Head of infrastructure jobs in Manchester
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About Us
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of parents, children, providers, early years professionals and the wider business community, working together for investment and reform of early education and childcare in England.
We believe that we all benefit from a well-functioning early education system and we all have a role to play in ensuring it works for children, parents and the economy.
We are backed by some of the most high-profile campaign and research organisations in the UK. Our members span providers, parent groups, trade unions, the business community and NGOs. Together, we use our collective voice and research to build public and political support for change.
This is an exciting time to join the Coalition. We have experienced significant growth in recent years and, with early years firmly on the political agenda, we expect this to continue.
About the role
- Hours: 30 hours per week (this can be worked over 4 or 5 days). We will consider other working patterns with a minimum of 3.5 days per week worked over 4.
- Duration: Two-year contract, renewed subject to funding
- Location: Home-working, can be based anywhere in the country
- Salary: c. £53,820 per annum FTE (£43,056 pro-rata for 4 days)
We are a remote team, with most colleagues based outside London. This role will support the whole organisation and requires occasional in-person meetings such as in-person team planning days which you will be expected to travel to.
We work flexibly and understand the realities of balancing work with caring commitments. We trust you to manage your time, but expect most hours to be worked within core office hours. To support effective remote working, all staff work on Thursdays.
This is a senior, cross-cutting leadership role sitting at the heart of the organisation. You will lead on operations, finance, HR and organisational systems, while working closely with the Executive Director and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Board to ensure the Coalition is sustainable, well-run, and set up for growth and impact.
About You
You are an experienced operations leader with a strong track record of building and running effective organisational systems, ideally within a charity, social impact or policy environment.
You are equally comfortable developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to deliver. You bring strong financial and organisational management skills, and are motivated by enabling high-impact teams to thrive.
You have experience working at senior leadership level and are confident operating across a small, fast-paced organisation where priorities can shift quickly. You are a systems thinker who can spot gaps, create structure, and improve how things work.
What You Can Expect to Be Doing
Function leadership
- Work as part of the Senior Leadership Team
- Contribute to organisational strategy, planning and growth
- Support organisational decision-making, balancing operational, financial and strategic priorities
Develop operations and organisational systems
- Oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, ensuring efficient and effective operations
- Develop and implement systems, processes and policies to support a scaling organisation
- Take ownership of organisational infrastructure (e.g. CRM, internal systems, workflows)
- Improve internal coordination, planning and ways of working across functions
Financial management and sustainability
- Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including reporting, invoicing and payments
- Support organisational financial planning, forecasting and scenario modelling
- Work with external accountants/bookkeepers and ensure strong financial controls
- Support the Executive Director and Board on financial governance and decision-making
People management
- Ensure the organisation has robust HR systems in place, ensuring they reflect changes in legislation, support staff wellbeing and development and foster an inclusive and positive culture
- Lead recruitment, onboarding and staff contracts
- Support performance management, team development and organisational culture
Programme and contract management
- Oversee operational delivery of programmes and projects
- Manage funder agreements and contracts, ensuring compliance and reporting
- Support programme leads with planning, delivery tracking and coordination
- Strengthen systems for delivery and accountability
Governance and organisational support
- Support effective governance, including Board coordination and reporting
- Ensure strong administration of meetings, papers and decision-making processes
- Strengthen alignment between governance, strategy and operations
Cross-organisational leadership
- Act as a central coordination point across policy, campaigns, research and communications
- Support other heads of function to deliver effectively through strong operational systems
- Identify and address organisational capacity gaps, particularly in admin, finance and infrastructure
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience of working at senior leadership level
- Strong experience in operations and financial management
- Experience establishing or improving systems and organisational infrastructure
- Experience of HR processes and people management
- Experience supporting governance and working with senior stakeholders
- Ability to operate effectively in a small, fast-paced and growing organisation
- Strong organisational, problem-solving and communication skills
Desirable
- Experience in a charity, coalition, membership or policy organisation
- Experience supporting organisational growth or scaling
- Experience managing CRMs or digital systems
- While not essential, we would welcome applications from candidate who have either a HR or a financial qualification i.e. CIPD qualified or AAT qualification or similar level of experience and knowledg
The application process
Please apply with a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) by the listed closing date. No agencies please. We recognise that the use of AI technologies can be useful in reducing the work that goes into job-hunting, however, we kindly request that you use your cover letter to evidence that you have understood the requirements of the role and provide examples of how you can meet the criteria.
