7 Commissioned services operations manager jobs in Belfast

This is a unique opportunity to lead fundraising for a charity at the cusp of substantial growth, with an exceptional track record of recent fundraising success, an engaged base of supporters and significant untapped potential across multiple channels.

Overview
As Director of Fundraising and Development for Plum Village UK, you will provide strategic leadership of the charity’s fundraising at this critical juncture. Building on the successful campaigns that brought our new Being Peace Practice Centre into being, you will lead the development of a sustainable, diversified fundraising operation across donor stewardship, trusts and foundations, regular giving, legacies, and partnerships, to deepen relationships of trust and gratitude with our supporters.

This role is ideal for a fundraising leader, whether from a career fundraising background or another field, who brings strategic capability alongside deep alignment with the Plum Village tradition, where fundraising itself becomes a form of engaged practice in service of mindfulness and community transformation.

Fundraising in the Plum Village tradition is fundamentally relational. It is not a matter of extracting income from a base of supporters, but of deepening the relationships of trust, gratitude and shared purpose with those who make our work possible, in ways that embody the values of the tradition. Done well, fundraising is itself a form of engaged practice. The Director will be expected to lead the function in this spirit.

The role comes with a high level of strategic ownership. An initial fundraising strategy has been developed and shared with trustees, providing a framework of priority channels, governance arrangements and resourcing for the next phase. The new Director will inherit this as a starting frame, and will then be empowered and expected to develop, refine and bring forward a fundraising strategy on their own authority, working closely with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and presenting proposals to the board as appropriate. The role also carries operational ownership of the fundraising mechanics, including the choice and management of supporting systems, databases and tools.
 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership of fundraising

• Lead PVUK's fundraising strategy, developing and refining the strategic direction, and presenting proposals to the Board for approval and resourcing.

• Set, monitor, and report on fundraising targets across all income channels, in agreement with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and the Board.

• Provide regular substantive updates on fundraising at quarterly board meetings, working with the Lead Trustee on the preparation of board-level reporting.

• Bring forward analysis and proposals to support the Board in setting wider strategic priorities, including realistic income potential by channel and the investment required to secure it.

• Identify and manage risk in the fundraising portfolio, including channel concentration, donor over-reliance, and the sustainability of resourcing.

Donor stewardship and relationship development

• Lead the stewardship of PVUK’s existing donors, lenders, and supporters with the depth of care that this base deserves, recognising it as the most precious resource of the fundraising function.

• Cultivate and deepen relationships with major donors, including through personal contact, site visits, and tailored communication of impact.

• Work with the Chair of Trustees, the Centre Director, and other senior figures on key relationships that require their involvement.

• Steward the friendly lender base throughout the lifetime of their loans, maintaining trust and keeping them informed of the charity’s progress.

• Build and maintain a culture of gratitude and recognition that appropriately honours the contributions of all supporters.

Income channel development

• Lead delivery and growth across PVUK’s priority fundraising channels: donor stewardship, trust and foundation fundraising, regular giving, legacies and Gifts in Wills, and partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks.

• Develop trust and foundation fundraising as a substantial new income stream, including scoping aligned funders, building peer-to-peer introductions, constructing tailored funding propositions, and overseeing high-quality application writing and reporting.

• Design and grow a regular giving programme that converts members, retreatants and supporters into ongoing monthly donors.

• Develop a structured legacy and Gifts in Wills programme that normalises legacy giving across PVUK’s communications and supports those who wish to leave a Gift in their Will.

• Develop partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks where these support both income generation and the wider reach of PVUK’s work, in close consultation with monastics and trustees.

Operations, systems and budget ownership

• Own the operational mechanics of fundraising for PVUK, including the choice, configuration and ongoing management of databases, donor management systems, online giving platforms, and integration with communications tools.

• Manage the fundraising budget, including a discretionary supplementary budget for consultancy, training, materials creation, contracted support and light administrative resource, deployed at the Director’s judgement to develop the function effectively.

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant supporter records and ensure sound data practices throughout the fundraising operation.

• Provide accurate financial reporting on fundraising performance, working with PVUK’s finance function and external accountants as required.

• Make the case for additional resourcing where evidence of need supports it, including the possible recruitment of a Fundraising Officer in due course.

Communications and storytelling

• Lead the development of compelling fundraising narratives that authentically convey the work of PVUK and the Being Peace Centre to multiple audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, individual supporters and the wider public.

• Work closely with the PVUK Communications team on the integration of fundraising communications with the wider communications strategy.

