Member Job Vacancies

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Jamie Dunlop, Chief Executive, Scottish Youth Parliament, at jamie.d@syp.org.uk

About the role:    
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is the national democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people. Members of the SYP (MSYPs) are elected in national elections for a two-year term and represent constituencies and national voluntary organisations. SYP is a rights-based organisation that campaigns for change to make Scotland the best place to grow up. They have an ambitious new strategy and manifesto to support their work and drive forward change within the organisation and across Scotland.

For more information about the work of SYP, please visit our website www.syp.org.uk

Role of an External Advisor

EXAs play an important role in the governance of the organisation by supporting and guiding the board. They are not involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation. EXAs bring their knowledge and expertise in their relevant disciplines to support the youth-led board and the CEO in strategy.

They are about to undertake a governance review, looking at updating our articles of association. This will be a member-led process and a priority of the board for the next 12 months.

Your role on the SYP Board as an External Advisor will be managed by the SYP Chief Executive, who will be your main point of contact outwith board meetings. You will also meet regularly with the SYP SMT and trustees to take on board committee work outwith board meetings.

Governance Arrangements of SYP

SYP is a youth-led organisation governed by a board of trustees made up of 8 MSYPs. The board is elected by the membership at our AGM annually. The board is supported by External Advisors (EXAs) who advise the board on key issues and the SYP Senior Management Team, including the CEO, Head of Participation and Programmes, and Head of Policy and Public Affairs.

The board meets every 10-12 weeks in a mixture of face-to-face and hybrid meetings. EXAs also support our board committees, which meet 2-3 weeks before a board meeting to develop board papers and discussion topics. They also host a board and staff strategy day each year.

EXAs are volunteers who attend board meetings as non-voting advisors to the board. They are defined in SYP’s Articles of Association, which is their governing document, to provide advice, assistance, and guidance to the trustees and SMT.

EXAs are recruited to fill specific skills gaps within the SYP board, such as law, Accountancy, Fundraising, Youth Work, etc., to support the organisation’s work.

SYP is specifically looking for new External Advisors with expertise in:

• Legal Advisor
• Accountancy, Audit and Risk
• Fundraising and Income Generation

For further information visit their website.