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Employment Details:
- Location: Haringey (N17), London, UK. (This is an In-Person role with optional one day working remotely)
- Job Title: Director of Operations
- Reporting to: CEO, with accountability to the Board of Trustees
- Line Manages: Operations Co-ordinator and Finance Officer
- Employment Type: Full-Time (40hrs Per Week)
- Start date: October 2026 (Ideally, or later if you have a notice period)
Benefits:
- Annual Leave: 25 days (Exclusive of Bank Holiday)
- 1 x WFH/flexi working as per policy
- CPD Budget: £1000
- Group Life Insurance
- Discount on Food (Specific Restaurants)
- Free Brunch every Thursday
- Company Well-being Events
- Pension Contribution
Summary of the role:
The Director of Operations is a pivotal senior leadership role at Sister System, responsible for strengthening the people, culture, systems and organisational foundations that enable our mission to thrive. Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees, the postholder will play a central role in delivering our current strategic priorities and shaping the next chapter of Sister System as we develop our future strategy beyond September 2027.
This is a significant opportunity to help shape a growing, values-led organisation founded on co-curation, sisterhood, race & gender equity and the belief that girls and young women should be active architects of the services, systems and opportunities designed for them. With oversight of financial management, people and culture, compliance, risk and organisational infrastructure, the Director of Operations will lead on empowering & ensuring that our internal culture and ways of working reflect the same care, accountability, ambition and empowerment that sit at the heart of our model.
The role will be instrumental in translating our founding vision into strong, sustainable practice, ensuring Sister System is equipped to grow its impact while remaining deeply connected to the voices, experiences and leadership of the girls and young women we exist to serve.
Our Charity:
Sister System exists to ensure that care-affected girls and young women are not defined by the systems they have experienced, but are supported to recognise their strengths, shape their futures and access the same opportunities as their peers.
Our culturally competent, co-curated model works alongside girls and young women aged 13–24 through a long-term journey of support, progression and leadership. Across three interconnected stages, we provide trusted relationships, mentoring, therapeutic support, education, leadership development and pathways into employment. Our approach recognises that meaningful change takes time, consistency and a community that continues to believe in her.
Founded with girls and young women, not simply for them, Sister System places their voices, experiences and ambitions at the heart of everything we do. Through our growing hub-and-spoke model, we are expanding our reach while also influencing the wider systems, services and institutions that shape their lives.
Our ambition is not only to improve individual outcomes, but to demonstrate a better way of working with care-affected girls and young women—one that is relational, culturally responsive, asset-based and built around what they tell us they need to thrive.
As Sister System enters its next phase of growth and prepares to shape its future strategy, we are seeking an experienced and values-led Director of Operations to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the people, culture, systems and infrastructure that will enable our organisation—and the girls and young women alongside us—to achieve even more.
Our Vision:
A world where empowered girls reach their potential through equitable opportunities.
Our Mission:
To bridge the gap between care-affected girls and young women within mainstream society by working alongside them to ensure they have the same opportunities that everyone else has – at home, school, work and within our communities.
Our Values:
- COLLABORATIVE
We co-curate programmes with our Sis-Stars. We seek powerful partnerships. - EVIDENCE-BASED
We build trust and respect within our sector. - MASTERFUL
We aim for excellence as standard and share our learning. - SOLUTION-FOCUSED
We innovate to overcome challenges with a long-term goal in mind. - TENACIOUS
We are not afraid to take a stand and push for change.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Implementation
- Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to translate Sister System’s strategy, theory of change, operational model and financial plans into clear organisational priorities and coordinated action.
- Play a central role in shaping Sister System’s next strategy ahead of the September 2027 refresh, ensuring it reflects our founding commitment to co-curation, the voices of girls and young women, our evolving three-stage model and our future growth ambitions.
- Lead the development of proportionate planning, monitoring and review processes that enable the Senior Leadership Team to track progress, reflect on performance, identify barriers and remain accountable for delivery.
- Monitor progress against agreed strategic goals and KPIs, ensuring that risks, dependencies and areas requiring leadership attention are clearly identified and addressed.
- Support senior leaders to turn strategic priorities into realistic plans, with clear ownership, timescales and measurable outcomes.
- Ensure that learning from delivery, impact data, staff experience and the voices of girls and young women inform strategic decision-making and organisational improvement.
- Cultivate a strong shared sense of purpose across Sister System, helping colleagues understand how their roles contribute to our mission, values and long-term ambitions.
Financial Strategy and Audit
- Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to shape, implement and regularly evaluate Sister System’s financial strategy, ensuring it supports our mission, strategic ambitions and long-term sustainability.
- Provide clear, financial recommendations to the CEO, helping the organisation navigate the balance between delivering high-quality, meaningful impact for girls and young women, achieving value for money and maintaining financial resilience.
- Translate Sister System’s strategic priorities, delivery model and growth ambitions into realistic financial plans, forecasts and scenarios that support timely and well-informed decision-making.
- Lead financial scenario planning and ensure that the CEO and Board have a clear understanding of the financial implications, risks and trade-offs associated with key organisational decisions.
- Lead and oversee the annual audit process, working effectively with external auditors, the finance team, senior leaders and the Board to ensure a robust, timely and transparent process.
- Ensure that learning and recommendations arising from audits, financial reviews and assurance activity are translated into clear improvements and strengthened organisational practice.
Financial Management
- Lead the development, monitoring and management of annual budgets, reforecasts and longer-term financial plans, ensuring resources are aligned with Sister System’s strategic priorities.
- Hold and actively manage the tension between quality, impact, affordability and value for money, ensuring financial decisions protect the integrity of Sister System’s model and the experience of the girls and young women we serve.
- Provide the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board with clear, accessible and timely financial information, insight and recommendations to support effective leadership and governance.
- Produce high-level financial reports and analysis covering budgets, cash flow, reserves, forecasts, strategic KPIs and other relevant performance indicators.
- Maintain and continuously strengthen proportionate financial systems, controls and processes that reflect Sister System’s size, stage of growth and evolving operating model.
- Ensure that robust financial and performance-reporting infrastructure is in place, with clear accountability, reliable data and appropriate oversight across the organisation.
- Support Directors and budget holders to understand their financial responsibilities, manage resources effectively and make informed decisions within agreed parameters.
