Lay member volunteer jobs

START are recruiting for an Operations Manager.

Job Title: Operations Manager
Location: Salford
Employer: START
Hours: 4 Days per week (28 hours) worked across Monday to Friday, specific work pattern to be agreed, with flexibility required)
Salary Band: £33,860 - £40,000 FTE (£27,088 - £32,000 per annum actual for 28 hours per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Pension: 5% employer contribution
Annual Leave: 30 days plus statutory holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)

About Us

START is a Salford based mental health charity, of over 30 years, that uses creativity, connection and recovery interventions to help improve people's lives.

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly organised Operations Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of START by ensuring the organisation operates safely, efficiently and in line with best practice.

Core Responsibilities

As Operations Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operational management of the charity, leading on health and safety, facilities management, information governance, H.R, organisational policies and procedures, and the continuous improvement of our operational systems. You will also manage operational staff, lead key organisational projects and work collaboratively with colleagues, trustees, partners and external contractors to support the delivery of our strategic objectives.

This varied and rewarding role requires a confident leader with excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills, who can manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of compliance and service delivery. You will be passionate about creating efficient systems, fostering a positive working environment and ensuring the organisation remains compliant with relevant legislation and best practice.

Additional Information

If you are an experienced operational leader who thrives on driving improvement, building strong relationships and supporting an organisation that makes a real difference in people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date for receiving applications will be Thurssday 3rd September 2026 at 12 noon.

Interested?

If you believe you have the right skills and experience to join our exemplar charity, please apply in writing with an up to date CV and a supporting statement which outlines your suitability for the role in line with the attached person specification. It will be sent automatically to us. 

START are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. With this in mind, we welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation

No agencies please.

Terms and Conditions

Job title: Co-production Coordinator

Reports to: Head of Practice

Direct reports: Peer Mentors and Women across WIP’s Lived Experience Groups  

Start date: TBC 

Salary: Actual salary £21,541.20 per annum FTE £35,902 per annum (inclusive of £3,990 Southeast weighting) 

Working hours: Part time – 21 hours per week  

Contract: Fixed term until 30 March 2029 (with the possibility of extension, subject to funding) 

Location: Across Lambeth and Hybrid

Job Purpose

To work alongside women with experience of the criminal justice system, homelessness and housing insecurity, supporting them to have a meaningful say in how Women in Prison’s housing programme is designed and delivered.

You will create safe, supportive opportunities for women to get involved, develop peer mentoring and training, and help ensure that what we learn from women’s experiences is used to improve services and influence wider change across Lambeth.

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Support women to have a meaningful say in the housing programme and how it develops

2. Support women to use their lived experience, develop their skills and take part in peer mentoring and other opportunities

3. Help make sure that what we learn from women’s experiences is used to improve services and influence wider change

4. Work with women to develop and deliver accessible training and resources on housing rights and maintaining a tenancy

Please download recruitment pack for the full job description

The Deputy Director (Operations and Business Development) is a new senior leadership role that will work in close partnership with the Director and Board of Trustees to improve strategic effectiveness and sustainable growth. Created to support the next stage in The Burton's development, this role will translate strategic ambition into practical delivery, ensuring the organisation has the leadership, systems and operational capability needed to achieve its long-term goals.

The Deputy Director will lead organisational planning, internal operations, financial planning and performance, while supporting business development, commercial activity and income growth. They will oversee the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable The Burton to operate effectively, make informed decisions and deliver its ambitions.

Job Details

Job Title: Deputy Director (Operations and Business Development)
Contract: Full time (37.5 hours per week)
Duration: Two-year fixed-term contract. We hope this role will become a permanent part of our senior leadership team, subject to securing sustainable funding. There is a three-month probationary period.
Salary: £45,000 per year
Hours: The Burton works on a 7-day rota and the hours can be worked flexibly over the full week dependent on operational need. Some weekend and evening work will be required on a rota basis.
Location: The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Occasional flexible/home-working is offered but the majority of the working week will be at The Burton.
Responsible to: Director
Responsible for: Commercial Operations Manager, Finance Officer, Operations and Front of House Coordinator-day rota and the hours can be worked flexibly over the full week dependent on operational need. Some weekend and evening work will be required on a rota basis.

Person Specification

Potential applicants may already be in a similar role or feel ready to take the next step in developing their careers and contributing to an ambitious organisation at a pivotal moment of its journey. Experience of working within the arts or charity sector may be an advantage to this role but is not a requirement – we are excited to explore transferable skills from other sectors.

You do not need to meet all of the person specification but we are excited to meet candidates with:

• Significant experience in operations, business development and/or a senior leadership role.
• An ability to translate strategy into practical delivery, balancing competing priorities within a small or medium-sized organisation.
• Demonstrable experience contributing to organisational planning, budgeting and performance management.
• Confidence using financial information, budgets and management reporting to support decisions.
• Experience supporting income generation through commercial activity, partnerships, fundraising or business development.
• Experience leading, supporting and developing teams and creating collaborative working cultures.
• An understanding of HR process and experience in policy development.
• Experience as a designated safeguarding lead or a willingness to complete a level three safeguarding training and undergo an enhanced DBS check.
• A track record of improving systems, processes or ways of working to increase organisational effectiveness.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and influencing skills with a range of stakeholders.
• An understanding of governance, risk and compliance within a charity, public or mission-led environment.
• Experience working in museums, galleries, charities, visitor economy, public sector or mission-led organisations.
• An understanding of charity finance, restricted/designated funding, grant reporting and project accounting.
• Part-qualified or qualified finance qualification (for example AAT Level 4, CIMA, ACCA, ACA) or equivalent professional experience with an understanding of cloud-based accounting software (Xero desirable).

We are looking for someone who is: 

• Strategic but enjoys making things happen.
• Financially confident and commercially aware.
• Able to build trust and work collaboratively.
• Comfortable moving between strategic thinking and operational delivery.
• Excited to work in a small organisation where responsibilities are varied and interconnected.

Key Dates

Application deadline: 10am, Tuesday 1 September 2026
First interviews: Monday 14 September 2026
Second interviews: Date to be confirmed

How to Apply

Please download the full Recruitment Pack and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form on our website.

The Burton at Bideford is an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer who understands the benefits of diversity so that everyone – irrespective of individual identities, background, or any personal characteristics – receives fair and equal treatment in a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment.