Early Years Education Lead, West Dunbartonshire

Are you experienced in working with local early years and school settings and looking for an exciting new challenge? We have an opportunity for an Early Years Education Lead to join our new team in West Dunbartonshire.

Location: This role is community-based in West Dunbartonshire, with some ability to work from home. There may also be occasional travel to other programme sites (currently Stoke-on-Trent, Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough) or travel to our Edinburgh or London offices.

Final date to receive applications: Midnight on 26 July 2026.

We are looking for someone who is able to demonstrate the following:

• A relevant degree or professional qualification and experience of leading and managing in early years education. We would welcome applicants with a background in teaching or Early Learning and Childcare leadership, system improvement and support, or equivalent.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively about new approaches or ways of working which embed prevention and support measurable improvements in outcomes for children and families.
• Ability to work confidently in and across educational settings, with local authority leads and other relevant services, building effective, trusted relationships with stakeholders and other early years professionals to influence system change.
• Sound knowledge of relevant early years guidance and frameworks and the evidence base that supports them, including the Curriculum for Excellence at the early level and Realising the Ambition:
  Being Me.
• High levels of empathy, passion and care for children and families in local communities, with a strong commitment to putting children’s voices and rights at the heart of decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate and influence different groups of people.
• Someone who is self-starting and resilient, comfortable with working in complex environments and who is excited about the opportunity to shape the direction of our new programme from the beginning.
• Experience of programme or project management and/or improving practice is also desirable but not essential.

Thrive at Five brings additional capacity, coordination and expertise into local early years systems, helping to build trust, strengthen community connections and ensure families have the knowledge, confidence and support they need so that children can thrive.

This is one of three Lead posts we are recruiting to over the summer to start delivery of our new programme in West Dunbartonshire, our first in Scotland. Alongside a new Early Years Health Lead and Parental Outreach and Engagement Lead, the post-holder will work to design and deliver evidence‑based work‑streams that respond to identified local needs, helping to reach up to 2,500 local children through our multi‑year programme.

Thrive at Five has recently signed an initial three‑year partnership agreement with Dunbartonshire Council. Senior leaders in the Health and Social Care Partnership are also closely involved in shaping the programme.

• Building excellent relationships with decision‑makers and leaders with responsibility for early years education and families, including those responsible for educational services, Additional Support Needs, Whole Family Wellbeing services and Family Hubs. Building strong connections with other charities and community organisations will also be critical. The successful candidate will build a clear understanding of Thrive at Five’s vision, theory of change and approach with these key stakeholders and partners.
• Working in partnership with education and allied professionals to build strong and trusting relationships, ensuring there is representation from all parts of the local system to co‑design and take ownership of evidence‑based work streams that support better outcomes for children.
• Leading the process to co‑design work streams that enable the high‑quality implementation of evidence‑based interventions through close collaboration with our partners. Recent examples include the development of new ways to implement Peep Learning Together in nursery and school settings in…