Business operations manager jobs in manchester, greater manchester

Manchester Young Lives is a well-established charity with a 54-year history, providing free open access play, youth, and early intervention programmes. We also provide tailored Post 16 programmes which prepare young people aged 16 to 24 years with an Education Health Care Plan to enter training or employment by offering a programme of functional skills qualifications, employability qualifications and a wide range of enrichment activities aimed to promote independence and confidence. 

Our delivery responds to the needs of disadvantaged children and young people aged 6 to 24 years in Manchester. MYL are the lead provider of play in the city due to our popular adventure playgrounds. We engage and support over 3000 children and young people every year in Manchester through our various projects.

MYL is looking to strengthen its senior leadership team and the support for CEO after a period of growth. The organisation has reviewed its strategic plan, with ambitious but achievable goals therefore we are looking for an enthusiastic and engaged individual who has the passion and the experience to help drive our organisation through the next chapter.

We need an accomplished fundraiser with experience in implementing and delivering successful fundraising strategies, corporate sponsorship and managing relationships with Trustees, funders, awarding bodies and partner agencies.

We are looking for a deputy who will be committed and share a passion for our history and our mission.  A proactive and ambitious individual who has a good understanding of charity finance, legislation, excellent leadership skills, a flexible can do approach and who can support the CEO with a wide range of responsibilities.

We can offer a competitive salary, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and a supportive working environment. If you feel you have the skills for the role and would like to be a part of our amazing long-standing charity, we would love to hear from you.

Please note that CVs will not be considered as part of your application for this position. To apply, please go to our website by pressing the ‘Redirect to recruiter’ and fill the application form and demographic form. Filled application forms must be returned either via email or by post to our Head Office. Please ensure you complete the final section of the application form, giving information as to how you meet the person specification.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The closing date for the completed application forms is 9 am Monday 16th June 2025

Our passionate Regional Casework Coordinators are SSAFA’s front line of support for members of the armed forces community in need. They are the first point of contact for all beneficiaries into the Regional Office, assessing needs and allocating the case to one of our volunteer caseworkers.

You will sometimes handle complex problems from individuals who may be distressed, identifying the presenting and potential underlying needs to determine the best way to support the beneficiary. You will have ownership of cases from beginning to end, coordinating the casework process in a timely manner and ensure that the beneficiary journey is at the centre of the Service. You will have the opportunity to shape processes and procedures within the office which will lead to improvements in the service offered to clients.

To help you establish yourself in this new post you will receive excellent training and induction to SSAFA.

Whilst the post is homebased, to be eligible for this role you are required to live in the North East England or Yorkshire region, which includes North, South, East and West Yorkshire, Teesside, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. There will be occasional travel around these areas, and you may be required to travel at short notice for face-to-face meetings.

About the team

The team work remotely and pride themselves in maintaining a close working bond which ensures the smooth operation of the office. You will work closely with volunteers from the eight SSAFA branches in the Northeast and Yorkshire, supporting them to administer casework for SSAFA beneficiaries. The successful candidate will work as part of a team 8, which includes a Regional Casework Manager and a Regional Manager for Casework and Community Engagement.

About you

To carry out this role successfully you will have a track record of providing welfare advice in key areas such as housing, benefits, debt, disability, mobility or immigration issues. You will have knowledge of safeguarding and GDPR and experience in dealing with sensitive information and people in vulnerable situations. You will be able to provide excellent customer service by telephone, e-mail and face to face. You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision.

It would be advantageous if you have an understanding of the way of life for today’s Armed Forces, veterans and their families and if you have experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers. An understanding of the voluntary sector and preferably the military charity sector landscape across the Northeast and Yorkshire would be valuable.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing practical, emotional, and financial support to our Forces and their families since 1885. SSAFA, is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need; last year our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people in need, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. We are here for that person and their family – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.

Closing date: Midnight on Monday 23 June 2025.

Interviews: 30 June 2025

About Us

The Greater Manchester Women’s Support Alliance (GMWSA) was established in 2016 by seven organisations who provide support services to women across all ten boroughs in Greater Manchester (GM) who may be vulnerable or have unmet support needs.

We came together as the GMWSA in order to ensure that our collective voice is heard by policy makers and commissioners of services. We represent the interests of our beneficiaries and service users, we share good practice and experience and ensure that no service operates in isolation. GMWSA is now formed of nine Member and Associate Member women’s centres having a presence in each of the 10 local authority areas across GM all of whom are collectively funded to deliver support services across GM to women either involved in the Criminal Justice System, or whose vulnerability and marginalisation leaves them at risk of offending, but all also have individual funding streams to ensure their provision reaches every woman in need of support.

Alliance members offer a full range of services to women who need support around issues such as domestic abuse, housing, mental health, substance misuse, education, employment, training, and confidence/self-esteem, all delivered with a trauma responsive approach. 

This post is open to WOMEN ONLY, exempt under the Sex Discrimination Act (1975) Section 7(2) and in accordance with our safeguarding procedures, will require a DBS check.

Purpose of the Role 

We are looking for a Chief Executive Officer to join GMWSA to transform the Alliance to meet future challenges around function and funding.