- Identify emerging financial risks, pressures and opportunities for greater efficiency, advising the CEO on appropriate actions and ensuring these are monitored and addressed.
- Oversee high quality bookkeeping practice to ensure reporting is accurate and up to date.
- Work with the fundraising team to develop budgets for proposals and create timely financial reports for funders and donors
Culture and Operational Effectiveness
- Work closely with our People and Culture consultant, CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape and embed a progressive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture aligned with Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious.
- Champion a culture of regular, honest and constructive feedback, helping managers and colleagues to hold crucial conversations with clarity, care and accountability.
- Ensure that Sister System’s internal culture reflects the relational, empowering and values-led approach that sits at the heart of our work with girls and young women.
- Review existing organisational processes and workflows, identifying practical opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, collaboration and efficiency.
- Develop and embed proportionate ways of working that support Sister System’s current size, evolving operating model and future growth.
People Planning and Management
- Lead the development of a clear and forward-looking people plan that ensures Sister System has the right structure, capacity, capabilities and leadership in place to deliver its strategic ambitions.
- Support managers to build high-performing teams through effective objective-setting, regular feedback, performance management and professional development.
- Foster an environment in which people are supported to grow, appropriately challenged and held accountable for delivering against agreed expectations.
- Facilitate professional learning, career development and progression across the organisation, ensuring that opportunities are transparent, equitable and aligned with organisational need.
- Oversee workforce and succession planning, ensuring that the organisational structure remains appropriate, affordable and responsive to Sister System’s development.
- Work with the CEO and relevant advisers to ensure fair and appropriate pay, benefits and working conditions.
- Oversee recruitment and the end-to-end employee experience, from attraction and onboarding through to development, retention and exit.
- Ensure that people policies, practices and management approaches are legally compliant, consistently applied and reflective of Sister System’s values.
Compliance and Risk Management
- Ensure that Sister System meets its legal, regulatory and governance responsibilities as a charity and employer.
- Lead the development and maintenance of a proportionate organisational risk-management framework that protects Sister System’s people, assets, reputation and ability to deliver its mission.
- Ensure that key organisational risks are clearly identified, owned, monitored and reported to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees.
- Promote a culture in which risk is understood and actively managed without limiting thoughtful innovation, learning or ambition.
Governance, Communications and Facilities
- Facilitate clear, timely and effective communication and cooperation between the Board of Trustees, CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
- Support the development of strong governance systems, ensuring that trustees receive the information, insight and assurance required to fulfil their responsibilities effectively.
- Work closely with trustees through the Finance and Audit committee
- Oversee the organisation’s IT infrastructure and digital systems through external providers, ensuring that they remain secure, reliable and appropriate for Sister System’s needs.
- Oversee the effective operation of Sister System’s physical workspace within a fully managed office environment, working with building management and relevant external providers where required.
- Ensure that Sister System provides a safe, welcoming and accessible environment for girls and young women, staff, volunteers, visitors and partners across its hub, spoke locations and external activities.
- Ensure that appropriate health and safety systems, procedures and responsibilities are understood, implemented and regularly reviewed.
Person Specification
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and values-led operational leader to join Sister System’s Senior Leadership Team. You will combine sound judgement and strong organisational skills with a warm, collaborative leadership style and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for care-affected girls and young women.
You do not need to be a specialist in every area of the role. You will, however, need the confidence and experience to lead across a broad operational portfolio, work effectively with professional advisers and external providers, and provide clear, practical advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees.
Essential Experience and Knowledge
- Significant experience in a senior operations, finance, people, governance or organisational leadership role within a charity, social enterprise or similarly values-led organisation.
- Experience of translating organisational strategy into clear priorities, plans, systems and measurable outcomes.
- Experience of developing and managing organisational budgets, forecasts and financial reporting, with the ability to balance quality, impact, affordability and value for money.
- Experience of supervising or coordinating an external audit process, working effectively with auditors, finance colleagues and the Board.
- Experience of people planning, performance management and supporting managers to build capable, accountable and high-performing teams.
- Experience of developing or improving organisational systems, processes and ways of working during a period of growth or change.
- A sound understanding of charity governance, organisational risk, compliance and the responsibilities of senior leaders and trustees.
- Experience of working collaboratively with a CEO, senior leadership colleagues, trustees, consultants and external professional advisers.
- A strong understanding of equity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice, and the ability to embed these principles within organisational culture and decision-making.
Skills and Leadership Approach
- An approachable, emotionally intelligent and credible leader who can build trust, motivate others and develop effective working relationships across an organisation.
- The ability to lead with both care and accountability, supporting open feedback and helping colleagues to hold constructive and sometimes crucial conversations.
- Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to understand the wider organisational picture while maintaining oversight of important operational detail.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial, people or operational information clearly and accessibly.
- Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, meet deadlines and maintain momentum.
- Sound judgement and the confidence to provide constructive challenge, identify risks and offer clear recommendations to the CEO and Board.
- A practical and solution-focused approach, with the ability to move from discussion and planning into coordinated action.
- The ability to handle sensitive, confidential and personal information professionally and in accordance with Sister System’s policies, data-protection responsibilities and GDPR.
- Energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for strengthening an ambitious organisation as it prepares to shape and deliver its next strategy.
Values and Commitment
- A demonstrable commitment to Sister System’s mission and to improving the opportunities, experiences and outcomes of care-affected girls and young women.
- The ability to model and champion Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious.
- A commitment to co-curation and to ensuring that the voices, experiences and leadership of girls and young women inform organisational planning and decision-making.
- A commitment to continuous learning, reflective practice and personal and professional development.
Desirable
- Lived experience of the care system, or a strong professional understanding of the experiences of care-affected girls and young women.
- Experience of working within a founder-led organisation or alongside a founder CEO.
- Experience of supporting an organisation through growth, restructuring or the development of a new strategy.
- Knowledge of culturally competent, trauma-informed or relational approaches to working with young people.
- A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience in operations, finance, human resources, governance or organisational leadership.
- Experience working with social care and educational service providers (statutory and third sector).
- Knowledge of the Charity SORP, Charity Commission reporting requirements, and other third-sector financial regulation.
Sister System is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This post is subject to two satisfactory reference checks and DBS enhanced disclosure.
