177 Director of operations jobs

We are seeking an experienced, commercially astute and forward-thinking Director of Finance to provide strategic leadership of the organisation's financial management, planning and governance. This is a pivotal executive leadership role responsible for ensuring financial sustainability, supporting organisational growth, driving operational excellence, and enabling the charity to maximise its impact.

The successful candidate will be a qualified finance professional (or qualified by experience) with extensive experience of financial leadership, budgeting, forecasting, financial control, and strategic planning. They will bring a proactive and innovative approach to financial management, identifying opportunities for organisational development, efficiency, improvement, and sustainable growth.

Ideally, candidates will have experience within the charity, not-for-profit or public sector environment and possess a strong understanding of charity accounting, governance and regulatory compliance.

Worcester Community Trust (WCT) is looking for a Director of Services to provide strategic and operational leadership for our community-based services. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring services are high quality, responsive to local need, financially sustainable and delivered in line with contractual, legal and organisational requirements.

The role will provide leadership and oversight to relevant Contract Managers, Team Leads and service teams, ensuring effective performance management, contract delivery, budget control, risk management, partnership working and continuous improvement. The postholder will contribute to WCT-wide strategy and work closely with the CEO, fellow Senior Leadership Team members and the Board of Trustees.

About Worcester Community Trust

Worcester Community Trust (WCT) is a registered charity that runs six community centres across Worcester, providing facilities and services for people of all ages. We aim to be at the heart of thriving communities — connecting people, building confidence, and empowering positive change.

Our services aim to increase feelings of wellbeing, reduce loneliness and isolation, offer specialist support for survivors of domestic violence, support people into training, education and employment and work with people to deliver local services especially for young people, families and older people.

Vision: To work with residents to build communities where people feel connected, supported and empowered

Mission: Bringing Communities Together by enabling the provision of services and activities for all.

Our values:

• Collaborative – we acheive more together with local people and partners.
• Inclusive – we welcome diversity and value uniqueness.
• Ambitious – we drive progress through innovation and creativity.
• Delivering Excellence – we invest in our people and infrastructure to provide high-quality services.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Leadership and Service Development

• Contribute as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team to WCT’s organisational strategy, business planning and future development.
• Provide strategic leadership for the community-based services portfolio, ensuring services remain relevant, effective and aligned with WCT’s mission, values and strategic priorities.
• Use service data, community insight, evaluation and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement, innovation and growth.
• Work with the CEO and colleagues to identify funding and partnership opportunities that support the sustainability and development of services.

People Leadership and Management

• Lead, support and develop managers and team leads within the service area, setting clear expectations and ensuring effective supervision, performance management and communication.
• Promote a positive, accountable and inclusive culture that encourages teamwork, professional development, initiative and continuous improvement.
• Ensure staffing structures, deployment and resources are appropriate to contractual requirements, service demand and available budgets.
• Support recruitment, induction, development and, where required, formal peoplemanagement processes in line with WCT policy.

Contract, Performance and Quality Management

• Oversee the implementation and delivery of multiple contracts, grants and commissioned services across the community-based portfolio.
• Ensure clear systems are in place to monitor outputs, outcomes, quality, contractual milestones and service-user experience.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative information and produce clear, accurate reports for funders, commissioners, the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees.
• Ensure subcontracted or partner-delivered activity is appropriately monitored and managed where applicable.
• Address underperformance promptly and support managers to implement effective improvement plans.

Financial Management and Sustainability

• Lead the development and management of service budgets, including budgets of significant value, ensuring expenditure remains within agreed funding and organisational parameters.
• Monitor income, expenditure, forecasts and variances in partnership with the Head of Finance & Resources and relevant managers.
• Ensure resources are used efficiently and that services demonstrate value for money and financial sustainability.
• Contribute to funding applications, tenders, business cases and service-costing activity where required.

Risk, Governance and Compliance

• Identify, assess and manage risks relating to service delivery and ensure significant risks are escalated through WCT’s organisational risk-management arrangements.
• Ensure services comply with contractual requirements, WCT policies, data protection requirements, safeguarding arrangements and relevant legislation and guidance.
• Contribute to the development and review of organisational policies and procedures within the postholder’s areas of responsibility.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries, confidentiality and information-governance standards.

