Head of operations jobs

Head of Alumni Engagement & Operations with Kingston University
£60,996 (negotiable) | Full-time (37 hours) | Hybrid working | Kingston upon Thames
 

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Kingston University to recruit their next Head of Alumni Engagement & Operations.

Kingston University has spent over 125 years transforming lives through education, innovation and opportunity. With TEF Gold recognition across the board, and a Town House Strategy that's rewriting what a modern education looks like, we are focused on helping students develop the skills, networks and experiences to thrive throughout their careers. Integral to this ambition is our global community of more than 280,000 alumni, who's futures have been shaped by the university.

As Head of Alumni Engagement & Operation, part of the senior leadership team of our Development, Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE) team, you will help us build lifelong relationships with our alumni to support future growth and success.

About the role:

We have a 3-year strategy in place to develop alumni engagement, increase participation and embed philanthropy more deeply across the University, with full support of senior leadership across the board. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our growing team and work with senior stakeholders across the University, to champion the role alumni can play in student success, employability, mentoring, partnerships and philanthropy, and develop a lifelong alumni offer.

Reporting in to the Director of DARE, you'll lead a broad portfolio including alumni communications, events, volunteering, individual giving, CRM, data insight and operational delivery.

About you:

We're looking for someone who understands the power of communities and relationships.

This is a broad leadership role spanning alumni engagement, communications, volunteering, individual giving, CRM, data insight and operational delivery. While experience within alumni relations or advancement in higher education would be valuable, we're equally interested in hearing from candidates from the charity, membership, fundraising, supporter engagement or relationship management sectors. What matters most is your ability to build communities, create meaningful engagement opportunities, use insight to drive decision-making and inspire people to connect with a shared purpose.

You'll be strategic enough to shape the future direction of alumni engagement at Kingston, whilst remaining hands-on enough to build relationships, spot opportunities and bring colleagues and stakeholders with you.

You'll bring:

• Experience developing and delivering successful alumni engagement, advancement, membership, supporter engagement or relationship-management programmes.

• A track record of building communities, growing participation and creating meaningful engagement opportunities
• Strong leadership skills and experience developing high-performing teams
• Confidence using insight, data and CRM systems to inform strategy and decision-making
• Experience overseeing communications, events, volunteering, supporter engagement or related activities
• An understanding of how long-term relationships can lead to advocacy, mentoring, volunteering, partnerships and giving

Most importantly, you'll believe that alumni engagement is about much more than communications and events. You'll be excited by the opportunity to help graduates become mentors, volunteers, advocates, partners and lifelong supporters of the University.

Benefits include

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Excellent pension scheme
• Hybrid working (with a minimum of 50% of time spent on campus)
• Access to professional development opportunities
• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• The opportunity to shape a high-profile function at one of London's leading universities

Key Dates:

• Closing date: 9th September 2026 - we encourage not delaying your application.
• Interviews: 28th and 30th September 2026 (in person)

How to apply

Charity People are managing this search on behalf of Kingston University.

In the first instance, please send your CV to Glen at Charity People. If your profile matches what we're looking for, we'll be in touch with the full candidate pack and further details about the recruitment process.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. Please inform us if you require any assistance or adjustment to help ensure the application process works for you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Title: Head of Operations

Responsible to: CEO

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 - £48,000 FT (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden, NW10 2JR; Haringey borough (including Hornsey, N8 9LP and Tottenham Hale, N17 9FU) + other locations if required

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: Enhanced DBS check will be required

JOB OVERVIEW

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? Do you want to use your operational management experience to have a tangible impact in the community? This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced team leader looking to take on a meaningful new career challenge to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Head of Operations.

The Head of Operations oversees all of BIAS’s projects, managing a small, high-performing team of project coordinators and frontline advice and community-support staff to ensure that we provide the highest-quality service to our clients. You will need to have demonstrable team-management experience, strong people and communication skills, and a willingness to take a hands-on approach to project delivery, along with excellent organisational and strategic abilities to ensure that projects are delivered sustainably, effectively and efficiently.

In 2025, BIAS expanded its successful Brent-based advice service and active ageing clubs into Haringey borough. The Head of Operations will take the lead on further building and developing the new services in Haringey, ensuring that we replicate our excellent quality of service, strong record of positive outcomes and loyal service-user base.

