Director of the Employer’s Association at Colleges Scotland
Take a look at the role…
Thank you for your interest in this exciting opportunity to join the Colleges Scotland team in the business-critical role of Director of the Employers’ Association.
Scotland’s colleges have a long and proud history; they are situated right across the length and breadth of our country, providing training, learning, and skills for all our communities. We have over 239,000 students studying in Scotland’s colleges each year from all backgrounds with over 95% achieving their qualifications and moving on to positive destinations of further study, training, or employment.
The college sector in Scotland enables people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, and all ages, to obtain qualifications and skills that can improve their lives, and further their careers. It also plays an intrinsic role in helping the Scottish Government deliver its ambitions for increased inclusivity and sustainable economic growth in Scotland.
Collaboration is essential if Scotland is to continue building a world-class education system, and the college sector is committed to working with partners across the public, private, third sector, and trade unions to capitalise on societal transformations, digital innovations, and changing demands in education.
Enabling the effective delivery of the National Bargaining Agenda, the College Scotland Employers’ Association:
- Supports its members to achieve their collective ambitions whilst also ensuring they have the workforce and resources to deliver excellence for their students.
- Delivers progress and sustainable outcomes for college staff in partnership with the recognised staff trade unions. This takes place through the effective national collective bargaining forum of the National Joint Negotiating Committee.
As the Director, you will ensure the Employers’ Association has a clear strategy, direction, identity, and voice. You will develop and maintain effective relationships with a range of external stakeholders to deliver true partnership working. You will have ownership of, and a proactive approach to, National Bargaining. The role of the Director includes representing the sector at a national level on key areas of National Bargaining, and also ensure the Employers Association’s contribution to the national agenda is valued and impactful.
We are delighted that you have taken the time to consider this exciting role within Colleges Scotland and wish you well in your application.
Alex Linkston, Chair of Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, and Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland
Colleges Scotland is the collective voice for the college sector, and as the membership body, represents all 26 colleges in Scotland and the three strategic regional bodies, delivering further education provision and around a quarter of all higher education in Scotland.
The 26 colleges operate in 13 regions across Scotland, allowing them to plan nationally and regionally, as well as deliver locally, while three regional strategic bodies co-ordinate approaches for colleges in the Highlands and Islands, Glasgow, and Lanarkshire regions.
The Colleges Scotland board is made up of the 13 regional college chairs, four nominated college principals, and the CEO of Colleges Scotland.
Colleges Scotland’s primary role is to support colleges and regional strategic bodies in achieving their aims and objectives, and to cultivate the strength of the college sector in Scotland. This is achieved through policy development, advocating and campaigning on behalf of the college sector, co-ordinating sector-wide engagement on major issues, and maintaining strong and proactive relationships with government, sector agencies, and industry bodies.
It is an exciting time for colleges and over the coming years the sector will continue to evolve.
Colleges Scotland supports its members by ensuring their views are heard and interests represented. We do this by:
- Campaigning for colleges, their staff and learners to policy makers and influencers
- Informing the public policy debate
- Influencing decision-makers to secure the best possible financial settlement for the sector
- Securing strong parliamentary and media representation
- Providing professional advice to college sector institutions
- Supporting National Bargaining.
Our vision is that Colleges Scotland will be at the heart of a world-class college sector that is recognised, valued, and available to all.
Colleges Scotland has four core values that underpin its work:
- Respect – we will act with respect, integrity, openness, and honesty.
- Support – we will strive for excellence, provide effective leadership and respond to the needs of colleges and regional strategic bodies.
- Trust – we will use truthfulness as the guiding principle for everything we do and it is essential to our success.
- Inclusivity – we will advocate diversity and equality
The College Sector Statement of Ambition, published in December 2018, set out a five-year vision for “a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative sector delivering high-quality lifelong learning, widening access to education, and promoting social inclusion that enables people to thrive in life, in their communities, and in work”. As the college sector’s representative body, Colleges Scotland has a crucial responsibility in helping the sector achieve its vision and deliver on its ambitions.
Employers’ Association
As well as Colleges Scotland being the policy organisation for the college sector in Scotland, we are also the Employers’ Association. The Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association is the forum through which National Bargaining is being implemented by the college sector.
The Employers’ Association is jointly responsible for implementing National Bargaining in partnership with the trade unions. Colleges Scotland was awarded funding from the Scottish Funding Council’s Strategic Funds, in August 2016 to establish the Employment Services Team which is tasked with supporting activities related to the implementation of National Bargaining across the college sector.
The National Joint Negotiation Committee was established to jointly agree matters, such as pay and terms and conditions of employment in Scotland’s colleges, in partnership between the employers and the recognised trade unions: UNISON, Unite, GMB and EIS-FELA.
As a member of Colleges Scotland’s small Executive team, you will also directly contribute to the development of strategies and operational plans that ensure the achievement of Colleges Scotland’s strategic aims.
Interested candidates should provide a tailored CV and covering letter to Douglas Adam at [email protected]
Should you have questions prior to submitting an application please contact Douglas Adam, Head of Public and Not for Profit Practice, at Livingston James on 0131 220 2209.