• Commission and oversee the production of fundraising materials, including written content, graphic design, video and digital assets, drawing on contracted specialists where appropriate.

• Ensure that all fundraising messaging about the Being Peace Practice Centre is agreed with the Centre Director before publication.

Working partnerships across PVUK

• Work in close partnership with the Centre Director on all matters relating to Being Peace, with agreed ways of working on messaging, external representation, and any programming commitments made to funders.

• Work with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising as primary day-to-day point of contact at board level, supporting the Lead Trustee to hold strategic oversight of fundraising on behalf of the Board.

• Work with colleagues across PVUK’s communications, dharma programming, sangha-building and partnership functions, with these working relationships developing naturally in the first months of the role.

• Draw on external advisors and specialists as needed for support and assurance, both in technical fundraising disciplines and in sector-specific knowledge.

• Engage volunteer capacity from within the community where this can valuably supplement the fundraising operation.

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

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

Job Description

At Hft, our vision is to create a future where learning disabled people can live the best life possible. We do this by coming together to campaign for positive change, provide personalised support and create solutions that enable people to live independently.

We’re looking for an experienced Tender and Contracts Manager to join our Business Development team and play a key role in helping Hft win new business, retain existing contracts and grow our income.

This is a key role for an exceptionally strong bid writer with proven experience within the social care sector. You’ll need to be able to develop compelling, persuasive and high-quality tender responses that demonstrate a clear understanding of commissioners’ requirements and position Hft strongly against the competition.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys bringing together commercial thinking, exceptional writing, project management and stakeholder engagement. You’ll take ownership of the end-to-end tender process, from identifying opportunities and making go/no-go recommendations through to submission and post-tender review. You’ll also manage the income contract lifecycle, ensuring our contracts are well governed, compliant and effectively managed from award through to renewal.

What you'll be doing

You’ll be the central point of contact for tendering and contract management activity across Hft, working with colleagues across finance, operations, legal, governance, marketing and communications, as well as external partners.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the full tender lifecycle, from opportunity identification and go/no-go decisions through to contract award.
• Monitoring procurement portals and relevant platforms to identify new business opportunities.
• Coordinating internal and external contributors to ensure high-quality, timely submissions.
• Leading the writing, editing and quality assurance of compelling, high-scoring tender responses that directly address evaluation criteria and maximise our chances of success.
• Using exceptional bid writing skills to develop persuasive responses that clearly articulate Hft’s value proposition, demonstrate our social care expertise and differentiate us from competitors.
• Translating complex operational, technical and commercial information into clear and persuasive narratives.
• Developing strong value propositions, win themes, case studies and supporting evidence.
• Maintaining a central bid content library and ensuring our tender materials remain accurate, current and effective.
• Developing supporting tender documentation, including methodologies, pricing narratives, mobilisation plans and social value commitments.
• Managing the full income contract lifecycle, including awards, variations, amendments, renewals and change control.
• Maintaining an accurate contract register and monitoring key dates, obligations, risks and milestones.
• Working closely with finance and governance colleagues to ensure appropriate oversight, approval and risk management.
• Providing clear reporting and insight to senior leaders on the tender pipeline, contract portfolio, risks and commercial commitments.
• Leading post-tender debriefs and using feedback and lessons learned to continually improve our approach.
• Helping to build Hft’s organisational capability through training, guidance and support for colleagues involved in bid and tender activity.

What we're looking for

This role is not simply a contract management position. We are looking for an exceptional bid writer who understands social care and can turn complex information into compelling, high-scoring tender submissions.

Essential experience

You must have:

• Significant experience working within the social care sector, with a strong understanding of the sector, commissioning environment and the needs of social care providers.
• Exceptional bid/tender writing skills, with a proven ability to write persuasive, compelling and high-quality responses that meet evaluation criteria and demonstrate clear value.
• At least 3 years' experience in a bid, tender or proposal management role.
• A proven track record of managing end-to-end tender processes and producing successful submissions.
• Experience of managing contract variations, renewals and change control.
• Experience managing multiple bids and live contracts against demanding deadlines.
• Outstanding written, editing and proofreading skills, with an exceptional eye for detail.
• The ability to understand complex procurement, contractual and service information and translate it into clear, persuasive and engaging written responses.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to influence and coordinate colleagues at all levels.
• Sound commercial judgement and the ability to identify and escalate contractual and financial risks.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to remain calm while managing competing priorities.
• An understanding of governance, delegated authority, risk and audit requirements.
• Knowledge of UK public procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023.