How to apply
Please apply via our recruitment platform Breathe by 31st August 2026. You will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following questions:
Values alignment
Sister System's model is built on co-curation (working with girls and young women, not simply for them) and on being Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. Which of these values do you feel most aligned with, and which do you find hardest to live up to in practice?
People & Culture
Sister System is a founder-led organisation, underpinned by race and gender equity and a culturally competent, trauma-informed approach to working with girls and young women. Tell us about a time you strengthened internal culture of this nature within a team. What resistance did you meet, and what was different a year later?
Finance
A key element of the role is monitoring income against budget for current and future years. Charity income can provide additional complexities, particularly with different types of grants. Please explain your understanding of these complexities, and how they impact on recording and reporting, including examples from your own experience if relevant.
Timeline
Deadline for applications: End of day Monday 31st August 2026
First round interviews: w/c 7th September
Second round interviews: w/c 14th September
Decisions made: by 22nd September
Thank you for your interest in joining Sister System in our mission to inspire and empower young women.
We work alongside girls and young women aged 13-24 affected by care, offering her an early intervention mentoring and educational programme.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Tandridge Learning Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional Director of People & Culture to join our Executive Board.
The successful candidate will build on the positive foundations already established across the Trust and bring the vision, expertise and creativity needed to further develop our people strategy and organisational culture. You will inspire and bring out the best in our staff, demonstrating resourcefulness, resilience and drive, together with a proven track record of delivering effective workforce and organisational improvement.
Working collaboratively as part of a cohesive and high-performing Executive Board, you will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of people, culture and organisational development. You will help ensure that the Trust attracts, develops, supports and retains a skilled, motivated and inclusive workforce capable of delivering the highest standards of education for every pupil.
We are looking for an outstanding individual who will shape and deliver the Trust’s People Strategy, strengthening leadership capacity, staff engagement, wellbeing, performance and professional development across our schools. You will promote a positive and inclusive working environment in which colleagues feel valued, supported and accountable for delivering the Trust’s strategic priorities.
You will possess extensive and well-informed knowledge of effective human resources practice, employment legislation, organisational development and evidence-based approaches to workforce improvement. You will be confident in leading the quality assurance of HR policies, procedures and practices across the Trust, ensuring they are legally compliant, consistently applied and aligned with our values.
You will also lead the analysis of workforce information, including recruitment, retention, turnover, sickness absence, employee relations, performance and staff engagement. You will identify trends, risks and areas for improvement, benchmark the Trust’s performance against comparable high-performing multi-academy trusts and use this intelligence to inform strategic decision-making and targeted interventions.
The ideal candidate will:
- Be a visionary leader, one that can empower others to achieve at the highest levels.
- Demonstrate significant, effective and evidenced improvement expertise.
- Be capable of challenging, as necessary, and backing that up with knowledge and data.
- Be a confident, strategic thinker who can work with the schools, trust leaders and the board.
- Lead by example in demonstrating our vision and values in everyday work and practice.
The successful candidate will benefit from:
- A committed and collaborative Executive Board that will welcome you to the team.
- The opportunity to shape and lead the Trust’s People Strategy and operating model.
- A flexible working arrangement and bright, modern office space with off street parking.
- Workplace pension, through the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- A Trust-wide focus on wellbeing and support, including an EAP.
- Opportunities for continuous professional development.
- Staff benefits package, including lifestyle & retail discounts, staff sports and social events.
If you are excited by the prospect of this position and believe you can make a difference then we would like to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries and you are welcome arrange an informal discussion with our HR team about this position prior to applying.
This is a part time role working in the region of 4 days per week over 52 weeks per annum.
Our vision is to empower every learner to excel and flourish within a culture of inclusion and high aspiration.
Salary: Starting at £66,920, raising to £77,555
Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Family Action Head Office, London N1 7GR.
Our office space is wheelchair accessible. We typically work two days a week in the office, but offer the flexibility of home-working anywhere within the UK.
FAMILY ACTION AND THE ROLE'S IMPACT:
At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It is what we have done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.
We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
- This is an important senior role in Family Action. As Deputy Director of People, you will lead on all People matters at Family Action, encompassing HR, EDI, volunteers and Learning & Development. You will report to the General Counsel & Director of Systems.
- Your role will be varied, exciting and incredibly worthwhile. At its heart is a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference within our organisation, benefiting staff, volunteers and those who use our services. You will be working with managers at all levels to influence, inform and plan work across the entire organisation.
- We are looking for someone who is motivated and who can draw learning from a range of sources and analyse evidence within its wider organisational context. You will bring substantial Human Resources experience and a strong track record of developing and delivering People strategies. You will be skilled at leading through complexity, navigating change, understanding organisational challenges, and developing effective plans that support continuous improvement.
For the main requirements of the role, please see the job description and person specification.
BENEFITS:
- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays (FTE)
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities
We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.
TO APPLY:
- Click the ‘Apply’ link below and fill out our digital application form
- Closing Date: 16 August 2026 at 23.59
All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.
We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates. We are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action because we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.
All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.
To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.
Family Action is an award-winning national charity working from the heart of local communities across England and Wales.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the role:
Behind every well run service is someone making sure the details never get missed. As a Housing Administrator, you’ll provide the reliable, responsive support that helps our accommodation services run smoothly and enables frontline teams to focus on supporting people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges.
Working across three mental health accommodation services in Camden and Barnet, you’ll be a central point of support for managers and colleagues. Although you’ll work behind the scenes, the people living in our services will remain at the heart of what you do; because accurate records, well managed repairs and responsive administration all contribute to residents receiving safe, consistent and high quality support.
Your day to day work will be varied. You’ll keep databases accurate, coordinate meetings and staff rotas, prepare reports and help services stay on top of key deadlines and compliance checks. You’ll monitor rents, Housing Benefit and service charges; process invoices and petty cash; track repairs, referrals and empty rooms; check tenancy documentation; and maintain clear, accurate spreadsheets and reports.
This is a role where strong administration has a visible impact. By keeping information accurate, spotting issues early and bringing order to competing priorities, you’ll help create safe and effective services that residents and staff can rely on. You’ll join a supportive organisation where you can strengthen your skills, take on new challenges and continue developing your career.
