativity come up with innovative ideas to open up new opportunities to bring the joy of music to thousands more young people, no matter their background of where they live. You will take forward our well-established apprenticeships, work with our experienced organising committee to deliver the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, oversee our national instrument lending scheme, work with partners to provide professional development for piping and drumming instructors, seek new partnerships, co-create new projects and establish local or regional organisations to take forward tuition programmes, and co-create new tutor roles.

We are now well established in delivering quality tuition and there is now a window of opportunity to reach even more young people and get them interested in playing an instrument.

We are seeking someone who can inspire and has an appreciation of the transformative power of music. You will be driven to champion our work and engage with communities and stakeholders to reach parts of the country where we have yet to make an impression.

This role requires exceptional leadership, decision-making, and communication skills to formulate a new strategy to ensure the organisation continues to evolve and make a tangible contribution towards Scotland’s cultural health.

If you are the visionary leader we are looking for, with a passion for improving the life chances of young people, with experience of hands-on project development and change-making, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications in the form of a tailored CV and covering letter, highlighting your skills and experience pertinent to the role, should arrive no later than midnight Sunday 29 September.

For a confidential, informal discussion about the role, or to request a Candidate Information Pack, please contact LHH, Glasgow office.