The EECC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We use anonymous recruiting during the application process and we use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to disability or race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the disabled or Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidate in order to diversify our staff team.
We regret that our small team does not have capacity to respond to unsuccessful applicants individually.
Timeline
- Closing date: 23:30, Thursday 11th June
- Notified for interview by: Tuesday 16th June
- Interviews: We expect this to be a two-stage interview process with first interviews held on either 24th or 25th June and second stage interviews arranged an agreed time.
Working together for an early education and childcare sector that delivers for our children, for parents, and for the economy.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join us at an exciting time in our journey to improve lives through the sport of boccia and help to lead development of the most inclusive sport in England.
The Partnership and Infrastructure Manager will focus on driving participation growth within communities by working in partnership with key stakeholders, including Leisure providers, Active Partnerships, and National charities, to create inclusive and sustainable opportunities.
Purpose of the Job
· To develop and expand the boccia community infrastructure, increasing access and participation.
· To build and strengthen strategic partnerships that create more opportunities for people to play boccia.
· To coordinate and deliver the implementation of Boccia England’s action plans within key place-based locations.
As Partnerships and Infrastructure Manager you will play a central part supporting the organisation and ensuring we offer great service and care to the boccia community.
We are looking for someone who can make a positive contribution to our charity and use their experience and skills to support our work. The ideal candidate will be passionate about making a real difference and bring new ideas for our processes and services.
Accountability and Objectives of the role
Strategic Focus
- Support the co-ordination and delivery of agreed operational plans and programme by providing quarterly reports on performance against the targets in the annual delivery plan, for the board and key stakeholders.
- Drive the development of boccia delivery in key regions, aligned with Sport England place-based investment priorities.
- Collect, collate and report data, insight and learning related to the delivery of the Boccia
England operational plan
- Support the implementation of the People Plan for our external workforce at a local level where identified
- Work with colleagues to secure new funding to resource the development and growth of boccia in regions.
Relationship Building – Lead the initiation and development of a nationwide regional community boccia infrastructure model.
- Develop and manage a network of key partners to create opportunities that connect, engage, and empower physically disabled people and wider communities through a range of Boccia initiatives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key identified partners to ensure Boccia England maximizes the opportunities to grow the sport of boccia
- Plan, promote, and deliver engagement events such as the Big Boccia Conversation, creating opportunities for partners and stakeholders to network, share ideas, and explore ways to increase participation in Boccia and disability sport.
- Collaborate with colleagues to establish new clubs, strengthen school engagement, and ensure the sustainability of participation growth.
Programme Development
- Promote and support the delivery of Try Boccia, providing partners with the tools, resources, and guidance required to deliver inclusive Boccia sessions across a range of community settings
- Support the development of local and regional Boccia communities, building their capacity to deliver sustainable participation opportunities across clubs and Try Boccia sites.
- Deliver a roadmap of initiatives across key locations to drive participation through a range of Boccia programmes.
Finance and Budget Management - Ensure effective processes are in place to manage and report on budgets.
- Coordinate annual budget planning and monitoring of performance against budgets.
- Effectively manage and monitor the specific budgets for participation and development programmes, with clear means of measuring progress.
- With the senior leadership team, ensure the preparation of relevant and appropriate quarterly financial reports to the Board.
EDI and Safeguarding
- Promote and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion across all aspects of work. Ensure accessibility and inclusive practices are integrated into all working processes, creating a workplace and culture that is welcoming, equitable, and representative of all communities.
- Promote the safety, welfare, and well-being of everyone to ensure full compliance with safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Report all safeguarding concerns in line with policies and legislation.
- Foster a safe, inclusive, and protective environment for all within Boccia Englands workplace and community
General Requirements
- Manage own workload effectively.
- Be committed to continuous improvement.
- Provide excellent and timely customer service with both internal and external communications.
- Use and share knowledge and expertise to promote boccia and develop Boccia England.
- Be an advocate for Boccia England and the sport of boccia.
- support the wider Boccia England team to ensure business objectives are achieved
- Any other tasks or responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the Head of Sport and commensurate with the responsibilities of the post.
For further details of the role please access the Job Descripton by visiting the Boccia England website under the careers section.
To create positive, engaging and accessible opportunities for physically disabled people to play boccia.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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.
Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter.
Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth.
We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values.
This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact.
As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.