Partnerships and Representation

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, funders, statutory agencies, VCSE organisations, local communities and other partners.
• Represent WCT professionally at strategic and operational partnership meetings, networks and forums.
• Promote collaboration across WCT services and with external partners to improve pathways, reduce duplication and strengthen outcomes for local people.
• Protect and enhance the reputation of WCT in all internal and external relationships.

Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Organisational Responsibilities

• Actively promote a culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and ensure
  concerns within the service area are managed and escalated in accordance with WCT
  procedures.
• Adhere to WCT’s safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR, equality, professional boundaries, social media and Code of Conduct requirements.
• Complete mandatory training and maintain the knowledge required for the responsibilities of the role.
• Promote equality of opportunity, dignity and respect for employees, volunteers, partners and service users.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the seniority and responsibilities of the post, as reasonably required by the CEO.

• Adhere to WCT’s safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR, equality, professional boundaries, social media and Code of Conduct requirements.
• Complete mandatory training and maintain the knowledge required for the responsibilities of the role.
• Promote equality of opportunity, dignity and respect for employees, volunteers, partners and service users.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the seniority and responsibilities of the post, as reasonably required by the CEO.

For full details including a Person Specification, please download the Recruitment Pack here

What you get…

• Be part of an amazing, welcoming passionate community.
• Put your skills to use to create positive social impact.
• A voice and input into shaping and influence services and decisions.

What we offer…

• Holiday – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata for PT staff) plus an extra day of birthday leave and two additional self-care days
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Access to Westfield Health which provides a range of benefits towards health & wellbeing as well as support with essential healthcare (after completion of probationary period)
• Free Parking
• Life Assurance and a pension contribution of 3%
• Access to professional bereavement and probate support
• An annual celebration and investment review
• A blue light card scheme

Representing the City

WCT is committed to equality of opportunity, fairness and inclusion, and to being representative of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.

To apply please visit our website.

Closing Date: Sunday 4th October 2026

Change for Good Community Chaplaincy is looking for an experienced and committed Executive Director to lead our charity through an exciting stage of growth.

Founded in 2012, Change for Good began as a mentoring project in HMP Wandsworth and has grown into an established resettlement charity working across London. We support people before and after release through in-prison support, "through the gate" work, volunteer mentoring, and our peer support group, Next Chapter. Mentoring, advocacy, and peer support sit at the heart of everything we do.

As we grow, we're looking for a hands-on Executive Director who can lead the development and implementation of our strategic plan, lead and inspire our small staff team, champion the vital work of our volunteer mentors and our peer support group Next Chapter, and strengthen our relationships across the criminal justice and voluntary sectors - including our partner multi-faith prison chaplaincies.

About the role

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development and implementation of Change for Good's strategic plan, working closely with the Board of Trustees
• Serve as ambassador and primary spokesperson for the charity, promoting our mission and programmes

Programme Delivery & Impact

• Ensure the effective delivery of our programmes: in-prison support, through the gate, volunteer mentoring, and Next Chapter
• Monitor and evaluate programme outcomes, and produce quality impact reports for funders and stakeholders

Income Generation & Sustainability

• Contribute to funding strategy, diversifying and growing income streams to secure the charity's long-term sustainability
• Produce high-quality reports that meet funders' requirements and maintain strong funder relationships

People & Volunteers

• Lead, motivate, and support high-performing staff team, building a positive and inclusive team culture
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and development of staff and volunteer mentors
• Support the vital role of our volunteer mentors, ensuring they feel well trained, supervised, and valued

External Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the criminal justice and voluntary sectors

About you

This role would suit an experienced manager ready to take the step up into their first leadership role, as well as someone with prior senior leadership experience.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Management experience within the charity or voluntary sector, with the confidence and ability to lead a high-performing team
• A genuine passion for prisoner and ex-prisoner welfare, and a commitment to our mission
• Experience working with vulnerable or marginalised populations
• Experience within the criminal justice system or resettlement sector
• Ability to work closely with the Board of Trustees to develop and deliver strategic goals
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to represent the organisation externally
• Resilience, and the ability to thrive in a challenging and evolving environment
• Experience of, or willingness to lead on, fundraising and income generation

Change for Good is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and we particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in charity leadership. We warmly welcome applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Change for Good has a Christian foundation and works within multi-faith prison chaplaincy settings. Applicants should be comfortable working within, and respectful of, our faith-based ethos and multi-faith environment.