The postholder will be expected to work across all three sites, spending part of their working time at each location. There may also be some opportunity to work from home, depending on service needs and the tasks being completed.
About you:
- You’re a natural organiser who enjoys bringing structure to busy services and making sure important details never get missed.
- You’re confident using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and can turn data from spreadsheets and systems into clear, useful reports.
- You communicate warmly and professionally with residents, colleagues and external partners, even when priorities are moving quickly.
- You take ownership of your workload, balance competing deadlines and spot what needs following up before it becomes a problem.
- You understand that accurate, confidential and responsive administration plays a vital role in helping residents receive safe, consistent and high-quality support
About us:
We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.
In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up.
We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own.
Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable.
We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.
Important info:
Closing date: Sunday 16th August at midnight
Interview date: Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th August Online via Microsoft Teams
Please note there will be a second stage interview in service for suitable candidates
The advert may be closed early if applications volumes are unmanageable and suitable candidates have been identified. Therefore please submit your application as soon as possible to be considered as reserve the right to close the advert early.
This post will require an Enhanced DBS check (processed by SHP) for the successful applicant.
Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient/without current right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role.
Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions.
Preventing homelessness, transforming lives.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as Director of Services at Solace Women's Aid.y and shape the future of our services.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for a diverse portfolio of services. You'll lead a highly experienced senior management team, ensuring our services continue to deliver outstanding, survivor-centred support while driving innovation, quality, financial sustainability, and continuous improvement.
We're looking for an inspiring and values-led senior leader with experience of leading complex services at executive or director level. You'll have a strong track record of developing high-performing teams, building influential partnerships with commissioners and stakeholders, managing significant budgets and risk, and using data and insight to improve outcomes. Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to feminist, trauma-informed and anti-racist practice, ensuring survivors remain at the heart of everything we do.
Why join Solace?
Alongside the opportunity to shape services that change lives every day, we offer:
- The opportunity to influence the future of VAWG services at a strategic and national level
- A collaborative, supportive and ambitious Executive Leadership Team
- A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice
- Flexible working
- 25-30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Enhanced family-friendly benefits and generous pension
- Two paid wellbeing days each year
- Comprehensive wellbeing support including clinical supervision, counselling and yoga
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Blue Light Card, employee discounts, and active staff inclusion networks.
Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.
While we are proud of the diversity of our organisation, we recognise that Women of Colour remain underrepresented within our Executive and Senior Leadership Teams. Increasing representation at senior levels is an important part of our commitment to becoming a more inclusive and anti-racist organisation. We therefore strongly encourage applications from women of colour for this role.
We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1. Section 7(2)(e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.
No agencies
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking a collaborative and creative Director who is rigorous, centres care and supports people to flourish, to lead our brand new Playhouse Ensembles strand within Playhouse Connect's exciting new chapter.
The Playhouse Ensembles Director will be responsible for leading 10 ensembles in total, including:
- 7 Youth Theatre cohorts,
- Heydays (Creative Ageing) ensemble,
- Theatre of Sanctuary ensemble.
The role holder will take a strategic oversight to the work of the various ensembles and work with freelancers to deliver the sessions. Within this role, you will direct two of the ensembles yourself and manage freelance artists to lead the other ensembles.
The work you enable to happen will respond to the Leeds Playhouse mission and programme, the priorities of our key partners and the emerging needs of the city. Therefore, you will work closely with our Artistic team to ensure the work of the ensembles are in line with the organisation’s overall artistic vision.
This is a full-time, permanent contract of 35 hours a week, with working pattern to be discussed with your manager. Pay for the role is £32,000 per year. Benefits at Leeds Playhouse include 5 weeks holiday entitlement (plus 1.6 weeks of bank holidays), that increases with length of continuous employment; 2 wellbeing days a year; discounts across our food and drinks, free show tickets and a local gym and swimming discount. Please see our job pack for more benefits we offer.
Before applying for the role, please read our job pack. This includes the full list of responsibilities, person specification and information about Leeds Playhouse.
To apply, please fill in both of the forms linked on our website listing by the deadline.
The closing date for applications is 5pm Sunday 16 August 2026.
Interviews are scheduled for the weeks commencing 17 August or 24 August.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ChildAid to Eastern Europe is a long-established Christian charity working with local partners across Eastern Europe to improve the lives of vulnerable children, young people, and families.
We are seeking an exceptional Director to lead the organisation into its next phase of growth and impact. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight and income generation to ensure the charity’s long-term sustainability.
This is a hands-on role, combining high-level strategy with day-to-day delivery. You will act as the public face of the charity, strengthen partner and donor relationships, and lead across fundraising, communications, operations and team development.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of the charity’s strategic vision.
- Develop and grow sustainable income streams.
- Oversee financial management, governance and compliance.
- Strengthen marketing, communications and organisational profile.
- Support programme delivery and partner relationships in Eastern Europe.
- Lead and develop a small team of staff and volunteers.
About you
We are looking for someone with:
- Senior leadership experience, ideally in the charity sector.
- A strong track record in fundraising or income generation.
- Proven financial and operational management skills.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building ability.
- Strategic thinking, combined with a practical, hands-on approach.
- A genuine commitment to the charity’s mission and values.
Additional information
This role carries an occupational requirement for the postholder to be a practising Christian, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Why join us?
Lead a respected charity with over 50 years of impact, shape future strategy and help transform the lives of vulnerable children and families.
ChildAid, a long-established Christian charity, works with local partners in Eastern Europe to improve the lives of children, young people & families
Charity Director
We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to guide a respected charity supporting people with life-limiting conditions, their families, carers and those affected by bereavement.
Salary: £45,000 pro rata (21 hours per week, FTE 35 hours)
Location: Dorking, Surrey - Office based with some flexibility
Hours: 21 hours per week
Closing Date: 14th August 2026
About the Role
This is a unique opportunity to lead a well-established and highly regarded charity that provides practical and emotional support to people living with life-limiting conditions, alongside their families, carers and those experiencing grief and bereavement.
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Charity Director will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation remains sustainable, effective and responsive to the needs of those it serves. You will lead a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, oversee service delivery, drive fundraising and income generation, and act as an ambassador for the charity across communities and stakeholder networks.
