Lead Development and Support Officer

LEAD DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OFFICER

Part time (28 hours per week, Monday-Friday)

Starting salary £32,791 FTE (£26,232 pro-rata)

Closing date for applications: 8 July 2026

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for improving outcomes for Scotland’s youngest children and their families? Early Years Scotland is seeking a dynamic and committed Development and Support Officer to provide high-quality support to our members across Fife. This is a home-based role, with regular travel throughout the area, where you will visit settings, attend meetings and build and develop strong local relationships with a range of stakeholders.

With leadership-level experience and influence across settings, you will provide a wide range of support to EYS members, including remote advice, direct setting support, Business Health Checks, follow-up improvement planning and peer support opportunities. Working closely with local authority colleagues and member settings, you will help to strengthen quality, governance and leadership across the sector.

A key part of the role will include the development of EYS membership policies and resources, as well as supporting voluntary committees and recruitment activity where needed. You will also play an active role in partnership meetings with Fife Council and other stakeholders.

Early Years Scotland is a registered charity and Scotland’s leading national specialist organisation dedicated to supporting our youngest children, from pre-birth to age five. With over 50 years of experience as a Third Sector organisation, we take immense pride in our long-standing commitment to those who work for and on behalf of Scotland’s youngest children.

Key Responsibilities

· Deliver universal and direct support to settings, both remotely and in-person, based on requests and identified needs

· Conduct annual Business Health Check audits and visits, analysing findings and developing individual action plans for settings, as well as facilitating follow-up meetings to support improvement

· Organise and attend termly in-person meetings for all members, in partnership with the local authority

· Share local and national information to support member settings

· Work collaboratively with Fife Council colleagues, as well as attending funded provider update, quality improvement support and collaborative EYS/Fife Council meetings

· Facilitate termly peer support meetings for EYS member managers and senior staff across the area

· Support voluntary committee governance through advice, training and practical guidance, as well as assisting with recruitment activity including job adverts, interview questions and professional advice at interviews

· Support the development of EYS membership policies and resources as directed

· Complete quarterly and annual reviews of the EYS Fife service and participate in ongoing professional development

What we’re looking for

· Proven experience of supporting early learning and childcare settings

· Knowledge of quality improvement, charity governance and the operational challenges facing ELC settings

· Strong communication, relationship-building and organisational skills

· Ability to work independently from home while managing a local caseload

· Experience of writing reports, action plans or support documentation

· Experience of working in partnership with local authorities or funded providers

· Experience of delivering training, facilitating groups or supporting peer networks

· Knowledge of the Fife early years sector

Please note, for this role a relevant professional qualification in early years, childcare, community development or a related field is required, as well as a full driving licence and access to transport, and a qualification meeting the requirements for a practitioner in a day care of children service, as a minimum, to be considered for this post.

What Early Years Scotland will offer

· Competitive salary and generous annual leave

· Family-friendly policies that support work-life balance

· 5% employer pension contribution after 3 months

· Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

· Ongoing professional learning and development opportunities

· A supportive, collaborative team culture where your contribution is valued

· A rewarding opportunity to support EYS members and strengthen early years provision across Fife

How to Apply

If you're passionate about making a meaningful difference for Scotland’s youngest children and their families, we’d love to hear from you!

Please return a completed application form to recruitment@earlyyearsscotland.org by 8 July 2026.

Full details of this post and the application pack can be found at Job Vacancies | Early Years Scotland