In this role you are responsible for day-to-day operational activity across both finance and HR functions, working closely with the Finance Officer and reporting to the Head of Finance (with ‘dotted line’ reporting to Director of Finance and Operations in respect of HR activity). 
The role requires effective use of systems to enable efficient processes, with responsibility for data held on the HR system and management of routine employee related processes including recruitment and onboarding. The role also shares responsibility for processing invoices and payments on the finance system, responding to queries from colleagues and 3rd party partners. You will provide support for Head of Finance and Director Finance and Operations where required, including data analysis, reporting and preparation of returns across both finance and HR remits.

How to apply
To apply for this role please send your CV and cover letter (maximum two pages) including responses to the three questions below:
1. Tell us about a time when you identified a process that could be improved or made more efficient. How did you approach making the change, and what did you do to ensure the process was accurate, consistent and effective?
2. Describe a situation where you had to handle sensitive financial or employee information while also resolving a difficult or confidential issue. What approach did you take?
3. Give an example of when you have had to manage competing priorities. How did you decide what to do first, and how did you ensure important deadlines were met?

HR and Recruitment
• Maintain accurate data on our HR system including starters, leavers, holiday and other absences
• Report on key employee metrics including sickness absence, holiday, TOIL, diversity
• Support line managers with recruitment activity including making effective use of the Applicant Tracking System to ensure a good candidate experience and to report recruitment metrics to enable continuous improvement
• Manage onboarding for new starters including reference requests, pre-employment checks, induction processes
• Coordinate arrangements for training sessions for staff
• Support Head of Finance with monthly payroll processes
• Support Director of Finance and Operations in maintaining and publicising HR policies, keeping the Employee Handbook current
• Maintain up to date employee guides and templates for key HR processes including appraisals, mid year reviews, recruitment, induction, flexible leave

Finance Administration
• Maintain appropriate employee access to Finance Systems, including being able to claim staff expenses and raise sales invoice requests, and support employees in using these systems. 
• Respond to queries in the central accounts mailbox, liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support Head of Finance and Finance Officer with Purchase Ledger, including posting and payment of supplier invoices in a timely manner, ensuring accurate coding and authorisation in line with limits, maintenance of supplier accounts, reconciliations and remittances.
• Support Head of Finance and Finance Officer with management of company credit cards and virtual cards, including reconciling statements and accurate posting to the ledger. 
• Assist in raising sales invoices and accurately recording income. 
• Assist with Credit Control, chasing overdue debts and reporting to the Head of Finance.
• Support Head of Finance with analysis of financial data from the finance system (Xero) for reporting and other ad-hoc purposes
• Assist in maintaining up to date procedures. 

There is an opportunity to attend theatre press nights where appropriate and to take advantage of trade tickets when offered

This role sits within the Finance and Operations team whose focus is to ensure the organisations operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. Our team operates across Finance, HR, Technology, Facilities and Compliance, to ensure that systems and processes are set up which promote smooth delivery and support the work of the organisations. This includes adherence to regulatory requirements and best practice standards

Help transform healthcare for patients across Bristol, Weston and beyond

At Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, we do great things for everyone. From first breaths to final goodbyes, our work touches over 1.75 million patients across our hospitals. Together with our supporters, NHS colleagues and partners, we fund projects that bring comfort, hope and innovation to patients and their families.

We're looking for an experienced and strategic finance leader to join our Senior Management Team during an exciting period of delivery and growth following our recent merger with Southmead Hospital Charity.

This is a rare opportunity to use your expertise to help improve healthcare for patients, families and NHS staff across the region. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the charity's future, ensuring strong financial stewardship, effective governance and operational excellence across the organisation so that together we can create the greatest possible impact.

About the role

As Director of Finance & Operations, you'll provide strategic leadership across finance, operations, governance, risk management and charitable grant-making. You'll work closely with the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues, helping guide key decisions that support the charity's long-term sustainability and impact.

No two days will be the same. One moment you could be presenting financial insights to the Board, the next working alongside NHS colleagues to identify where charitable funding can make the greatest difference for patients, families and staff. You might be leading an operational improvement project, overseeing risk and governance, supporting investment decisions, or helping develop our people and culture. You'll also have opportunities to meet the incredible supporters, donors and fundraisers whose generosity makes our work possible, giving you a direct connection to the impact of the charity and the communities we serve.

You'll lead and support a talented team, including our Financial Controller, Head of Grants and Head of Operations, creating an environment where people can thrive and continue delivering outstanding results.

