8 Assistant jobs in Manchester, Greater Manchester

We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.

We want to create a nation where walking is the natural choice for everyday, local journeys; free from congested roads and pollution, reducing the risk of preventable illnesses and social isolation. We want to achieve a better walking environment and to inspire people of all generations to walk and wheel more.

We’re looking for an organised and customer-focused Commercial Assistant to join our Development and Delivery department.

You will support Living Streets Services Ltd – our trading subsidiary and successful social enterprise – helping to deliver products and services including WOW – the walk to school challenge, Walk to School Week and Little Feet.

This is a varied role combining administration, customer service and sales support. You will process orders, respond to enquiries, maintain accurate records, and work with customers, suppliers and colleagues to resolve issues. Your work will help us provide excellent service, while contributing to the efficiency and financial success of our trading activity.

What you’ll do:

·Process customer orders accurately and coordinate fulfilment and invoicing.

·Respond to enquiries from schools, local authorities, project coordinators and other customers by telephone and email.

·Investigate and help resolve order, product and delivery issues.

·Maintain accurate sales, purchasing, stock and customer records.

·Monitor stock levels and support relationships with key suppliers.

·Prepare quotations and respond to sales enquiries.

·Support new and existing customer accounts and maintain database records.

·Assist schools using the WOW Travel Tracker platform and other digital products.

·Support the delivery of engagement and evaluation activities, including our annual design  competition.

·Help coordinate outreach events and tender submissions.

·Provide general administrative support, including taking minutes at quarterly board meetings.

What we’re looking for:

·Experience of providing administrative, customer-service or operational support.

·Experience of responding to enquiries by telephone and email.

·Experience of supporting sales activity, such as preparing quotations or processing orders.

·Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

·Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills.

·Accuracy and close attention to detail.

·Confidence using CRM systems and Microsoft Office or equivalent workplace software.

·A practical approach to solving routine problems and knowing when to escalate an issue.

·The ability to work independently and collaboratively.

·A helpful, professional and customer-focused approach.

·A commitment to Living Streets’ purpose and to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Living Streets is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Closing date: 30/09/2026 (11:59 PM)

Interviews: 08/10/2026 – 09/10/2026

Permanent | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Service to join our senior management team.

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead eight services with nine direct reports, spanning substance use and services for children and young people. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, significant senior leadership experience within substance use services is essential, including experience of leading CQC-regulated provision and maintaining high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance. 

You will also need a strong understanding of safeguarding and the governance required to deliver safe and effective services for children and young people. Direct operational experience of Children & Young People services would be valuable, but we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong safeguarding and CYP governance experience alongside substantial substance use leadership. 

This permanent appointment offers the opportunity to provide long-term leadership to a significant portfolio and help shape the future development of Cranstoun’s services. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team. 

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision. 

You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

The Assistant Finance and Operations Manager is a new role for The Christie Charity (Charity) and a fantastic opportunity for an individual looking to work for a fast moving, growing organisation. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to take ownership in the finance team for day-to-day transactional processing for The Christie Charity group. This position provides an excellent opportunity to develop an understanding of charity and commercial finance. You will play a key role in supporting robust financial controls across the Charity group.

This is a hands-on role with responsibility for coordinating and overseeing day-to-day transactional activity undertaken by the Finance Officers, including purchase-to-pay, supplier payments, accounts receivable, banking, income reconciliation, corporate credit cards and other routine financial processes. The postholder will ensure work is completed accurately and within required timescales, review key reconciliations and outstanding items, and provide support and guidance to the Finance Officers where issues arise. They will remain actively involved in transactional processing where required, particularly in relation to more complex matters, periods of high workload and the transition of activities into the Charity.

The postholder will act as the first point of escalation for transactional matters which cannot be readily resolved by the Finance Officers and as a key point of contact for routine finance queries from external third parties. They will work closely with colleagues across the Charity to ensure financial processes operate effectively while maintaining appropriate controls and segregation of duties.

The Assistant Finance and Operations Manager will be an important day-to-day user of the Charity's finance and purchase-to-pay systems and will take a lead operational role in ensuring these systems are used consistently and effectively. The postholder will support Finance Officers and wider Charity colleagues with system and process queries, monitor compliance with agreed financial procedures and identify recurring issues or opportunities to improve processes. Working with the Charity Financial Controller and Funds and Finance Business Partner, they will contribute to the continued development of efficient, proportionate and well-controlled financial processes across the Charity group.

Additional information

Upon joining The Christie Charity, day-to-day financial transaction processing will continue to be delivered by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust during the initial months of the role, therefore, the postholder will be expected to work closely and collaboratively with their finance team to ensure seamless operations and continuity across the Charity group.

These functions are anticipated to transfer to the Charity group with the postholder taking ownership of these responsibilities within the first 3 months in role. The postholder will be expected to work autonomously to ensure the smooth transition of activities to the Charity.

This post would suit an individual who enjoys working in a dynamic, evolving environment, where responsibilities may shift in response to organisational priorities. The postholder must be comfortable navigating ambiguity, demonstrating flexibility, initiative, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

The postholder will also provide support to the team on an ad-hoc basis as required.

The postholder will complete a shift approximately every four to six weeks at the Charity’s hub in Withington to support charitable activity at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Permanent

0 hour sessional contract

£12.71 per hour

Location: Stockton Heath, London Road

Benefits include but not limited to:

-36 days' annual leave [full time roles only], inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service

-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

-We match up to 8% pension

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us: The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

We run over 100 retail shops covering the whole of the UK - every one of these shops play a vital role in our mission to providing support to children and young adults. Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

About the role:

This role sits within our Retail Domain, which transforms donated goods into vital income to support young people across the UK. You'll play a key part in our Stockton Heath shop, supporting the shop manager & team to deliver excellent customer service, community engagement, and income generation. As part of this role, you will be required to be flexible including some weekends.