The role requires a leader who can balance strategic thinking with compassion, building strong relationships while ensuring the organisation delivers meaningful and measurable impact.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the development and delivery of the charity's strategic and operational plans.
- Providing inspirational leadership to staff and volunteers.
- Raising the profile of the organisation and building relationships with funders, supporters, partners and stakeholders.
- Overseeing the delivery of high-quality, person-centred services.
- Ensuring robust governance, compliance and risk management.
- Managing budgets and supporting the long-term financial sustainability of the charity.
- Leading and supporting fundraising activities, including grants, trusts, foundations and community initiatives.
- Monitoring organisational performance and reporting to the Board of Trustees.
- Supporting a culture that enables open, compassionate and respectful conversations around serious illness, death, dying and bereavement.
About You
You will be an experienced and emotionally intelligent leader with a track record of managing teams, developing services and delivering organisational objectives.
You will bring:
- Senior leadership experience within the charity, public, health, social care or not-for-profit sector.
- Strong financial management and budget oversight skills.
- Experience of stakeholder engagement, partnership development and income generation.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
- Knowledge of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.
- The ability to inspire, motivate and develop teams and volunteers.
- Emotional resilience and a genuine commitment to supporting people facing life-limiting illness, end-of-life issues and bereavement.
- Confidence and comfort working in an environment where conversations around death, dying, loss and grief are part of everyday practice.
About the Organisation
This long-established charity supports individuals living with life-limiting conditions, alongside their families, carers and those who have been bereaved. Through compassionate, relationship-based support, the organisation helps people navigate some of life's most challenging experiences with dignity, understanding and practical assistance.
Working closely with volunteers, healthcare professionals and community partners, the charity delivers services that reduce isolation, improve quality of life and provide vital support when it is needed most. With a strong reputation and ambitious plans for the future, the organisation is committed to extending its reach and impact across the communities it serves.
Other roles you may have experience of could include Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charity Chief Executive, Executive Director, Director of Operations, Head of Operations, Director of Services, Head of Services, Charity Manager, Managing Director, Hospice Director, Head of Charity Services, Director of Care Services, Non-Profit Director, Voluntary Sector Director, Community Services Director or Third Sector Leader.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Working Well Trust
Working Well Trust is a mental health and employment charity in London. All of our projects share the aim of improving the lives of people with mental health support needs, learning disabilities and/or complex issues through training and employment.
We are recruiting for a new Service Manager role to support Upskill, Employment Hub and Kingston Supported Employment services. This is a full-time, permanent role working 35 hours per week; we will consider applications for 28 hours/4 days.
What you’ll be doing
You will provide collaborative and motivational leadership, ensuring our services deliver agreed outcomes while maintaining a client-led approach.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Overseeing day-to-day operations and resolving issues as they arise.
- Leading service planning, implementation and delivery in line with contractual requirements.
- Building relationships with health, employment, community and funding partners.
- Monitoring contractual outcomes, delivery timescales, quality standards and key performance indicators.
- Representing Working Well Trust at contract performance meetings.
- Supporting Team Leads to develop performance and quality improvement plans.
- Using audits, reviews and client feedback to improve service quality.
- Working with the Finance Manager and budget holders to support effective budget management.
- Ensuring accurate data collection and completion of contract monitoring reports.
- Supporting staff wellbeing, occupational health cases, reasonable adjustments and effective attendance management.
- Providing senior management cover and supporting safeguarding and risk escalation.
- Recruiting, supervising and developing Team Leads alongside the HR Advisor.
- Promoting consistent induction, supervision, appraisal, training and continuous learning.
- Working with senior colleagues on organisational strategy, business planning, co-production and cross-service improvements.
What you’ll need
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Experience managing employment support, community or comparable services.
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Experience monitoring contracts, performance, quality and service outcomes.
- Confidence working with funders, partners and senior stakeholders.
- The ability to analyse data and use it to improve services.
- Sound judgement when managing wellbeing, performance, safeguarding and operational risk.
- A collaborative, organised and client-focused approach.
- Commitment to Working Well Trust’s values, policies and procedures.
What we offer
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30 days annual leave plus public holidays (FTE)
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Paid company closed days at the end of the year (FTE)
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Flexible, paid Wellbeing Hour every fortnight (FTE)
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6% employer pension contribution
Working Well Trust is an equal opportunities employer and Confident about Disabilities.
What’s next
Before you apply, please note the following:
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We actively recruit and carefully review all applications. Due to rapid service expansion, we have onboarded 20 external hires in the last six months.
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To ensure we can best support the people and communities we serve, we progress applications only where candidates provide meaningful answers to the screening questions.
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Career development is real here: in the past year, 10 colleagues have progressed internally into Senior roles, Project Lead, Team Lead, and Operations Manager positions. We value ambition and celebrate progression.
If you are ready to help us build a service that supports people into meaningful work, click Apply to submit your CV and answer the screening questions. Telephone and final interviews will be confirmed.
Start your application today and take the next step in a rewarding career.
Please upload your CV and answer the screening questions, the cover letter is an optional addition. Please make sure you have highlighted in your application how you meet the person specification for this position.
At Working Well Trust, our mission is to support people experiencing mental health challenges and/or are neurodiverse on their employment journey.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the role
The Academy runs some of the most valued grant schemes and development programmes in UK biomedical and health research. Springboard Awards help researchers establish their independence. Starter Grants keep talented clinicians in research alongside their clinical work. Leadership programmes like FLIER develop people who can work across academia, healthcare and industry to tackle real-world challenges, and alongside these sit opportunities to spend time working in industry, the NHS or government. Moving between sectors should be a normal part of a medical research career (it is not yet), and much of our work is built with that belief: a more connected and mobile workforce is better able to turn discovery into benefit. Between them, these schemes change the course of people's careers, and the research they enable reaches patients across the UK and beyond.
This role leads that portfolio. The heart of the job is excellent delivery: schemes that are well designed and well run, and that make a real difference to the people they reach. You will work closely with the Fellowship, whose expertise and generosity run through the whole portfolio, and you will make sure the schemes serve the whole of the medical sciences community (across the devolved nations and the regions, in industry as much as academia), not just those already inside the most established institutions. And science is global, so this work is too: the portfolio draws on evidence and partnerships from around the world, and the mentoring and networks around the people we support reach well beyond the UK.