About you

We're looking for a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience in the charity sector and a track record of providing strategic financial leadership at executive or director level.

You'll bring:

• Strong experience presenting to boards and trustees and influencing decision-making.
• Expertise in financial strategy, budgeting, cashflow management, reporting and audit.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to make complex financial information clear and accessible.
• Experience of charity governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
• A collaborative leadership style and a talent for building trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience leading operational, digital or systems improvement initiatives.

Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to improving healthcare and making a lasting difference for patients and communities across Bristol, Weston and beyond.

Please note we are looking for the successful candidate to start in early to mid October to ensure a handover period with the substantive Director of Finance & Operations before she goes on maternity leave.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to use your financial and operational expertise for a cause that matters. You'll join a passionate and supportive team and play a key role in helping the charity deliver extraordinary impact in our hospitals every day. In addition, you'll enjoy: 

• 27 days annual holiday entitlement plus an additional day off on your birthday and a wellbeing day. Plus, an additional two days leave after five years of service.

• Commitment to hybrid and flexible working. 

• Competitive pension scheme. We'll match employee pension contributions up to 8% (minimum 5%). 

• Additional support via our enhanced Employee Assistance Programme, including up to eight sessions with a licensed counsellor. 

• Life assurance cover - 4x annual salary 

• Commitment to training and development with budget set aside 

• Medicash health plan - claim cash towards a range of medical costs 

• Free Blue Light Card that allows access to hundreds of discounts at major retailers. 

If you're an experienced charity finance leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

1st stage interviews: 23/24th September.2nd stage interviews: 29/30th September.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process and use anonymised recruitment, removing personal details such as names and email addresses during shortlisting.

As a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the eseential criteria for the role. If you wish to share information about a disability or long-term condition and would like us to consider any adjustments, please let us know in your application.

We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to drive our mission to respect, protect and fulfil economic, social and cultural rights across the UK.

As Director, you will lead our talented team in delivering the organisation’s strategy, strengthening our influence and increasing our impact as the UK’s leading voice on human rights, poverty and inequality.

We are looking for someone with senior leadership experience, a strong track record in fundraising and influencing change, excellent relationship-building skills, and a deep commitment to human rights and social justice.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly respected national organisation at the forefront of advancing rights across the UK.

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

About Julie's Bicycle

Julie's Bicycle (JB) unites culture, creativity and climate action to drive change. For almost two decades, we have worked at the forefront of the creative climate movement, supporting artists, cultural organisations and creative leaders to take meaningful action on the climate, nature and justice crises.

Through research, policy, partnerships and practical support, we help the cultural sector turn creativity into a powerful force for a just and regenerative future.

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced, proactive and collaborative Operations Manager to play a central role in the smooth running of Julie's Bicycle.

Working closely with the Operations & People Lead, you'll oversee core organisational operations including administration, office management, systems and technology, recruitment support, compliance and internal processes. You'll help ensure our team has the systems, tools and support needed to work effectively in a hybrid environment.

This is a varied role that combines operational leadership with hands-on delivery. You'll be the go-to person for many internal processes and will work across teams to improve systems, maintain compliance and support organisational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Administration

• Act as the first point of contact for general enquiries and operational support.
• Manage organisational administration systems and processes.
• Coordinate travel, meetings and logistics for staff and organisational activities.
• Support budgeting and logistics for team events, meetings and activities.
• Help implement and maintain Julie's Bicycle's environmental policies and operational practices.

Office Management

• Oversee the day-to-day running of our hybrid office environment.
• Manage relationships with Somerset House facilities and external suppliers.
• Support health and safety compliance and office wellbeing initiatives.
• Help create an engaging and collaborative workplace culture.

Systems & Technology

• Coordinate IT systems, digital platforms and external providers.
• Maintain organisational systems, databases and cloud-based infrastructure.
• Support GDPR compliance and data management processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems and ways of working.

Recruitment & HR Support

• Support recruitment, onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Assist with HR administration and employee records.
• Issue contracts and documentation for staff, freelancers and placements.
• Provide day-to-day support for people-related processes and queries.

About You

We're looking for someone with experience in operations, administration, office management or organisational support who enjoys problem solving, improving systems and helping teams work effectively.

You'll be highly organised, digitally confident, proactive and comfortable managing multiple priorities. Experience within the charity, cultural, arts or environmental sectors would be beneficial but is not essential.

