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Job Title: Head of Business Operations
Salary: £40,000 per annum (£32,000 per annum pro rata) + 10% company pension on successful completion of probation
Contract: Permanent
Base: The Brain Charity, Norton Street, Liverpool, L3 8LR
Hours: Part Time - 30 hours per week
Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: 4
Summary of Role
The Head of Business Operations will play a key leadership role within The Brain Charity, leading and overseeing the effective and safe delivery of a range of business and operational activities. This includes responsibility for premises management, health and safety, data protection compliance, ICT systems, and operational services such as room hire and café provision.
Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and senior colleagues, the role will ensure that systems, processes and services run efficiently, meet regulatory requirements, and support the charity’s wider objectives. The postholder will also lead on continuous improvement, oversee operational performance, manage budgets and commercial activities, and develop sustainable income-generating services that support people living with neurological conditions.
Key Responsibilities
Management of Physical Assets
- Hold responsibility for the organisation’s assets register.
- Ensure that all buildings owned by the organisation and their fixtures and fittings are maintained to a high standard in a cost-effective way.
Health & Safety, Security & Business Continuity
- Provide leadership and assurance on the effectiveness of Health & Safety controls across the organisation.
- Ensure the safe, secure and continuous operation of the charity’s premises, including oversight of access arrangements, security controls, and incident response.
- Ensure Health & Safety and food safety policies are in place, effectively implemented, embedded into day-to-day operations, and consistently monitored to maintain full compliance across all operational activities.
- Ensure statutory checks, monitoring activities and remedial actions are completed, documented and reviewed in line with regulatory requirements.
- Maintain organisational readiness for incidents affecting premises safety, security, or continuity of service delivery, and act as the designated Deputy within the Business Continuity Plan, carrying out responsibilities in line with the defined scope and actions of the plan.
- Act as a designated security key holder and first point of contact for premises alarm activations and building security incidents, ensuring appropriate timely response and escalation.
Data Protection & GDPR
- Support and contribute to ensuring compliance with GDPR and data protection legislation across the organisation.
- Support the CEO and senior leadership team in meeting data protection responsibilities, including compliance reporting and engagement with the ICO and Subject Access Requests where required.
ICT, Digital & Systems Oversight
- Provide oversight of ICT infrastructure, Microsoft 365 accounts and CRM systems, ensuring they support operational and business objectives.
- Produce and present quarterly reports covering ICT performance, KPIs, system risks and improvement activity.
- Manage supplier relationships and contracts for IT support services, including due diligence, contract management and renewal.
- Support ICT and CRM development initiatives in line with organisational priorities.
- Ensure compliance with Cyber Essentials requirements and oversee the organisation’s cyber security posture.
Operational Management
- Take responsibility for improving the performance, productivity, efficiency, and profitability of the café, room hire services.
- Work collaboratively with the Communications Team to support the promotion and advertising of business activities, including room hire and café services.
- Lead and manage facilities refurbishment and improvement projects, ensuring they are delivered safely, on time and within budget.
- Oversee contractor engagement ensuring compliance with Health & Safety and contractual requirements during works.
- Ensure appropriate insurance policies are in place, regularly reviewed and maintained in line with organisational risk exposure.
- Act as the operational lead for insurance-related matters, including renewals and claims support.
- Support the CEO and Trustee Board with financial matters relating to business activities as required.
- Monitor and analyse business data, producing reports and delivering presentations to senior management and the trustee board.
Financial Management
- Set and manage budgets for existing product and service delivery.
- Forecast sales targets and monitor progress against these.
- Support the CEO and Trustee Board with financial matters related to business activities as required.
People Management
- Take responsibility for being up to date with the charity’s current policies and procedures and ensure they are adhered to by all staff within your department.
- Monitor, performance manage and improve the efficiency of all direct reports.
- Support the professional development of all direct reports.
- Provide ongoing and regular formal supervision through the organisation’s supervision and appraisal framework.
- Motivate staff to achieve their KPIs through quality controls.
- Monitor, train and support all volunteers.
- Delegate tasks to achieve the overall aims of the organisation in line with own responsibilities.
- Contribute to The Brain Charity management rota when required.
Other
- Take responsibility for being up to date with the charity’s current policies and procedures and to adhere to these.
- Actively support promotional and fundraising events for The Brain Charity, attending a minimum of 1 fundraising or client-focussed event over the course of a year.
- Assist and support volunteers within the team as and when required.
- Carry out any other reasonable tasks which may be required by the charity from time to time.
- Regularly provide cover for all aspects of the department you belong to during any absence relating to your colleagues.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
WORKING WITH US
The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.
ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY
A rare opportunity to lead communications and brand for one of the UK’s leading education trusts.
As Head of Communications and Brand at the Harris Federation, you will shape and protect our public profile, leading strategic communications, marketing and media activity across a network of 55 academies.
Reporting to the CEO, you will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, driving brand consistency, overseeing high impact campaigns, and leading digital, PR and internal communications to support pupil recruitment, staff attraction and organisational growth. You will also build and lead a high performing MarComms function and manage external agency partnerships.
This is a pivotal leadership role where you’ll bring the Harris story to life - showcasing our impact, strengthening our reputation, and helping us navigate sector challenges with clarity and credibility.
If you are a senior communications leader with a strong track record in brand, digital and stakeholder engagement, and are passionate about making a difference to young people’s futures - we’d love to hear from you.
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Your responsibilities will include:
Strategic Leadership & Executive Advisory
- Develop and lead the Federation’s external communications and brand strategy at the highest level, ensuring coherence across all academies and central services.
- Act as an adviser to the CEO and executive team on internal and external communications.
Brand Leadership
- Own and embed the Federation’s brand identity, values, and visual standards across all academies and external channels.
- Own and embed brand guidelines, tone of voice, and messaging across all channels to ensure consistency.
External Campaigns & Growth Marketing
- Create comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that align with the Federations aims and increase brand awareness.
- Own and develop high impact external campaigns to support pupil recruitment, reputation and trust building, staff recruitment (in collaboration with Talent Acquisition), and new academy expansions.
MarComms Directorate Leadership
- Build and lead a high performing Marketing & Communications Directorate.
- Set long-term capability requirements and lead workforce planning as the function scales.
For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media or related field.
- Professional Marketing qualification (CIM or equivalent)
- Evidence of CPD in digital marketing, SEO, or communications.
- Significant experience in marketing, communications, or digital strategy.
- Experience managing brand identity and external communications
- Experience in education, charity or public sector.
- Strong understanding of digital marketing, SEO, Analytics, and social media best practice.
- Excellent written and communication skills.
- Strong design awareness and understanding of visual identity.
- Proficiency with CMS platforms, social media tools, and analytics software.
For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.
APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION
If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.
Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.
When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.
A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.
OUR VISION & VALUES
Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.
We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:
- Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
- Annual performance and loyalty bonus
- Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
- 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
- Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
- Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
- Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
- Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
- 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
- Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans
For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.