We're looking for a friendly, enthusiastic and reliable Shop Assistant with the ability to deliver excellent customer service, support volunteers and help maximise shop income through the sale of donated goods, driving improvements that strengthen the shop's performance and community impact.

Key Skills and Competencies

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

-Passionate about delivering excellent customer service and creating a welcoming environment for customers and donors.

-Able to work effectively as part of a team, supporting colleagues and volunteers to achieve shared objectives.

-Organised and dependable, with the ability to manage a variety of shop floor and stockroom tasks in a busy environment.

-Retail experience, and a “can do”, positive approach

-Good IT skills

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:

-Previous experience in a retail, charity retail or customer-facing environment.

-Experience handling cash, operating tills and maintaining accurate records.

-Knowledge of visual merchandising, stock presentation and identifying opportunities to increase sales and donations.

-Full driving licence and access to a vehicle

-Experience of working with volunteers

Closing date: Midnight on 16/09/26

Interviews: Dates TBC

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 2 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.

IN2

Job Title: Hertfordshire Project Assistant

Salary:  £27,980 (London Fringe weighting)

Position Type: Full time/Fixed term (until December 2028)

Reports to: Scaling Manager

Based at:  Remote, with travel to schools in Hertfordshire

Working Hours:                  5 days a week, 9am-5pm (flexible)

Pension: School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings

Holiday: 31 days including bank holidays that fall on working days. Holidays must be taken during the school holidays

This role requires occasional work outside of core hours (for example, if visiting a school breakfast club). It also requires travel to schools across Hertfordshire, so access to a car would be desirable. Training for delivery of the programme will be provided online and in person, and you will be expected to travel outside of Hertfordshire for some of these sessions.

Background to School Food Matters

At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food. To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.

Background to Nourish

Our Nourish programme supports schools to create a food environment that puts children and young people's nutrition first. The evidence-based, multi-component programme helps schools to develop action plans and policies to cover the food served across the whole school day. Nourish uses a collaborative whole school approach to food involving everyone across the school community to create lasting positive change.

Job purpose

· To support two Project Officers with the delivery of Nourish in 30 schools in Hertfordshire (primary, secondary and SEND settings) over 2 years

Key tasks include

· Recruit schools to take part in Nourish

· Shadow and support project team to deliver in person food audits in schools

· Build relationships and work closely with teachers, teaching assistants, cooks, kitchen teams and senior leaders in schools in Hertfordshire to improve the food they offer their students

· Provide practical support to the project team with setting up workshops including paperwork and food shopping

· Provide admin support to the project team

· Tailor Nourish resources for Hertfordshire schools where required

· Collect data and maintain accurate records relating to the project

· Gather content for our comms team, website and social media platforms

· Keep project team fully updated on progress

· Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures

· Maintaining the ethos of the charity and positively promoting our work at all times

· You will also be expected to undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time. Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential.

Person Specification

Essential

· Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail

· Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

· Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed

· Comfortable engaging with variety of audiences (students, school staff and parents), incl. writing and responding to email, conducting telephone, virtual and face to face meetings, and running workshops

· Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

· Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation

· Experience of working in schools

· An interest in food education and children’s health

· Access to a car

£28,188 - £29,355 per annum, once 6 month probation is passed.
Permanent, Full Time (37.5 hours per week on a 24hrs shift system)

 

Additional payment of £30 per night for the on-call cover duties. 

Here at Stockdales, we endeavour to provide a family orientated service that meets the needs of all the people we support through holistic assessment.

We are seeking a compassionate and motivated Residential Assistant Manager to help deliver high-quality, person-centred support while assisting with the day-to-day leadership of the service. Working alongside the Service Manager, you will support the smooth running of the home, maintain high standards of care, safety and compliance, and act as a positive role model for the team.

The role includes leading and mentoring staff, supporting rota management and administrative tasks, contributing to audits and quality monitoring and ensuring care plans, risk assessments and records are accurate and up to date. You will promote best practice in safeguarding, support compliance with CQC and relevant legislation and help develop a skilled and confident team through training and guidance.

You will work closely with families and professionals to support people’s health, wellbeing and independence, while responding calmly and effectively in a range of situations. The role may include supporting people in the community, undertaking clinical duties once trained and assisting with transport where required.

About You

• Experience in residential care (1+ year in a senior/supervisory role)
• NVQ Level 3 in Residential (Level 5 desirable or willingness to work towards it)
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and relevant legislation
• Effective leadership and communication skills
• Flexible and resilient approach to work
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word & Excel)
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle

About Us

Stockdales is a local charity based in Sale, just south of Manchester City Centre. We have over 70 years’ experience supporting people with learning and physical disabilities to live life to the full. Our 5 care homes have up to 7 residents and our busy Community Service has weekly sessions, a social club and a weekend kids club. 

What you will receive whilst working for us:

• 28 days holiday per year pro rata inclusive of bank holidays
• Increased holiday entitlement with service
• Pension Scheme
• Medicash – includes access to 24hr GP, money off shopping and going out, wellbeing aids.
• Life Insurance Scheme (after 6-month probation)
• Excellent internal and external training offered.
• Monthly staff prize draw
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to Wage Stream