If you read this advert and feel you almost match what we're looking for, we'd still love to hear from you. You may have built relevant skills through freelance work, lived experience, activism, organising or routes outside formal education.

Why Join Us?

At Julie's Bicycle, you'll join a passionate and supportive team working at the intersection of culture and climate action. We offer a flexible and collaborative working environment where you can make a tangible contribution to one of the most important challenges of our time.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourage applications from people from underrepresented backgrounds. If you are excited about the role but don't meet every requirement, we would still love to hear from you.

We know job descriptions can feel daunting and that people who are from the global majority, from working class backgrounds, those without formal qualifications and some LGBTQ+ candidates are statistically less likely to apply even when they are well suited to a role.

Closing date: Thursday 17 September 2026

We strongly encourage early applications as we may close the recruitment early if we have reached a sufficient number of viable applications.

National Trust
Director of People
Salary: £140,000 per annum
Closing Date: Monday 5th October 2026
Location: Flexible, with regular travel across the UK - including to our Swindon and London offices

At the National Trust, we care for nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever. As we embark on the next phase of our 2035 strategy, we’re seeking a Director of People who will help build the leadership, culture, capability and organisational effectiveness needed to deliver lasting impact for people and nature across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Behind our purpose sits one of the UK's largest and most complex people-led organisations, bringing together more than 14,000 staff and 45,000 volunteers who care for and champion our extraordinary places. The Director of People will join our Executive team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation, influencing organisational strategy and leading the people agenda at the highest level. Working alongside Executive colleagues, you’ll ensure we have the culture, leadership, capability and workforce needed to deliver our ambitions to restore nature, increase access to nature, beauty and history and inspire more people to care and take action for generations to come.

As Director of People, you will lead a broad portfolio spanning People Services, People Partnering and Development, People Engagement and Volunteering, Business Services and Legal Services. You will play a critical role in shaping organisational culture, supporting strategic decision-making and ensuring that our staff and volunteers can contribute with confidence, purpose and impact.

This is a role for a values-driven and influential leader who combines strategic vision with practical delivery, bringing people together to navigate complexity, embrace change and build an organisation that is inclusive, resilient and ready for the future.

We welcome applications from candidates who have gained the following experience through a range of sectors, disciplines and career paths, and who can bring diverse perspectives to this important leadership role.

• Executive or director-level leadership experience within a significant and complex organisation.
• Deep expertise across people strategy, organisational development, culture, workforce planning and employee relations.
• A track record of leading large-scale organisational change and transformation.
• Experience of influencing Boards, executive teams and senior stakeholders on strategic people matters.
• The ability to inspire, develop and lead high-performing teams through complexity and change.
• Strong commercial and organisational awareness, coupled with sound financial judgement.
• A genuine commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with experience of creating environments where people can thrive.
• An affinity with purpose-led organisations and a belief in the role people play in delivering meaningful societal impact.

The National Trust’s commitment is “For everyone, for ever.” Bringing that promise to life starts with the people that work here. It means building teams with a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. It means creating an inclusive environment where everyone is able to thrive. Our positions are open to all, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds to support our ambitions of reflecting the communities we serve and ending unequal access. 

There is flexibility regarding your contractual place of work. However, you will need to be able to travel regularly to our Swindon and London offices. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.

To learn more about this opportunity, please visit our microsite, where you'll find the candidate pack, further information about the role and details of how to apply. Contact details for any additional queries can also be found there.

Dean Farm Trust is seeking an experienced and compassionate Sanctuary Operations Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and operational management of our 32-acre animal sanctuary near Chepstow.

Home to 200 rescued animals, including pigs, cows, sheep, goats, equines and birds, Dean Farm Trust provides a home for life to animals in need. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with animal welfare at its heart.

The Sanctuary Operations Manager will lead our on-site team, working through our Team Leaders to ensure the Sanctuary operates safely, effectively and to the highest standards of animal welfare. The role will oversee staffing and rotas, volunteer development, recruitment and training, budgets and resources, facilities and maintenance, land and pasture management, health and safety, compliance, contractors, projects and the operational delivery of Sanctuary events and activities.

We are looking for someone with strong leadership and people-management experience who is confident managing a busy operational environment and developing both staff and volunteers. You will need to be organised, practical and able to balance the immediate demands of running a sanctuary with longer-term planning and improvement.

