Chief Executive Officer; CEO

About HSTAR Scotland SCIO

Small, dynamic team. At HSTAR Scotland we are deeply rooted in lived experience, which shapes everything we do. Since August 2020, we have proudly followed our mission to create a welcoming and inclusive healing environment for women in Scotland, primarily focusing on the Forth Valley. We help all women rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma and abuse. We place the individual at the centre of their own therapeutic journey, offering a person‑centred and trauma‑informed approach to care.

Our holistic approach provides a wide range of trauma‑informed services: 1‑2‑1 therapy sessions, coaching, group sessions, advocacy services, befriending, mental health and wellbeing sessions, safety planning, and meaningful activities.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This unique hybrid executive position is designed for an accomplished professional who thrives on combining strategic vision with robust operational governance. Working 28 hours per week, you will serve as the central anchor of integration for the charity. While day‑to‑day task execution is successfully delegated to our specialised team leads, you will hold ultimate organisational accountability for safeguarding, regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, and strategic stakeholder relations.

• Strategic Leadership & Alignment:
  Maintain continuous oversight of the charity’s functions, coordinating the workflows of the Service Manager and Financial Consultant to ensure absolute alignment with board‑approved goals.
• Governance & Regulatory Compliance:
  Act as the primary champion for statutory frameworks, ensuring audit‑ready compliance with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), data protection (GDPR), and internal policy frameworks.
• Ultimate Safeguarding Ownership:
  Hold accountability for safeguarding systems, crisis protocols, and service quality benchmarks across all clinical and support operations.
• Financial Oversight & Funding Strategy:
  Oversee the organization’s complete financial health, budget validation, and risk mitigation. Optimise the deployment of restricted funds (e.g., Fairer Lives, Corra Foundation) and unrestricted revenue streams.
• Board Partnership:
  Author and present structured, evidence‑based monthly performance reports, financial matrices, and risk registries to the Board of Trustees.
• External Relations:
  Act as the primary ambassador for HSTAR Scotland, building robust relationships with cross‑sector partners, public commissioners, and grant funders to secure long‑term funding pipelines.

• Proven leadership experience working directly with or reporting to a Board of Trustees within a regulated charity governance model.
• Strong financial oversight capabilities, including budget tracking, resource optimisation, and multi‑stream funding management.
• Clear track record in risk management, with the ability to identify, mitigate, and escape operational and compliance risks.
• Exceptional cross‑functional leadership skills, capable of driving synergy between operational delivery and financial administration.
• Understanding of, and deep commitment to, trauma‑informed practices and ethical service environments.

• Successful track record in third‑sector funding development, grant writing, or public sector commissioning in Scotland.
• Knowledge of the mental health, trauma provision, or violence against women sectors.
• Experience navigating organisations through structural changes.

• An advanced qualification or degree in Business Administration, Economics, Non‑Profit Leadership, Education, Social Sciences, or a related field.

• Competence in safeguarding protocols and GDPR/data protection compliance.
• Full compliance with safeguarding standards, including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection requirements.

• Statutory annual leave entitlement, plus additional discretionary leave during the Christmas period.
• NEST Pension scheme.
• Family‑friendly policies.
• Access to trauma‑informed professional supervision.
• Professional development opportunities in trauma‑informed practice, safeguarding, governance and other areas.
• Unlimited access to internal training resources and an external learning platform.
• Opportunity to work alongside and receive support from an experienced and skilled Board of Trustees.

This is an opportunity to lead a respected and mission‑driven charity entering its next stage of organisational development and sustainability. You will work alongside a dedicated Board, skilled therapists and a committed staff team while helping shape the future of trauma‑informed support for women across Scotland.