Today much of the portfolio's focus is research talent and careers. That will always be a substantial part of the portfolio, but over time we plan to expand it further. That expansion could go in several directions, and what matters is that we are taking an evidence-based approach to ensure that our efforts are responding to what the medical sciences sector needs. Whatever we launch next, the same principles apply; good design, sound funding, proper governance and solid evaluation, with our effort concentrated where it delivers the most impact. So, the job is twofold: run today's portfolio brilliantly and build the future portfolio. It is a role where you can see your work land in people's lives, with real scope to shape what comes next. And none of it stands alone: what we learn from the people we fund sharpens our policy voice, the community our programmes build strengthens our engagement and public trust work, and insight flows back the other way to shape what we design next.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will share in the leadership of the Academy as a whole, working closely with the other directors: the Chief Operating Officer and the Directors of Policy, Communications and Engagement, and Translation and Enterprise. The relationship with Translation and Enterprise matters especially. That team will shape new partnerships and initiatives that your team is best placed to deliver, so the two of you will work in very close partnership.
What we are looking for
These are the six areas we will explore with candidates. They match the six parts of the role above, so you can read straight across — and your supporting statement can follow the same structure if that helps. We do not expect anyone to arrive with every part fully formed, but the strongest candidates will be convincing across most of them.
1. Excellent delivery
A strong track record of running grant schemes or of significant programmatic delivery. Much of this is operational: holding an annual cycle to time and budget, catching problems early and getting stuck things moving again. It is also about making sure the portfolio adds up to a coherent whole rather than a collection of separate schemes, with the governance discipline — sound contracts, clean compliance, rigorous oversight — that sits behind delivery done well.
2. Building partnerships and negotiating well
A track record of building and sustaining partnerships with funders, delivery organisations and industry, and the skill and pace to turn them into agreements where appropriate. We will want to hear how you have handled a complex negotiation and brought it to a close. The Chief Operating Officer leads the Academy’s income strategy, so we will also explore how you develop partners in concert with colleagues.
3. Range and credibility across the community
This role runs from Fellows (some of the most eminent scientists in the country) to researchers at the very start of their careers, and from government and funders to industry partners. We are looking for someone with the range to work well across all of them, and the credibility to be taken seriously at every level. We will also explore how you have widened access and drawn talent in from beyond the usual places.
4. A focus on impact
A commitment to looking at what difference the portfolio you lead makes. We are looking for someone who treats evaluation as a source of learning and uses what it shows to decide what the Academy should do next, keeping sight of the people and patients the work is for.
5. Leading and empowering people
A brilliant leader of people: someone who gets the best from a talented team by giving them space and ownership, backing them with real support and coaching, and building a culture where people thrive and develop.
6. Collective leadership
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you would share responsibility for the Academy as a whole, not only your own directorate. We want someone who takes that seriously, brings challenge where it is needed, backs colleagues when it counts, and helps make the Academy a brilliant place to work.
Benefits
We offer a competitive and evolving benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and work–life balance, including:
- Competitive salary and pension
- 26 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Option to buy or sell annual leave
- Additional paid closure between Christmas and New Year
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Health, wellbeing and employee support programmes
- Cycle-to-work scheme and everyday benefits
- Structured learning and development
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave
- Enhanced occupational sick pay
For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button.
Closing date for completed applications: Midday on Monday 17 August 2026.
First interviews will be held 25-26 August 2026 with the CEO, Roz Campion, and the COO, James Lawrence, and focused on two competencies – leadership and delivery.
Second interviews will be held on 1 September 2026 with an external panel.
Who we are
Sabre Education is an international NGO which, since 2004, has been providing children in Ghana with the best possible early childhood education by partnering with government to implement play-based learning at scale. Sabre focuses on:
Influencing early childhood education (ECE) policy & practice.
Training teachers and school officials in quality early childhood education.
Transforming learning environments to facilitate positive play-based learning.
Sabre has directly trained more than 6,000 teachers and over 700 Ghana Education Service officials, transforming the early years education of more than 361,000 children through high-quality play-based learning. Our teacher training model has been successfully piloted and replicated across 17 districts in Ghana, with partners extending its reach to a further 48 districts.
Building on this success, the Ghana Government is now scaling play-based learning to every public kindergarten in the country, with Sabre as a technical assistance partner, training around 29,000 teachers and reaching an estimated 1.2 million children each year.
Sabre’s new 2026–2029 strategy builds on these achievements by expanding its impact to other countries across sub-Saharan Africa, sharing Ghana’s experience of successfully scaling play-based learning nationwide. Alongside this expansion, Sabre will continue its work in Ghana, implementing a bold early childhood education system-strengthening strategy in close partnership with the government and wider sector stakeholders.
About the role
This is a senior strategic position within the organisation, sitting on the senior leadership team, reporting to the CEO and working closely with colleagues across the UK and Ghana.
As the Director of Fundraising and Communications, you will lead on strengthening and building relationships with Sabre’s growing portfolio of key funders, including trusts, foundations, institutional and corporate donors. Working with leadership and the team, you will also deepen the charity’s profile, reputation and brand.
Key responsibilities include:
- Nurture excellent relationships with Sabre’s current donor community.
- Work with the fundraising team proactively to attract, cultivate, secure and steward grant funders.
- Work with the Senior Fundraising Manager to identify, cultivate and secure new institutional multi-year grants.
- Work closely with the CEO and SLT to develop other income streams when strategically beneficial.
- Provide strategic leadership for all of Sabre’s communications, profile-building and marketing agendas.
- Lead, develop and manage the fundraising and communications team of four.
- Contribute to the organisation’s overall strategic mission as a member of the SLT.
Who we are looking for
This is a leadership role for someone with a proven track record as a senior fundraiser with considerable experience in trusts, foundations and institutional funding and team management. Crucially, you will be passionate about our work in early years education and motivated by the opportunity to shape our fundraising and communications work.
We are also seeking someone with:
- Experience developing and implementing a growth fundraising strategy.
- Strong experience writing technical proposals.
- Outstanding leadership, mentoring and team-building abilities.
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility and dedication.
Sabre Education is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where individual differences and contributions are truly recognised and valued.
We offer a range of inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement opportunities and other methods to support staff from different backgrounds.