This is a key role within the BIAS senior leadership team, which will give you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the organisation’s future strategy and direction.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

Staff management

• Manage a team of five project coordinators and five front-line staff to ensure effective delivery and monitoring of BIAS’s core welfare and housing advice, active ageing, volunteering and befriending projects, which support over 900 people per year.
• Manage HR procedures, including employment contracts, probation assessment, leave administration, staff supervision, performance management and exit procedures.
• Conduct recruitment procedures where needed, and supervise the onboarding process for new joiners.
• Oversee training and development needs and budgets.
• Ensure good teamwork and lines of communication between staff, including by chairing regular staff meetings.
• Create a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are promoted and staff can do their best.

Project management

• Project-manage the further development of new advice and active ageing services in Haringey borough.
• Take the lead on promotion and marketing of BIAS’s services, including by representing the charity to partner organisations and at external events.
• Contribute to the organisation and running of regular community and fundraising events.
• Deputise for the Advice Services Manager where needed, supporting the welfare and housing advisers with complex casework, forward planning and client management.
• Support the Active Ageing Coordinators and volunteer teams wherever needed with the day-to-day running of the active ageing clubs.

Quality and service delivery

• Oversee quality-assurance procedures in line with the Advice Quality Standard (AQS), and spearhead biannual renewal of BIAS’s AQS accreditation.
• Oversee running of BIAS’s volunteer project in line with the Investing in Volunteers quality accreditation standards.
• Serve as internal data protection officer, monitoring GDPR compliance, managing risk and responding to any potential data breaches.
• Serve as BIAS safeguarding lead, ensuring that safeguarding policies and training are kept up to date, and that all safeguarding concerns are appropriately addressed.
• Work with the Fundraising and Communications Manager to administer the BIAS website and implement BIAS’s social media strategy.
• Administer BIAS’s IT and client management systems (Microsoft 365, SharePoint, BrightHR, Lamplight CRM), coordinating training, updates and troubleshooting.

Operational leadership

• Advise the CEO on all staffing and service-delivery issues.
• Monitor and report on service delivery, including through monthly advice and volunteer-project reports, quarterly Board reports and regular funder reports.
• Carry out regular reviews of BIAS’s annual business plan, risk register, five-year strategy and internal policies and procedures, providing recommendations to the CEO and Board of Trustees on strategic direction.
• Research and secure funding from grant-making organisations, ensuring BIAS’s future financial sustainability.
• Work closely with the Finance Manager and CEO on budgeting, grant monitoring, cashflow and financial authorisation.

These are the basic duties required of the Head of Operations. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based in our advice offices and club venues in Willesden and Haringey but there may be some options for flexible working (e.g. one day per week from home). Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

ABOUT BIAS

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for almost fifty years. We deliver our support through our welfare and housing advice service, our active ageing clubs, our volunteer project and our befriending scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged every year and have over 7000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has recently expanded into Haringey borough and has exciting plans to further develop its project scope and geographical reach, supported by sustainable and diversified grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. The deadline for applications is 29th August 2026 but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be carried out on a rolling basis.

For almost 50 years, Animal Aid has been one of the UK's leading animal rights organisations. As we embark on an ambitious strategy to 2030, we're looking for an exceptional Head of People and Operations to help us build the organisation that will deliver our next stage of growth. 

This is a new and critical senior leadership role. While our mission is to create lasting change for animals, it is our people who make that possible every day. You'll help ensure Animal Aid is a supportive, high-performing and values-led organisation where staff can do their very best work for animals. 

Reporting to the General Manager and working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you'll lead our people function, oversee HR strategy and operations, support organisational development, and play a key role in finance, governance and organisational effectiveness. 

We're looking for someone who combines strong HR leadership with excellent operational skills, strategic thinking and a genuine commitment to building positive workplace cultures. 

You'll bring: 

• Significant senior-level HR and people management experience 

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice 

• Experience developing policies, processes and organisational systems 

• Excellent relationship-building, communication and leadership skills 

• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery 

• CIPD Level 5+ (or equivalent experience) 

• Commitment to Animal Aid's aims and values, and sympathy with our ethical vegan position. 

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected and influential not-for-profit at a pivotal moment in its development. 

Join us and help build the organisation that will power the next generation of progress for animals. 

Please note: Animal Aid cannot provide visa sponsorship, so applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK to be considered for this role. You must live in the UK and we are unable to pay any relocation costs.

First-round interviews will be held online the week commencing 14th September, with the second round held in person on 21st and 23rd September.

This is an exciting opportunity to join ATLEU, a leading legal, anti-trafficking and human rights charity, in a vital operational leadership role. 

