Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer - Disability Equality Scotland

Edinburgh / Hybrid with flexible arrangements

Disability Equality Scotland (DES) is is a membership organisation representing a broad and diverse community across Scotland. Through engagement, consultation and influencing activity, they ensure disabled people’s voices shape policy and practice at national level.

They are entering an exciting new phase and seeking an ambitious and strategic Chief Executive Officer to build on the organisation’s significant progress and national influence. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive will provide strategic leadership across the organisation, ensuring strong governance, financial stewardship and continued impact.

This is a high-profile leadership role with responsibility for:

• Providing clear strategic direction and delivering the organisation’s vision and business plans
• Acting as principal ambassador and spokesperson for DES
• Influencing policy and building constructive relationships with Scottish Government, partners, funders and stakeholders
• Leading a senior management team and fostering a culture of professionalism, inclusion and accountability
• Supporting a period of organisational development and structural refinement
• Working closely with the Board to ensure strong governance, compliance and risk management

The Board is seeking a credible and inspiring leader who can operate confidently at a national level. You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a charity, not-for-profit or aligned environment
• A strong track record of working effectively with a Board
• Strategic thinking combined with the ability to deliver operationally
• Financial literacy and experience of organisational budget oversight
• Experience influencing policy and engaging constructively with government and sector partners
• Excellent public speaking and communication skills
• A collaborative mindset – someone who sees partnership, not competition, as key to progress
• A clear commitment to advancing disability equality in Scotland
• Knowledge of Scottish policy development, equality and human rights legislation, accessibility principles and community engagement will be highly valuable.
• Lived experience of disability is particularly welcomed (although not essential), as is experience within membership-based organisations.

For more information on the role and Easy Read documents, please view our dedicated recruitment microsite at:

DES is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and actively welcomes applications from disabled people and individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible. Adjustments are available at every stage, please advise us of any requirements.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Lauryn Pringle or Debbie Shields at Aspen People on .