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The COO will translate BLiM's mission and strategy and ensure its well-run, properly resourced, with its ambitious day-to-day delivery. You will free the CEO to focus on strategic leadership and external influence by owning operations, people management, financial oversight and internal systems.

The COO will be a senior leader who shapes organisational culture, makes operational decisions, manages complex stakeholder relationships and drives the performance of a passionate, high-commitment team. You will be the person the organisation looks to when it needs clarity, stability and momentum.

The COO joins at a moment of leadership transition following the departure of BLiM's co-founder and Director of Operations.

Why Join Us:

Black Lives in Music (BLiM) is a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing racial equity across the UK music industry. We amplify the voices of Black artists, music professionals and communities; drive systemic change; and hold the industry accountable for meaningful progress. Through research, advocacy, programming and strategic partnerships, BLiM creates the conditions for Black talent to thrive.

BLiM has published ground-breaking research including the Being Black in the UK Music Industry report, produced the UK's first Black classical music festival in Classically Black, influenced government policy on live music licensing, and built a network of over 100 partner organisations across the four nations. BLiM is now entering a new phase of its development, with a strengthened leadership team, a Target Operating Model designed to carry the organisation beyond its founding era, and an ambition to become the UK's most influential voice for racial equity in music.

Person Specification 

Essential

• Significant experience in a senior operational leadership role, ideally as a COO, Head of Operations or Director of Operations in a charity, social enterprise or purpose-driven organisation.

• Demonstrable track record of building and improving operational infrastructure: systems, processes, policies and ways of working that make organisations more effective and resilient.

• Proven people management experience, including line management of senior staff, performance development, recruitment and team culture-building.

• Strong financial literacy, including experience of budget management, grant compliance, financial reporting and working with a board finance function.

• Experience of leading or supporting governance processes, including board reporting, risk management and compliance.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex operational information into clear, accessible reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.

• A genuine, demonstrable commitment to racial equity and an understanding of the specific systemic barriers faced by Black professionals, artists and communities.

• The emotional intelligence and interpersonal skill to lead with care, build trust quickly and navigate complex relationships under pressure.

• The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a small, fast-paced, mission-driven organisation where the work is varied, the stakes are high and no day is the same.

Desirable

• Experience of working in or with the music industry, creative industries or arts and culture sector.

• Familiarity with Arts Council England funding frameworks, charity law and the regulatory environment for non-profit organisations.

• Experience of implementing or managing a CRM system, project management platform or other operational technology.

• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) frameworks and how to embed inclusive practice into operational systems and culture.

• Experience of leading an organisation through a period of significant change, transition or growth.

• An existing network within the UK music sector, creative industries or racial equity and social justice space.

At BLiM, we're interviewing on a rolling basis, so we'd encourage you to apply sooner rather than later!

To be considered for a first interview, please include a Cover Letter with your application. This initial conversation will be relaxed and informal, and we'll take you through the full interview process together so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.

The Berkshire and Hampshire Borders (BHB) Methodist Circuit is a network of twenty-five churches across western Berkshire and northern Hampshire, united by a vision to proclaim God's love as a justice-seeking community. Our mission is to be a growing, inclusive, and evangelistic church where faith deepens and communities are transformed. 

As Operations Manager, you'll be the backbone supporting our work. Working with the Leadership Team, you'll coordinate the operational infrastructure that keeps twenty-five autonomous churches running — from property and finance to safeguarding and compliance — empowering churches and outreach staff to deliver high-quality support to church members and vulnerable people.

The Role
You'll provide operational guidance and support to the Circuit Leadership Team and Circuit Meeting (Trustees), attending meetings and preparing reports on governance matters. You'll manage the Circuit Finance Officer, ensuring sound accounting practices, financial controls, and reporting. Across property, you'll oversee 19 houses — coordinating quinquennial inspections, maintenance plans, manse preparation for incoming ministers, externally managed letting of surplus properties, and professional appointments for sales and purchases. You'll also support energy and telecoms contract negotiations.

In safeguarding, you'll co-lead the Circuit Safeguarding Team, coordinate training, and maintain records of DBS checks. For health and safety, you'll guide churches on policies, risk assessments, and fire safety, with professional support as needed. On EDI, you'll maintain awareness of Methodist policy, coordinate training, and promote inclusive practice. You'll line manage the Administration Finance Officer and Administration Officer.

Key Details
Permanent role, £45,000–£55,000, 37.5 hours per week based in Reading, Berkshire with occasional evening or weekend working and travel across the area. 33 days annual leave including public holidays, contributory pension, reasonable expenses reimbursed plus a training funded. Closing date: Friday 17 June. Interviews: early July.

This Job Is For You If…
You have experience in an operational, administrative, or management role coordinating processes, policies, and systems. You've supported multiple stakeholders — staff, volunteers, or committees and have familiarity with safeguarding, health and safety, or compliance. You're organised, an excellent communicator, and can work with sensitivity within a faith-based organisation. You hold a full driving licence with access to a reliable vehicle and are willing to travel. Desirably, you have a relevant qualification, experience with financial administration or property management, and understanding of Methodist Church structures.

Development
You'll have significant training opportunities, including a substantial overlap with the outgoing postholder for thorough knowledge transfer.

Appointment is subject to Enhanced DBS disclosure, satisfactory references, right to work in the UK, and a three-month probationary period. We encourage applications from all sections of the community — you don't need to meet every criterion to apply.

This role presents opportunity to work innovatively & responsively, creating new, unique, & informative LGBTQ+ affirmative resources, providing crisis support, prevention & wellbeing initiatives; along with having a developmental role in upskilling & supervising sessional staff, trainees, interns & volunteers. 

This is an exciting job opportunity to join a dynamic & committed team, in a key frontline role working directly within our Heads-Out mental health service, which provides individualised mental health plans, crisis safety plans and support, mental wellbeing workshops, varied mental health support groups including for those seeking asylum, a trans & non-binary group; LGBTQ+ mental health group, and LGBTQ+ social connections & activities group. 

Opportunities will include delivery of specialised interventions, taking direct referrals and helping to support & stabilise those at heightened risk and/ or living through mental health crisis, plus psychoeducation workshops and group programmes will further enable you to engage, empower & support participants to build confidence, develop skills, strategies & achieve goals to improve, maintain & best manage mental health, increase mental wellbeing, and reduce and/ or prevent future crisis.

elop is a well established thriving and award-wining London based community-led LGBTQ+ mental health & wellbeing charity offering a range of high-quality and professional mental health, counselling and wellbeingsupport services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ+) communities. 

There will be one regular evening/ week and occasional other evenings and weekend working required.

NB: There will initially be both in-person office-based working with some remote home-based working required whilst we’re awaiting completion of building works and relocation to new premises

Interviews will take place Friday 26 June 2026 between 9.30am – 15.00 pm