This is an important appointment for Dean Farm Trust as we strengthen our operational structure and build a sustainable future for the Sanctuary. The successful candidate will work closely with the Director and Trustees while taking real ownership of Sanctuary operations and providing strong, consistent on-site leadership.

A genuine commitment to animal welfare and to the values of Dean Farm Trust is essential.

Please read our full Candidate Pack before applying. It includes the complete Job Description, information about Dean Farm Trust and further background on why we are recruiting for this role now.

Head of Organisational Strategy and Operations (known internally as Infrastructure Lead) is a senior strategic leadership role within Healing Justice Ldn, working closely alongside the Executive Director to help shape and steward the organisational infrastructure, systems, and coordination practices needed for HJL’ s next phase of development.

The role exists to strengthen the connective infrastructure that enables HJL’ s organisational arms to operate autonomously while remaining aligned, collaborative, sustainable, and responsive within rapidly changing political, social, and movement landscapes.

Rather than focusing primarily on operational administration or hierarchical management, the role centres on developing values-aligned systems, organisational practices, and ways of working that support collective care, adaptability, organisational health, and long-term sustainability. Working across programmes, research, narrative strategy, operations, and leadership, the post holder will support communication, coordination, learning, and organisational coherence across the organisation while strengthening distributed leadership.

This role would suit someone who has previously held senior leadership responsibility across multiple organisational areas within a values-led, justice-oriented, community-based, or movement environment. As a newly created role within an evolving organisational structure, the responsibilities, focus, and ways of working within the role may continue to develop over time in response to organisational learning, growth, and changing needs.

Responsibilities

 Organisational stewardship & coordination

• Shape and steward HJL’ s organisational infrastructure, systems, and long-term sustainability alongside the Executive Director and wider leadership.
• Support strategic coherence, communication, and coordination across HJL’ s organisational arms, including programmes, research, narrative strategy, operations, and infrastructure.
• Develop organisational systems, structures, and practices that support autonomy, collaboration, accountability, adaptability, and collective wellbeing.
• Support organisational decision-making, governance, and ways of working that reflect HJL’ s commitments to disability justice, racial justice, accessibility, collective care, and community accountability.
• Help strengthen organisational resilience and responsiveness within changing political, social, funding, and movement conditions.

Infrastructure & organisational development 

• Lead the development and stewardship of values-aligned organisational systems, policies, and internal processes.
• Build and strengthen the connective infrastructure that supports collaboration, shared learning, and coordination across different organisational areas.
• Support organisational learning, reflection, adaptation, and knowledge sharing processes across teams and leadership.
• Help create structures and organisational cultures that support sustainable collaboration, leadership development, conflict navigation, and organisational wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with advisors, external partners, and leadership to support organisational sustainability and adaptive development.

Organisational sustainability & external relationships (Operational sustainability) 

• Work alongside the Executive Director and external finance partners to support organisational sustainability, financial planning, and resource stewardship.
• Contribute to fundraising strategy, partnership development, and relationship-building with funders, collaborators, and aligned organisations.
• Support infrastructure connected to organisational growth, partnerships, and long-term sustainability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across HJL s wider ecosystem of collaborators, movement partners, advisors, and aligned organisations.

Organisational health, risk and resilience (Risk, Resilience & Infrastructure) 

• Identify, map and respond to organisational vulnerabilities, operational challenges and external pressures affecting HJL’ s work and sustainability.
• Support systems and practices related to safeguarding, accountability, evaluation, organisational learning, and collective wellbeing.
• Support the organisation to navigate complexity, uncertainty, conflict, and change in ways that remain adaptive, relational, and values-aligned.

Person specification

Experience & Capabilities 

We recognise that people develop leadership experience through many different pathways and do not expect applicants to meet every area listed below.

We are particularly interested in people who bring systems thinking, organisational leadership experience, and experience working within complex, values-led environments.

You may bring:

• Significant experience working within community-based, justice-oriented, movement, or values-led organisations.
• Experience holding strategic responsibility across multiple organisational areas such as organisational development, governance, operations, partnerships, sustainability, fundraising, or people management.
• Experience developing or evolving organisational systems, structures, policies, or ways of working within changing or complex environments.
• Experience supporting organisational growth, transition, resilience, or change.
• Experience building collaborative relationships with funders, partners, advisors, communities, or wider movement ecosystems.
• Systems thinking, facilitation, coordination, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to navigate complexity, ambiguity, conflict, and organisational change with emotional maturity and relational awareness.
• Ability to support collaboration and coherence across multiple teams, work streams, or organisational areas without relying on hierarchical management approaches.
• Understanding of equity-centred, accessibility-informed, trauma-informed, and relational approaches to organisational development and leadership.
• Commitment to collective care, disability justice, racial justice, and community accountability.

Benefits

• 4% Pension contribution
• Individual professional development budget
• Enhanced annual leave provisions beyond the statutory minimum including a summer and winter break
• Staff training on somatics, trauma and resilience
• Free office refreshments
• Season ticket loan
• Enhanced parental leave pay

Introductory / Q&A Webinar

Interested in learning more about the role and our organisation? Join us for a one-hour webinar hosted by our Executive Director, Farzana Khan. We'll share insights into the role, our work and what you can expect from joining the organisation. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A.

The webinar will take place at 5pm on Tuesday 15 September 2026 (click apply link for details on how to join the webinar).

Recruitment Timeline

• Applications Open: Wednesday 9th September 2026
• Introductory / Q&A Webinar: 15th September 2026 at 5pm BST
• Applications Close: Monday 21st September 2026 at 3pm BST
• 1st stage virtual interview: w/c 5th October 2026
• 2nd stage in person interview and task: w/c 12th October 2026
• Appointment made by Monday 19th October 2026

About Healing Justice Ldn

Healing Justice Ldn (HJL) is a community-led organisation working at the intersections of health justice, collective care, healing, and systems change. Rooted in disability justice, transformative practice, and liberation work, HJL develops community-led approaches to wellbeing that address the structural impacts of racism, ableism, state violence, and inequality.

Through research, training, political education, movement support, and healing practice, HJL works to build the infrastructures, relationships, and capacities needed for long-term collective resilience and liberation. The organisation supports communities, organisers, practitioners, and movements to develop sustainable approaches to health, care, and social transformation.

HJL operates through an evolving organisational model centred around autonomy, connection, collaboration, and collective stewardship. Different organisational “ arms ” hold distinct areas of practice while remaining connected through shared values, coordination structures, and relational infrastructure.

As HJL enters a new phase of organisational development, there is an increasing need for organisational infrastructure, systems, governance, and connective coordination that can support sustainable growth while remaining responsive and accountable within rapidly changing political, social, and movement landscapes.

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

The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with Mencap to recruit a new Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the UK's leading disability charities at a pivotal moment of investment and renewed ambition. 

Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations
Salary: £65,000 - £70,000 dependent on experience
Location: Hybrid (London HQ)

Mencap is seeking an exceptional fundraising operations and strategy leader to join the organisation as Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations. This is a newly created and highly influential role at the centre of Mencap's fundraising transformation journey. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Fundraising, the successful candidate will act as a key strategic partner, helping to build the systems, processes, insight and infrastructure required to support sustainable fundraising growth.

This role will shape the future of fundraising strategy and operations at Mencap. Working across a directorate with clear ambition for growth, you will lead the planning, performance, insight, systems and case for support activity that helps their fundraising teams work with clarity, consistency and confidence.

Mencap’s fundraising teams need strong foundations to build trusted relationships, grow income and deliver lasting impact for people with a learning disability and their families. You will work closely with senior fundraising leaders and colleagues across Mencap to turn the ambition of Mencap 2030 into joined-up plans, strengthen reporting and forecasting, and improve how data, systems and evidence are used to support decision making.

We are looking for a confident fundraising strategy and operations leader who combines strategic thinking with strong planning, reporting, systems and stakeholder management experience. You will be able to bring structure to complex work, improve ways of working and support sustainable fundraising growth across the directorate.

You will directly lead key roles across fundraising operations, case for support, stewardship and strategy, creating the leadership, confidence, systems and ways of working needed for fundraising strategy and operations to support growth. This role is for someone who can connect strategy with delivery, build the conditions for teams to succeed and help the directorate scale income and deliver lasting impact.

Over the last year Mencap has made significant investment in fundraising capability, including the implementation of Salesforce. As the organisation enters the next phase of its development, the focus is shifting from implementation towards optimisation, embedding best practice, building capability and creating a more strategic, data-led fundraising culture. This role will be instrumental in helping Mencap realise the full value of that investment.