This is a role for someone bringing significant operational management experience, ideally within the charity/NGO and human rights sector. You will be a strategic thinker with excellent organisational skills and able to manage multiple priorities effectively. You will bring your skills and experience to a dedicated team that punches well above its weight and is passionate about transforming individual lives and bringing about long term change. 

The Head of Operations will provide leadership in all operational matters, supporting the organisation's mission and long-term objectives, supporting ATLEU’s growth, resilience, and sustainability as well as building a flexible and supportive environment that enables the ATLEU team to do the challenging work that they do. 

This role is managed by, and works closely with the Chief Executive. You will be a member of ATLEU’s Senior Management team and work closely with and supervise the work of the People & Inclusion Manager (recently started in post), the Operations & Projects Coordinator, the Project Manager and Philanthropy Manager. The Operations team is a small team that works collaboratively to ensure all areas are covered at all times. As such, you will be willing to chip in and take on tasks of other team members if urgent matters arise or when providing holiday cover. 

We are looking for a positive, detail-oriented, creative thinker and problem solver who will build on our reputation for innovation and excellence. You will have a track record of achievement in this field and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with strong financial and business acumen. You will have experience of and confidence in overseeing a wide remit of cross cutting functions including finance, human resources, office management, information technology and governance and compliance. You will be comfortable learning and acting upon complex and technical information. This role will suit someone who enjoys working with people, is comfortable with autonomy and who thrives in a role which is fast-paced and where no two days are the same. The successful candidate will enjoy working in the office and being available to support colleagues. 

The deadline for applications is at 10:00am on Wednesday 19 August 2026. Applications received after this time will not be considered. 

Candidates shortlisted for interview will be advised by close of business on Tuesday 1 September 2026. If you do not hear from us by this time, it unfortunately means that you have not been shortlisted for an interview. We regret that we do not have capacity to provide feedback to applicants who are not invited for an interview. 

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 September 2026. 

Candidates may be asked back for a second-round interview.

We're looking for someone who can turn plans into reality; mobilising new services, embedding change, improving performance and helping operational teams overcome barriers to delivery.

Working across a diverse portfolio of clinical and non-clinical services, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring new and existing services operate effectively, achieve their objectives and continue to grow. You'll work closely with operational, clinical and senior stakeholders to implement change, drive service improvement and support the successful delivery of care for patients and families across the South-West.

If you're someone who enjoys solving complex problems, improving services and seeing projects through from idea to implementation, we'd love to hear from you.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Full-time Permanent

Salary: £49,382 - £56,515 per annum (pro rata), plus a full range of Marie Curie benefits.

Location: Home-based, with regular travel to Tiverton and services across the South-West.

As Deputy Head of Operations, you will help turn agreed priorities into delivered work.

The work is not finished when a service launches. It is finished when the service is working, stable, understood and delivering what it was set up to deliver. You will help turn agreed priorities into delivered work.

That means building clear plans, keeping actions moving, resolving practical barriers, coordinating across teams, using data well, and staying with implementation after go-live.

This role does not carry a large line management portfolio. That is deliberate. Its value is in delivery, follow-through and operational grip. You'll work across multiple services and stakeholders to identify challenges, implement solutions and ensure services are delivering high-quality outcomes for patients and families.

You'll be someone who:

• Takes ownership and follows through on commitments.
• Enjoys solving problems and removing barriers to progress.
• Can balance multiple priorities and remain focused on delivery.
• Uses data and insight to drive decision-making.
• Builds strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Thrives in environments where priorities evolve and change.

What success looks like:

In this role, success will mean that work moves more clearly and more quickly. New services are mobilised with better grip. Existing services have stronger follow-through on performance and improvement. Operational problems are identified earlier and resolved more practically. Senior leaders have better visibility without needing to chase every detail. Teams experience the role as helpful because barriers are removed, decisions are followed through, and work does not keep returning to the same conversations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the mobilisation and implementation of new services and service developments.
• Driving operational improvement and service redesign initiatives.
• Monitoring performance data and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Working with operational and clinical colleagues to resolve complex challenges.
• Developing effective processes, systems and ways of working that support sustainable service delivery.
• Supporting services to achieve quality, operational and performance objectives.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of operational priorities.
• Using insight and data to support decision-making and service planning.

Every day, London's Air Ambulance Charity delivers life-saving advanced trauma care to critically injured people across the capital. Behind every mission is world-class clinical expertise, innovation and data that helps improve patient outcomes, shape operational decisions and advance trauma care.

We're looking for an exceptional Head of Clinical and Operational Data to lead our specialist data team and shape how data supports life-saving care, research and operational decision-making.