You will shape and implement the strategic direction of the Alliance, ensure the smooth running of the charity, provide leadership to staff, support the Board of Trustees to fulfil its strategic and governance duties and ensure the delivery of grants and contracts.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Direction

• Provide leadership and direction for the organisation and its staff in line with our vision.
• Clearly articulate and communicate GMWSAs vision, mission and values to staff, partners and others.
• Drive GMWSA’s strategy and business plan while establishing clear targets.
• Lead the development of innovative programs and services that align with GMWSA's mission.
• Ensure awareness of relevant current and changing legislation and good practice.
• Proactively build, maintain and leverage relationships with strategic partners, stakeholders and influencers to shape policy, secure support and ensure GMWSA’s voice is heard in key local and national forums.

Supporting the Board

• Responsibility for working with and advising the Board of Trustees with regard to strategic developments, delivery of grants and contracts, opportunities and challenges.
• Responsibility for working with the Board to develop the relationship with members.
• Support the Board of Trustees to ensure that the organisation is in all aspects legally and financially compliant and operating to best practice.
• Advise and work with the Chair and Board of Trustees in developing its structures.
• Ensure GMWSA has up-to-date policies on safeguarding, data protection and other regulatory requirements and that these are reviewed regularly and adhered to.
• Act as Company Secretary and Safeguarding Lead for the charity, undertaking appropriate training as necessary.
• Develop and maintain a risk management strategy to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks affecting GMWSA, including financial, legal, and reputational risks. 

External Affairs

• Promote and encourage multi-agency partnerships with third sector, statutory bodies and the funding and delivery of projects, following our code of ethics and strategy.
• Ensure effective participation in relevant local and regional networks and foster relationships with community leaders and stakeholders.
• Oversee the development of systems to measure the organisation's impact, ensuring clear, evidence-based reporting of outcomes to funders and stakeholders.
• Lead on using evaluation findings to drive improvements in services, delivery models and organisational strategy.
• Represent the work of GMWSA in publicity and media opportunities, with quotes and interviews, ensuring a consistently good public image and reputation. 

Finances and Fundraising

• Accountable for fundraising from a range of sources to deliver GMWSA’s agreed strategic objectives in the medium term and working towards an increased sustainability in the long term.
• Responsibility for liaising with funders, writing applications and applying for grants from various government funds, trusts and foundations.
• Responsibility for securing corporate partnership.
• Ensure grants are spent appropriately within aims of the charity, the grants’ terms and in accordance with Charity Commissioner regulation.
• Ensure effective grant management processes are in place across member organisation in order to deliver grants and contracts.
• Report to funders in a timely and accurate way.
• Oversee budget management.
• Oversee all financial reporting ensuring it is accurate and done on a timely and regular basis, including the annual accounts/annual report.

People Management

• Provide leadership, direction and motivation for the team of staff, ensuring supervision and appraisals are carried out regularly.
• Lead on embedding EDI principles and ensuring the GMWSA’s policies and practices reflect its commitment to antidiscrimination and inclusivity.
• Lead initiatives to strengthen internal infrastructure to align with long term strategic goals.
• Ensure robust professional development opportunities for staff fostering an environment of learning and growth. 

Digital Transformation

• Ensure GMWSA is compliant with funder requirements to become IASME accredited.
• Develop and lead a digital transformation strategy to improve internal processes, communication, and service delivery, making the most of emerging technologies.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Proven ability to think strategically and develop and implement long-term plans.
• Experience of leading organisational change and managing periods of transition.
• Experience of managing a dedicated team with a range of roles and responsibilities.
• In-depth knowledge of the charity sector, including relevant legislation, best practice, and compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of financial planning, budgeting, and financial management, including preparation for year-end in line with Charity SORP.
• Proven track record of securing funding from a range of sources, including trusts, foundations, statutory bodies, and commissioners.
• Experience of managing commissioned services or programmes of work.
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and risk management.
• Working knowledge of data protection regulations and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of national and regional policies relevant to our work, including a strong understanding of the VCFSE landscape in Greater Manchester.
• Understanding of the role of a Board of Trustees with experience enabling good governance and compliance.

Skills and Leadership Style

• A motivational and collaborative leadership style that fosters trust and enables people to thrive.
• Ability to develop and communicate a compelling strategic vision that inspires internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to represent the organisation with credibility and impact.
• Strong written communication skills for funding applications, reports, policy responses, and wider communications.
• Ability to build and sustain positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and strategic partners.
• Strong critical reasoning and listening skills; able to analyse and synthesise complex information and make sound decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, balancing short-term pressures with long-term strategic goals.
• Proven ability to lead service and organisational development, including improving systems and processes for greater efficiency and impact.

Values and Personal Qualities

• High level of empathy and understanding of the challenges experienced by the communities we support.
• Committed to the values, vision, and social purpose of the Alliance.
• A strong advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion, actively embedding these principles in our culture and practice.
• Personal resilience, with the ability to remain focused and effective under pressure.
• Open to alternative perspectives and committed to listening to diverse voices to inform decision-making.

Accountable to: The Board of Trustees

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 - £47,000 per annum dependent on experience.

Pension: 5%

Annual Leave: 25 days, plus bank holidays and the days between Christmas and New Year, rising by 1 day per year of continued service to a maximum of 30 days.