Sabre is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.
Switchback is an award-winning charity supporting young men to live life differently after prison. As we launch our next strategic plan to grow our impact even further, we are looking for a new Director of Finance and Operations who can bring both strategic thinking and hands-on operational expertise to help us turn our ambitions into reality.
The Director of Finance and Operations is a key role in the leadership team of a dynamic charity making a real difference in young people’s lives. Managing a small team, you’ll have responsibility for a range of essential business functions central to Switchback’s success as a charity: financial and business planning, HR processes, infrastructure (including IT), governance, risk management and compliance.
You’ll also support our business development and strategic partnership-building, helping us tap into exciting new areas of income and impact, including our plans to share our learning through training and consultancy.
Crucially, you’ll oversee and develop our systems and processes in a way that protects Switchback’s agile and human working culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a central role helping Switchback achieve our aims of reaching more young men while inspiring change across the justice system and beyond.
The right candidate will have great strategic judgement, proven financial and business acumen, practical knowledge of operations and good governance, and a strong understanding of creating and leading high-performing teams.
You will have a collaborative approach to working with colleagues and trustees, enjoying getting stuck into the day-to-day business of running a growing charity, as well as the ability to bring in new external partnerships and contractual relationships that serve our commitment to providing real opportunities for our Trainees.
You will be driven to achieve great value for money and use smart processes to enable others to do their best work for a vital social cause.
As well as technical expertise, this role acts as a key sounding board for the CEO and Leadership Team, so you’ll also bring excellent listening skills and the confidence to act as a thinking partner across both strategic and operational issues. As a member of the Leadership Team, you’ll also model our values in the way you work, collaborate and communicate.
If you are interested in using your proven financial and operations management skills to contribute to our exciting next chapter, we’d love to hear from you. In return we can offer the opportunity to work in an organisation with a strong history of personal and strategic impact, where each day you will witness the incredible steps that our Trainees make to change their lives.
We support young men to find a way out of the justice system and build a stable, rewarding life they can be proud of.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to recruit a Director of Finance on a permanent basis. This is a rare opportunity to join a globally influential organisation at a pivotal point in its growth, leading the transformation of the finance function whilst helping drive the organisation's ambitious mission to eliminate avoidable sight loss worldwide.
This is far more than a traditional Finance Director role. The successful candidate will inherit a finance function ready for transformation, with the full backing of an ambitious Senior Leadership Team committed to investing in modern systems, stronger processes and strategic financial leadership. It is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious finance leader looking to make their first move into a Director position, whilst remaining close to the operational detail and leading meaningful organisational change.
The role
- Partner with the Deputy CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape the organisation's financial strategy and support the delivery of its ambitious three-year strategic plan.
- Lead the transformation of the finance function, moving from manual, spreadsheet-led reporting to streamlined systems, efficient processes and insightful business partnering.
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, including scenario modelling to support significant organisational growth and major international funding opportunities.
- Deliver high-quality management reporting for the Executive Team, Finance & Audit Committee, Board of Trustees and major international funders.
- Lead the production of statutory accounts, oversee the annual audit process and ensure full compliance with Charity Commission, Companies House and tax requirements.
- Develop robust financial controls, policies and governance frameworks that support a growing international charity.
- Manage treasury activities, cashflow and foreign currency exposure across an increasingly global operation.
- Build strong relationships with budget holders across the organisation, embedding a proactive and commercially minded finance business partnering culture.
- Lead, develop and mentor a small finance team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
- Play a key leadership role in organisational decision-making, helping ensure finance is viewed as an enabling function that supports innovation and impact.
The organisation
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is the only global alliance dedicated to eliminating the world's avoidable vision crisis. Representing NGOs, professional associations, hospitals, academic institutions, corporations and philanthropies, IAPB works to influence policy, mobilise investment and strengthen health systems across the world.
The organisation has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding to over 50 staff and securing substantial new investment to support its ambitious global agenda. This includes convening the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026, bringing together heads of government, multilateral organisations and major funders to accelerate progress towards ending avoidable sight loss for the 1.1 billion people currently living without access to the eye care they need.
With strong leadership, genuine investment in organisational development and a culture built around being ambitious, collaborative, inclusive and strategic, IAPB offers an outstanding opportunity to shape both the finance function and the future direction of the organisation.
Essential criteria
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Experience working within an international charity.
- Strong understanding of charity finance, including restricted funding, grant reporting and Charity SORP.
- Demonstrable experience producing high-quality financial reporting, budgeting and statutory accounts.
- Experience improving financial systems, controls and reporting processes.
- Proven ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, trustees and non-finance colleagues.
- Strong leadership skills, with experience developing and supporting finance teams.
- Commercial mindset with the ability to translate financial information into strategic insight.
- Excellent communication skills, with confidence presenting complex financial information to a range of audiences.
Apply now
This is a permanent, full-time position with a salary of £87,000 based on a hybrid working model requiring one day per week in the London office, typically on Tuesdays.
The role offers an excellent benefits package, including a 10% employer pension contribution, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working, enhanced family leave policies and an Employee Assistance Programme.
IAPB is the premier eye health body which brings together a unique network of members and membership bodies from across the world.


Thames Reach is one of London’s leading homelessness charities, working to end street homelessness and help the people we support to find and sustain a decent home, build supportive relationships and lead a fulfilling life.
We are seeking a Director of Operations to take on a new senior strategic leadership role that will play a key part in the future direction and long-term sustainability of the organisation.
As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will work collectively with the Chief Executive and Director of Services to provide organisational leadership, contributing to strategic direction and operational effectiveness.
You will be accountable for ensuring the organisation has effective infrastructure, people and financial sustainability. You will oversee and provide integration across all non-service operational areas, holding overall responsibility for Finance, People, Data, IT, Property & Facilities, and Thames Reach Housing, our Registered Provider subsidiary.
You will act as a primary point of organisational assurance to the Chief Executive, SMT and Board on operational sustainability, risk and compliance.
Key priorities include providing organisational stewardship of finance, overseeing the transformation and effective operation of digital, data and technology systems, and championing continuous improvement in organisational capability, leadership and ways of working.