This is not a traditional fundraising role. Rather than leading frontline income generation, the Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations will be responsible for building the engine that enables fundraising success. You will identify risks, strengthen processes, improve ways of working and create the conditions that allow fundraising teams to perform at their best.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role requiring strong relationship-building skills, excellent project management capability and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director, helping to drive continuous improvement across the fundraising function and supporting the wider transformation agenda.

Potential Early Objectives / Success Measures

• Develop and embed a clear fundraising planning cycle aligned to Mencap 2030.
• Establish reliable operational reporting, forecasting, budget oversight and KPI routines across the Fundraising Directorate.
• Strengthen use of data, insight and Salesforce to support decision-making, performance management and continuous improvement.
• Review fundraising systems, data and compliance practices, including GDPR, Gift Aid and Fundraising Regulator requirements.
• Develop a clear case for support and stewardship approach that can be used consistently across fundraising activity.
• Build capability, confidence and clear accountabilities across fundraising operations, case for support, stewardship and strategy roles.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading fundraising operations, strategy, planning, insight or performance functions.
• Strong understanding of fundraising processes, systems and best practice across multiple income streams.
• Experience managing CRM platforms and driving organisational adoption of data and technology solutions.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver complex initiatives.
• Experience developing performance frameworks, reporting systems, KPIs and management information.
• Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to translate data into actionable insight and strategic recommendations.
• Experience building operational infrastructure and supporting fundraising growth or transformation programmes.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments and seniority levels.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of developing capability and building high-performing teams.
• A strategic mindset combined with strong operational delivery skills and attention to detail.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and fundraising excellence.

Above all, we are looking for a collaborative and solutions-focused leader who is passionate about fundraising excellence. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of fundraising at Mencap by building the systems, insight and operational foundations that will support long-term sustainable growth and enable greater impact for people with a learning disability and their families.

How to Apply
The deadline for applications is Friday 2nd October with 1st stage interviews to take place w/c 12th October. To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role via our website using the apply now button.
If you have any initial questions before applying, please get in touch. We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from people with diverse experiences and are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments required throughout the recruitment process.

Assistant Services Director

We are seeking an experienced senior services leader to oversee high-quality homelessness and housing services across London and the South East.

Position: Assistant Services Director
Salary: £49,237 per annum
Location: London and South East
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract
Closing date: 21 September 2026

About the role

Depaul UK is looking for an experienced Assistant Services Director to provide senior operational leadership across a portfolio of homelessness and housing support services.

You will lead and develop Service and Pathway Managers, ensuring services are safe, effective, compliant and delivering excellent outcomes for young people and adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Key responsibilities include:

· Leading high-performing services and management teams across London and the South East

· Ensuring excellent safeguarding practice and regulatory compliance

· Monitoring service quality, contracts, KPIs and performance

· Overseeing housing management, voids, arrears and rental income

· Ensuring accommodation meets health and safety requirements

· Managing relationships with commissioners, local authorities, landlords and other key stakeholders

· Supporting budget setting, monitoring and remedial action

· Leading mobilisation plans for new and changing services

· Coaching and developing managers and supporting workforce development

· Championing client involvement and co-production

· Deputising for the Area Director when required

About you

You will be an experienced operational leader with a strong track record of managing services, managers and performance.

You will have experience of contract management and compliance monitoring, alongside a good working knowledge of housing and homelessness issues. Experience of working with vulnerable people is essential.

You will be confident setting clear standards, developing high-performing teams and leading through change. You will also bring excellent communication, influencing and problem-solving skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with commissioners, partners and colleagues.

You will be self-motivated, resilient and comfortable balancing strategic priorities with the day-to-day demands of delivering high-quality services.

About Depaul UK

Depaul UK has been tackling homelessness since 1989. From its beginnings as a single housing project in North London, the charity has grown to provide accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK.

Inspired by the values of St Vincent de Paul, Depaul UK believes in the intrinsic worth of every person and takes practical action to help people build brighter, more independent futures.

Benefits include 26 days' annual leave, increasing with service, pension contributions of up to 7%, tailored training and development, flexible working options where suitable, a cash health plan, Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access and a range of retail, travel and wellbeing discounts.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Assistant Director of Services, Head of Services, Regional Head of Services, Regional Operations Manager, Head of Operations, Housing Services Manager, Homelessness Services Manager, Service Delivery Manager or Assistant Area Director.