You’ll work closely with clinical and operational teams to deliver our data strategy, develop innovative digital solutions and ensure our clinical and operational data is trusted, secure and impactful.

You'll bring:

• Experience leading high-performing data teams
• Expertise managing and analysing complex data
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with data systems, digital tools and data governance
• Knowledge of analytical techniques and data legislation, including GDPR
• A strategic mindset with the ability to turn data into meaningful insight

Experience working with healthcare or clinical data, the NHS or trauma services would be an advantage but isn't essential.

Our benefits

Working environment

• Hybrid working for most roles, with time split between our offices at Mansell Street or The Royal London Hospital and remote working
• Flexible working arrangements for most roles, with a 35-hour working week (for full-time employees) and core hours of 10:00-16:00
• A collaborative culture built around our values: compassionate, courageous and pioneering
• Access to a variety of learning and development opportunities to support your career growth
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, supported by our employee-led network, All Inclusive.

Supporting your wellbeing

• 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Additional office closure between Christmas and New Year, giving you an extra three days leave each year
• Additional annual leave awarded for long service
• One day's paid moving leave each year
• One day's paid volunteering leave each year to support causes that matter to you
• Compassionate leave
• Enhanced sick pay, providing up to five weeks full pay in a rolling 12-month period from day one of employment
• Access to a free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme, offering support for emotional, financial and legal matters, plus a wellbeing app.

Supporting your financial wellbeing

• Generous pension scheme with a 10% employer contribution when you contribute 5%
• Medicash health cash plan, helping you claim back the cost of everyday healthcare expenses
• Access to a wide range of employee discounts through sites including Blue Light Card, Health Service Discounts and Perks at Work
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to Work scheme.

Supporting your family

• Enhanced maternity pay, offering company maternity pay at 75% of your annual salary for weeks seven to 26 of maternity leave
• Life assurance cover equivalent to four times your annual salary.

Job Title:  Head of Finance and Income Operations
Hours:  Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract:  Permanent
Salary:  £45,000 per annum
Location:  Home-based in the UK, with occasional travel for team meetings and events
Role profile: A detailed role profile can be found in the 'supporting documents' for this advert

About the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN)

The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is a farmer-led organisation helping farmers restore the balance between farming and nature. We support farmers by sharing knowledge, resources and case studies that help boost food production, protect wildlife, and build climate resilience.

We influence policy to secure fair rewards for farmers who care for nature, and we connect like-minded farmers across the UK.

Our network is open to all: farmers, the public and partner organisations.

About the Role

We are looking for a Head of Finance and Income Operations to lead NFFN’s finance function and help strengthen the systems, controls and reporting that will support the organisation’s next stage of growth.

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of a small, ambitious and mission-led organisation. You will oversee day-to-day financial management, budgeting, management accounts, restricted funds, funder reporting and income operations. You will also help improve how finance works across NFFN, giving budget holders clearer information and helping the organisation make confident, well-informed decisions.

The role is about more than keeping the numbers moving. We are looking for someone who can help build a stronger finance function, improve internal systems, support funder confidence, and help NFFN manage a more complex mix of grants, donations, restricted funding and revenue-based delivery work.

Depending on your background, this may suit someone with strong charity finance experience, or someone from a finance, grants, funding operations or mission-led commercial background who wants to use their skills in a values-led organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• leading day-to-day financial management, controls and reporting

• preparing budgets, forecasts, management accounts and financial updates

• supporting budget holders with clear, practical financial information

• improving finance systems, processes, approvals and reporting tools

• overseeing restricted funds, grant conditions, funder reporting and income tracking

• supporting funding applications with budgets, financial information and reporting structures

• helping NFFN manage VAT, full cost recovery and different types of income as the organisation grows

• working with the CEO, CSO, Head of Fundraising, SLT, Board and external advisers

• providing line management to the Head of Fundraising and potential future roles within the finance and income operations function 

This role will suit someone who combines financial rigour with practical judgement. You will need to be comfortable working independently in a remote organisation, explaining finance clearly to non-finance colleagues, and improving systems in a way that is proportionate and realistic for a small non profit organisation.

We know this is a broad role, and we are not expecting one person to have done everything before. We are looking for someone with strong financial experience, good judgement, attention to detail, and a genuine interest in helping NFFN build the financial infrastructure it needs for the future.

This is a fully home-based role, with flexibility in how work is managed and occasional travel for team meetings and events. You will be joining a collaborative, values-led team working to support farmers, nature and a more resilient food system.