Vacancies
We currently have two vacancies, Head of National Bargaining and Director - College Employers Scotland.
Head of National Bargaining
£70,020 + Good Benefits
The college sector plays a vital role in providing people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances with opportunities to gain qualifications and develop skills that can transform lives and support career progression. It also makes a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s ambitions for a more inclusive society and a sustainable, growing economy.
Colleges Scotland is the collective voice of the college sector. As the membership body, it represents all 24 colleges in Scotland and one strategic regional body, delivering further education provision and around a quarter of all higher education in Scotland. Colleges Scotland also acts as the employers’ association – College Employers Scotland (CES).
College Employers Scotland is the national representative body for Scotland’s colleges as employers, with a primary focus on delivering national bargaining for pay, terms, and conditions. Recent achievements include a four-year pay deal for lecturing staff, a three-year pay agreement for support staff, the implementation of the first two national policies on menopause and discipline, a refreshed proposal to advance job evaluation for support staff, and the professional registration of lecturers.
As Head of National Bargaining, you will ensure CES continues to maintain effective and productive relationships with trade union officials, enabling agreements to be reached at both strategic and operational levels in support of the national bargaining programme. Through established negotiation mechanisms, you will lead the development, agreement, and implementation of job evaluation for support staff in Scotland’s colleges. You will also build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, influencing priority issues and fostering sustainable partnerships.
The successful candidate will be an experienced HR professional and a solution-focused negotiator, with a strong track record in trade union negotiations and dispute resolution. You will bring expertise in consultation processes, experience of managing and mitigating employment relations issues and risks, and the ability to communicate with credibility and impact.
This is a unique national role that offers the opportunity to lead on all aspects of national bargaining and engagement with support staff and lecturing staff trade unions, while directly supporting a sector central to inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Scotland.
For more information please review the full role profile: Head of National Bargaining or contact Douglas Adam at Livingston James our retained recruitment advisors, via
NB: Colleges Scotland operates a Hybrid Working Policy. While this post is formally based in Stirling, it is expected that the successful candidate will not be required to work from the office on a full-time basis each week.
Colleges Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.
Director – College Employers Scotland
Stirling
£79,435 (From 1 September 2025)
The college sector plays a vital role in providing people of all ages, backgrounds, and life circumstances with opportunities to gain qualifications and develop skills that can transform lives and support career progression. It also contributes significantly to the Scottish Government’s ambitions for a more inclusive society and a sustainable, growing economy.
Colleges Scotland is the collective voice for the college sector, and as the membership body, represents all 24 colleges in Scotland and one strategic regional body, delivering further education provision and around a quarter of all higher education in Scotland. We also act as the employers’ association – College Employers Scotland.
College Employers Scotland (CES) is the national representative body for Scotland’s colleges as employers, with a primary focus on delivering national bargaining for pay, terms, and conditions. Recent successes of National Bargaining include multi-year pay agreements for both support and lecturing staff, along with the development of progressive national policies on areas such as menopause and disciplinary procedures.
As Director of CES, you will build on these achievements and ensure the organisation continues to support its members effectively in delivering their collective ambitions. As the key spokesperson for CES and a national-level leader, you will be responsible for shaping and driving the continued development and implementation of its strategy – ensuring CES maintains clear ownership of, and a proactive approach to, National Bargaining. Central to your success will be the ability to cultivate and sustain strong relationships with a broad range of external stakeholders to enable effective and genuine partnership working.
As a key member of Colleges Scotland’s small Executive Team, you will also contribute directly to shaping strategies and operational plans that underpin the delivery of Colleges Scotland’s broader strategic objectives.
We are seeking a strategic, solutions-focused leader with strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management experience. Politically astute, you will bring excellent ambassadorial and communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas clearly and persuasively across a range of platforms. A skilled negotiator with a proven track record of securing successful outcomes, you will be adaptable in your approach able to respond creatively to emerging challenges and adjust priorities as needed.
This is a unique and high profile role that will provide you with the opportunity to make a lasting impact not only for colleges but for the learners, staff, and communities they serve.
For more information, please review the full role profile:
College Employers Scotland - Director
or contact Douglas Adam at Livingston James our retained recruitment advisors, via
NB: Colleges Scotland operates a Hybrid Working Policy. While this post is formally based in Stirling, it is expected that the successful candidate will not be required to work from the office on a full-time basis each week.
Colleges Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.