Scotland Lead, National Year of Reading

Scotland Lead, National Year of Reading

£42,000 per year pro rata (0.4 FTE) / £16,800 per year

Part-time, 14 hours per week

Fixed-term contract to end of March 2027

Based in Scotland as a home-working role

We empower people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. Together, we're helping people change their stories. You could join us to lead the delivery of the 2026 National Year of Reading in Scotland.

What you'll be doing

2026 will be a National Year of Reading, a once-in-a-generation, UK-wide campaign to engage new audiences in reading and change the national reading culture for good.

This new role will lead the delivery of the National Year of Reading in Scotland. You will be responsible for the strategic engagement and mobilisation of organisations across the public, private and community sectors, and targeted local activation of the campaign. You will be part of a new team structure for this, working alongside our existing communities and local areas team, including our team in Dundee.

You will manage a project officer and work with them to engage partners, recruit volunteers in priority areas and deliver events and activities. You will ensure key local and national organisations are included and that our national approach is integrated into planning. There will be a calendar of key moments along with digital assets and activity guides, and partners will have the option to purchase additional resources to help their work and support the overall campaign. You will lead your team to reach families and communities, motivating them to read more, championing the benefits of literacy, and encouraging them to join and use their local library.

This role is based in Scotland as a home-working role and will involve regular travel around the country. There will also be some national travel – for our organisational away days, which take place in London three times per year, as well as approximately three team days per year. All travel expenses will be covered.

We welcome opportunities for the secondment of a candidate with appropriate experience at another organisation in Scotland.

What we're looking for

You will be experienced in programme leadership and delivery, capable of engaging a wide range of partners and managing complex relationships at a senior and strategic level. You will need experience of working in or with the education sector and recruiting and managing volunteers. You will also need knowledge of research methodologies and impact measurement for large-scale programmes. Experience of working in or with corporate partners would be an advantage.

Why our work is so vital

Literacy changes everything.

It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. It's the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. It's better results at school, and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, it's harder to get where they want to go.

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity helping people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words – reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days, to training, jobs and beyond.

• We work collaboratively in local communities, focusing our work in 20 areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges.

• We support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children.

• We campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and decision-makers.

• We support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders' institutions to build their literacy skills

What we offer you

Our team are passionate about our mission, and we have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect. We offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are.

As well as a competitive salary, we offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year), pension contributions of 8% of annual salary, a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and other health and wellbeing benefits.

Application details

Our people are our most important asset, and we value and respect diversity in all its forms (seen and unseen). We particularly welcome applications from those from Black and Asian backgrounds, as well as candidates with disabilities and from the communities in which we work. We would like to increase representation of these groups among our staff, as we know greater diversity will lead to an even greater impact for our work.

To apply, please select the button shown.

Closing date: 10am, Tuesday 25 November 2025

Please note we do not accept CVs. No agencies or recruitment sites. Registered charity no England and Wales) and SC Scotland).