The Cockburn Association is welcoming applications for the role of Director.

About the job

Strategic Purpose

The Director holds full executive responsibility for developing, implementing and monitoring the Cockburn Council’s strategies, objectives, policies and decisions, enabling the Association to fulfil its charitable purposes. The job priorities are focused on ensuring financial sustainability, membership growth, and enhanced organisation profile, working closely with the Chair, Trustees, and President. While a keen interest in Edinburgh and the quality of its environment, and commitment to the principle of citizen participation are expected, specialist skills or experience in planning, architecture, conservation or design are not a requirement. At this stage of the Association’s history, we are seeking a Director with management and business skills who will implement a change programme for our long-term sustainability.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

The job is focused on leading and managing the first phase of the Cockburn Council’s longer term change programme, concentrating on the following priorities for which the postholder will be held accountable:

 

• Leading and developing plans aimed at securing the Association’s financial sustainability in the short, medium and longer term, ensuring compliance with OSCR requirements
• Initiating and developing new income-generating and fund-raising activities including engagement with local businesses and organisations with a view to securing corporate support
• Building the profile and visibility of the Association to attract new members while meeting the expectations of existing members through imaginative communications, events and campaigning activity
• Managing and developing the Association’s staff and volunteers with sensitivity to the effects on employee wellbeing arising from a period of transition.

 

Please note that the job includes a number of other ongoing operational duties which will be expected to form part of the Director’s everyday workload. These are listed in Appendix A of the Job Specification (attached below). The trustees undertake to offer strategic direction and appropriate support to enable the postholder to focus on the above priorities.

 

About the Cockburn Association

Founded in 1875, the Cockburn Association is Edinburgh’s Civic Trust. It is a registered Scottish Charity with stated objectives as:

1. The maintenance and improvement of the amenity of the City of Edinburgh and its neighbourhood;
2. The protection and preservation of the city’s landscape and historic & architectural heritage.

 

In practice, the Cockburn Association has evolved to take an interest in many other aspects of the city’s development and management in accordance with sustainability principles:

 

• Supporting the protection of the landscape setting of the city and significant open spaces that contribute to the city’s unique character
• Promoting the improvement of the aesthetic and functional quality of shared spaces such as public squares, parks, streets and footways
• Advocating for sustainable transport systems sensitive to different needs for accessibility and mobility
• Encouraging high quality contemporary design for buildings and the public realm.

 

Overarching these concerns is the advocacy for greater public interest and participation in the city’s planning, conservation and design quality. The Cockburn Association aspires to develop its role as a city convener and civic champion, facilitating citizen involvement in sustainable city development, working within a cooperative ethos and the principles of equity and inclusion.

 

Please see the attached documents for the full job description and how to apply.

If you have any questions about the role, please reach out to Brigid Golden at admin@cockburnassociation.org.uk

Directors Job Person Spec_2025

Director recruitment_2025_Chair’s Letter to potential candidates