The person we're looking for

We're looking for someone who is an outstanding communicator and writer, with the ability to take information from multiple stakeholders and turn it into a coherent, persuasive bid that tells a compelling story.

You’ll be confident challenging and influencing contributors, asking the right questions to draw out the strongest content and ensuring every response is targeted towards what the commissioner is looking for.

Most importantly, you'll understand social care. You’ll be able to draw on your sector knowledge and experience to demonstrate how Hft can deliver high-quality services, achieve positive outcomes for people and provide commissioners with confidence in our ability to deliver.

We are seeking both strong social care experience and significant bid/tender writing experience

If you're an experienced bid and contract professional looking for a role where you can make a real difference, influence strategic decisions and help shape how an organisation approaches growth and commercial opportunities, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Title:  Head of Finance

Reports to:                        Chief Executive

Direct Reports:                 Finance and Business Administrator

Location: Remote – With some travel to attend meetings and events (mainly  in London but also other project areas elsewhere in the UK)

Salary: £46,542 Pro Rata

Hours: 3-4 Days per week

 About Alexandra Rose Charity 

We should all be able to eat healthy food. But right now, healthy options cost more than twice as much as junk food. It’s getting harder and harder for people to put good food on the table. In fact, the poorest fifth of UK households would need to spend 50% of their disposable income to eat the UK Government’s recommended healthy diet. Access to a choice of high quality, culturally appropriate fruit & veg is an essential building block for our mental and physical health. We need to put this right. 

We’re on a mission to give people access to their choice of fresh fruit & veg, in the heart of their community. At Alexandra Rose, we are proud to deliver a mix of practical, place-based projects and national advocacy to shape a fairer future, where everyone can afford and enjoy fresh fruit & veg with dignity. 

If this aligns with how you see the world, and you want to use your skills and experience to help us build towards it, you’ll feel at home here. 

About the role  

We are looking for an experienced Head of Finance to help deliver our mission and support the growth and consolidation of the charity. As a member of our Senior Management Team, you will play a key role in implementing our new strategy as well as managing risk.

You will take overall responsibility for the organisation’s financial management, working closely with the Chief Executive and the Treasurer.

You will provide effective finance partner support to other functions within the charity to support its fundraising, operations and development.

You will also be responsible for the line management of the Finance & Business Administrator, working with the Chief Executive to both oversee and support the governance and compliance services function of the charity.

We want our organisation to reflect the diversity of the communities we work in, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds.

Interview Process: The selection process may include two interviews:

Location: Homebased with occasional need to travel to Shelter offices

Do you want to use your technical expertise to help power Shelter’s fight against the housing emergency? Join Shelter as one of our Senior IT Infrastructure Engineers and play a key role in maintaining and developing the resilient, secure and reliable technology that underpins our work.

About the role

Working within the IT Operations team, our Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer's primarily support and assist with the professional delivery of Shelter’s servers and network infrastructure ensuring it remains reliable, secure and fit-for-purpose. The post holder will keep abreast of emerging IT technologies, make recommendations and implement resilience and feature enhancements, whilst maintaining a level of security appropriate to an organisation that handles sensitive data.

Role specifics

You’ll play a key role in ensuring Shelter’s IT infrastructure is secure, reliable and fit for the future. Working across a range of technologies, you’ll provide expert technical leadership, lead the delivery of infrastructure projects and improvements, resolve complex technical issues, and help maximise the value of Shelter’s investment in technology. You’ll work closely with colleagues across IT and the wider organisation to develop resilient, innovative solutions that support our strategic objectives while continuously improving our systems, services and ways of working.

About you

To succeed, you’ll need proven relevant experience that includes managing major updates and the replacement or commissioning of new services. You’ll also need to have worked deploying and troubleshooting Microsoft Azure hosted Windows and ideally Linux servers and Entra ID administration. An awareness and understanding of best working practice around information and technology security is important too, while it goes without saying that you have great problem-solving skills. Comfortable working both as part of team and independently, it’s anticipated that some tasks may fall outside of your prior experience, so you’ll also need to be keen to learn and develop. The ideal candidate should have practicable knowledge of WAN and LAN technologies including the configuration and troubleshooting of switches using GUI and Command line interfaces. Experience with liaising with third party network providers would also be desirable but not essential. We also require someone that is willing to travel on occasions when needed.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

Our IT Service Delivery function works to ensure Shelter’s software, systems and infrastructure remain available, flexible and secure. Within this team, IT Operations maintains and develops our end user environment and infrastructure – that's where you'd fit in.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.