Abbey Community Centre is a vibrant, long-established community charity at the heart of Kilburn, North West London. Every day, we bring people together, reduce isolation and improve health and wellbeing through inclusive activities, services and community support.
We are now looking for an experienced Centre Operations Manager to play a key senior role in ensuring our busy community hub runs safely, smoothly and effectively for the thousands of people who use it each year.
About Abbey Community Centre
Abbey Community Centre works with people of all ages and backgrounds, with a particular focus on older residents and low-income families with young children. We deliver a wide range of activities, services and support including children’s stay-and-play sessions and drop-ins, fitness and wellbeing activities, befriending schemes, digital inclusion support, community meals, warm space provision, food support, volunteering opportunities and specialist outreach.
Alongside this community delivery, we manage a busy public building and a programme of room hire that helps generate income to sustain our work. With a small staff team, over 100 volunteers and many partner organisations, our operations need to be reliable, well-coordinated and people-centred.
The role and its impact
As Centre Operations Manager, you will be the organisation’s senior operational lead on the ground. Working closely with the CEO, you will hold delegated authority for the day-to-day running of the Centre — ensuring the building, people and systems all work together to support high-quality community activity.
This is a hands-on leadership role combining practical problem-solving with people management. You will line manage and help develop operational staff, oversee facilities and contractors, lead on health and safety and operational compliance, support volunteering, and ensure organisational systems and processes function reliably.
Your work will directly enable staff, volunteers and partners to deliver activities and services safely and confidently, and will help ensure Abbey remains a welcoming, accessible and well-run space for the local community.
What you’ll be working on
In this role, you will:
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Oversee daily building operations, maintenance and contractor management
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Lead on health & safety and related compliance, including risk assessments and training
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Line manage & develop operational staff and support a positive, consistent working culture
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Ensure operational policies and procedures are applied effectively in practice
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Support and coordinate volunteering within the centre
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Manage operational budgets and contracts within agreed limits
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Act as a senior member of the management team, deputising for the CEO on agreed matters
Key details
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Location: Abbey Community Centre, Kilburn (NW6 4BJ, London Borough of Camden)
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Hours: 24–28 hours per week (fixed hours agreed at appointment), worked over a minimum of four weekdays
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Core hours: 11.00am–4.00pm (flexibility outside these hours by agreement)
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Contract: Permanent, part-time
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Salary: £40,000–£42,000 per annum, pro rata (depending on experience)
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Annual leave: 30 days pro-rata, rising to 35 days after 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays, pro-rata)
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Pension: NEST pension scheme (if eligible)
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Some evening and occasional weekend working is required
This role could be right for you if…
You are an experienced operational manager who enjoys combining leadership with practical delivery, thrives in a public-facing environment, and wants your work to make a visible difference to a local community. You don’t need to tick every box — we’re interested in your experience, judgement, approach and motivation.
Abbey Community Centre is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be offered throughout the recruitment process.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
To reduce poverty and isolation and improve health, wellbeing and connection through inclusive community activities, services and support.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Vacancy Reference Number:
OKMC/PR/UK-R1
Position title:
The Open Kitchen Manchester Coordinator
Reports to:
UK Programmes Manager
Location:
Manchester
Hours of Work:
Full-time, 35 hours per week
Salary guideline:
(Up to) £35,500.00 per annum (commensurate with experience)
Terms of Employment:
6-Months’ Fixed-Term Contract (with a 3-Month Probationary Period)
Application Process & Closing Date:
Send an up to date CV and supporting Covering Letter by Email by no later than 12th February 2026
Approx. Interview & Role Commencement Date(s):
Interviews: As Suitable Applications Received
Start: ASAP thereafter
Note: Strong Applicants may be contacted sooner, ahead of the closing date.
Role: Open Kitchen Coordinator
About the Project
The Open Kitchen is a community-led initiative tackling food poverty and social isolation across the UK. Our kitchens, based in Hounslow (London), Nottingham, and Manchester, provide free, hot, and nutritious meals to individuals and families affected by homelessness, low income, or displacement as refugees.
Operating seven days a week, the Open Kitchen offers more than just food it provides a safe, welcoming space where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Each kitchen also serves as a community support hub, distributing essential household items and sleeping bags to those in need.
Through this initiative, we aim not only to alleviate hunger but also to connect service users with pathways to stability, empowerment, and independence.
Key Responsibilities
As part of the Open Kitchen project team, the role will involve ensuring the smooth, safe, and impactful operation of Open Kitchen Manchester. Responsibilities include:
Operational Management
- Oversee day-to-day activities within Open Kitchen Manchester, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals.
- Supervise and observe the cooking facility in the Manchester Open Kitchen, ensuring compliance with hygiene, health, and safety regulations.
- Manage food inventory, kitchen supplies, and procurement processes to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
- Ensure all food standards are followed.
Volunteer Coordination
- Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers to ensure effective service delivery and adherence to health and safety standards.
- Promote a positive and inclusive volunteer culture that reflects the values of compassion, respect, and community service.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain partnerships with local food banks, the NHS, job centres, local councils, and rehousing services to offer holistic support to service users.
- Collaborate with community organisations, faith groups, and local businesses to strengthen the project’s reach and impact.
· Collaborating with strategic partners to drive the expansion of the open kitchen concept across multiple locations.
· Leading fundraising initiatives for the open kitchen and managing the facilitation of in-kind donations.
- Represent the Open Kitchen at community events and stakeholder meetings to promote collaboration and visibility.
Beneficiary Support
- Identify service users who may benefit from additional assistance, including access to healthcare, employment, housing, or welfare services.
- Coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure referrals and follow-ups are managed effectively.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Ensure all operational, financial, and compliance records are maintained accurately.
- Monitor performance indicators such as meals served, volunteer hours, and beneficiary outcomes, and report regularly to the management team.
- Support the continuous improvement of service quality and community impact.
- Create and provide daily Open kitchen feedback reports to monitor beneficiary numbers and meal distributions.
What We're Looking For
- A genuine commitment to serving vulnerable and destitute individuals with care and respect.
- Right to work in the UK and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check, completed before starting the role.
- Warm interpersonal skills, comfortable engaging with people from all walks of life.
- A dependable, team-oriented attitude and availability for weekend shifts.
Why Join Us?
As part of the Muslim Hands family, you’ll help create a place of warmth and friendship for those in need. Your presence will extend beyond service, contributing to a deeper mission of compassion, respect, and community uplift.
If you’d like to support others and be part of something truly special, we’d be honoured to receive your application.
NB: This Job Description is illustrative and non-exhaustive in scope. The post-holder may be required to undertake any reasonable tasks as and when required by Line Manager from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Organisation.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.