Director of Operations Thames Reach
Salary: circa £92,000 per annum
Directorate: Central Operations
About you
We are seeking a leader with a strong collaborative leadership style, with a commitment to collective responsibility and organisational leadership. You will bring:
- Senior strategic leadership experience in a complex organisation, with responsibility for multiple operational and enabling functions.
- Strong financial acumen, including the ability to oversee budgets, interpret financial data and communicate financial matters clearly to senior leaders and Trustees.
- Experience of organisational change, transformation and continuous improvement.
- Experience of governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to operate credibly at Board and Committee level.
- Ability to operate effectively within a regulated environment, including building an understanding of the requirements of the Regulator of Social Housing.
- Extensive experience of managing multiple projects and critical decision making.
Crucially, you will demonstrate a clear commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and to furthering our mission of ending street homelessness.
How to Apply
For further information, to access the appointment brief and to apply to this role, please click on the Redirect button.
Recruitment timeline
Application deadline: 9th August
Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 24th August & w/c 31st August
Interviews with Thames Reach: 18th September
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of Operations & Organisational Effectiveness is responsible for leadingUbele's operational infrastructure and ensuring the organisation has the systems,processes, people, governance and resources required to operate effectively andsustainably.
As a member of the management board, the postholder will work closely with thecurrent CEO and colleagues across the organisation to strengthen organisationaleffectiveness, improve operational performance and create the conditions forsuccessful programme delivery and long-term organisational resilience.
The role will provide leadership across operations, governance, finance oversight,people management, compliance, organisational planning and businessimprovement, ensuring that Ubele's operational foundations support its mission,values and ambitions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational leadership and organisational effectiveness
Lead the development and continuous improvement of organisational systems,processes and operational practices.
Drive organisational effectiveness through improved planning, coordination,accountability and performance management.
Ensure effective operational planning and resource allocation across theorganisation.
Establish and embed clear operational frameworks, policies and procedures
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen delivery and enhanceorganisational performance.
Lead organisational improvement initiatives and support the implementation ofchange programmes where required.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and accountability.
People, culture and performance
Provide leadership for organisational people practices, ensuring effectiveworkforce planning, employee engagement and performance management.
Support managers to develop high-performing and inclusive teams.
Ensure HR policies, procedures and employment practices are effectivelyimplemented.
Lead organisational approaches to performance management, learning andprofessional development.
Contribute to the development of a positive organisational culture that reflectsUbele's values and commitment to equity and inclusion.
Support organisational wellbeing and employee engagement initiatives.
Finance, risk and governance
Work closely with the Finance Lead and CEO to ensure robust financialmanagement, planning and reporting arrangements are in place.
Support the development and monitoring of organisational budgets and financialcontrols.
Ensure effective governance processes are maintained and support high-qualityreporting to the Board.
Lead the development and maintenance of organisational risk managementframeworks.
Oversee organisational compliance with legal, regulatory and statutoryrequirements.
Ensure organisational policies are regularly reviewed, updated and implemented.
Coordinate internal and external audits and compliance reviews.
Programme operations and organisational delivery
Support effective organisational planning and delivery across programmes,projects and services.
Develop systems and processes that enable effective programme management,monitoring and reporting.
Ensure organisational resources are aligned to operational priorities and deliveryrequirements.
Oversee organisational performance reporting and management informationsystems.
Support cross-organisational collaboration and effective communication betweenteams.
Ensure grant, contract and reporting obligations are effectively monitored andfulfilled.
Assets, infrastructure and compliance
Provide operational oversight of Ubele's facilities, assets and organisationalinfrastructure, including supporting Wolves Lane leadership and other operationalresources.
Ensure effective management of suppliers, contractors and operational serviceproviders.
Oversee health and safety, safeguarding, data protection and organisationalcompliance arrangements.
Ensure business continuity and organisational resilience plans are maintained andregularly reviewed.
Maintain appropriate systems and controls to support safe, compliant andeffective operations.
External relationships and organisational representation
Develop effective relationships with operational partners, suppliers, funders andstakeholders as required.
Contribute operational insight and expertise to partnership discussions andorganisational initiatives.
Represent Ubele on operational, governance and organisational matters whereappropriate.
Support the CEO and management board through the provision of high-qualityoperational information, analysis and recommendations.
Person Specification
Skills
Operational leadership skills, with the ability to drive organisational effectivenessand continuous improvement.
Planning, prioritisation and organisational skills.
People management and leadership skills, including the ability to develop andsupport teams.
Ability to analyse information and use data to support decision-making andperformance improvement.
Financial and commercial awareness.
Communication, influencing and relationship management skills.
Ability to build productive working relationships with colleagues, Board members,partners, funders and external stakeholders.
Problem-solving skills and the ability to identify practical solutions toorganisational challenges.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work within a dynamic and evolvingenvironment.
Report writing, presentation and analytical skills.
Experience
Experience in a senior operational leadership role within a charity, socialenterprise, CIC, public sector or similarly complex organisation.
Experience leading organisational operations, systems, processes and businessimprovement initiatives.
Experience managing organisational change and embedding new ways ofworking.
Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams.
Experience overseeing organisational budgets, financial controls and resourceplanning.
Experience supporting governance arrangements and working with Boards andSenior Leadership Teams.
Experience developing and implementing organisational policies, procedures andoperational frameworks.
Experience overseeing risk management, compliance and organisationalassurance processes.
Experience managing contracts, suppliers and operational resources.
Experience supporting the delivery of programmes, projects and services within acomplex organisational environment.
Knowledge
Knowledge of governance, compliance and risk management frameworks.
Knowledge of financial management principles, budgeting and performancereporting.
Knowledge of employment legislation and people management practices.
Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and organisationalcompliance requirements.
Knowledge of organisational development and continuous improvementapproaches.
Understanding of the operational challenges and opportunities facing charities,CICs and social enterprises.
Understanding of equity, inclusion and community-centred approaches toorganisational leadership.
Understanding of the social, economic and structural issues affecting AfricanDiaspora communities and community-led organisations.
Knowledge of grant-funded and contract-funded operating environments.
This role involves responsibility for socially impactful and occasionally emotionallydemanding work. A commitment to wellbeing, reflective leadership, and resilience isessential.
A DBS check may be required depending on Ubele’s programmes.
This job description may evolve as Ubele continues its organisational development.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.


