Head of Policy and Impact

Head of Policy & Impact

£63,800 – £66,940 | Permanent | 35 hours
Glasgow / Hybrid working

More information on the role can be found on our dedicated recruitment microsite at:

Homeless Network Scotland is seeking to appoint a Head of Policy & Impact to a senior leadership role at a critical moment for homelessness in Scotland. This is an influential position for a strategic thinker who can shape policy, interpret evidence, and bring people together to drive system-level change.

Despite Scotland’s progressive legislative framework, homelessness is rising and the pressures on services are intensifying. Against this backdrop, Homeless Network Scotland plays a unique national role – connecting people and organisations, influencing policy and plans, and translating evidence and lived experience into action that makes a difference.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working as part of a small, highly motivated leadership team, the Head of Policy & Impact will provide strategic leadership across policy development, programme impact and organisational learning, strengthening Homeless Network Scotland’s influence and effectiveness.

About Homeless Network Scotland

Homeless Network Scotland is the national membership body committed to preventing and resolving homelessness. Its vision is a Scotland where homelessness is prevented and everyone has a safe and settled home.

Through convening networks, building cross-sector partnerships, amplifying lived experience and influencing policy with evidence and insight, the organisation works across boundaries to challenge inequality and support lasting change. Homeless Network Scotland leads and coordinates major national programmes including Housing First Scotland and Fair Way Scotland
, operating at the intersection of policy, practice and people’s lived realities.

The Role

The Head of Policy & Impact will lead Homeless Network Scotland’s policy influence and impact agenda, ensuring the organisation continues to play a credible, authoritative and trusted role across the homelessness system.

Key responsibilities include:

• Shaping, developing and communicating clear, evidence-based policy positions that influence decision-making at national and local levels
• Building and sustaining strong, relational partnerships across government, statutory bodies, funders, members and the wider homelessness sector
• Providing strategic oversight of multi-agency programmes, ensuring measurable impact, continuous learning and improvement
• Embedding organisational learning and impact analysis to strengthen programme delivery, strategy and decision-making
• Contributing to organisational leadership, strategic direction and risk management as part of the senior team
• Acting as a visible and credible public voice for Homeless Network Scotland through events, briefings, media engagement and publications

This is a highly collaborative and externally facing role, requiring confidence in convening diverse perspectives, navigating complexity and influencing without direct authority.

The Person

Homeless Network Scotland is open to candidates from a range of policy backgrounds. Deep experience in homelessness policy is welcome but not essential; equally valued is the ability to apply transferable policy, public affairs or system-influencing expertise in a complex environment.

The successful candidate is likely to bring:

• Senior-level experience in a policy, public affairs, influencing or impact-focused role
• A strong track record of shaping policy or practice through evidence, relationships and credibility
• Experience working across multi-partner or networked environments, balancing differing perspectives and priorities
• The ability to interpret complex data, research and lived experience and translate this into clear, persuasive insight
• Confidence as a public-facing leader, with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of impact measurement, evaluation or learning frameworks (or the ability to quickly develop this)
• A coaching, enabling leadership style, able to get the best from skilled colleagues and collaborators

Above all, candidates will share a commitment to Homeless Network Scotland’s mission and…