Operations Manager

Help build the operational backbone of a nationally growing, trauma-informed youth arts organisation.
We’re looking for a thoughtful, values-led Operations Manager to strengthen our people, systems and sustainability as we scale.

Comics Youth is entering a pivotal stage of growth. As we approach our tenth year, expand our Scotland SCIO in Dundee, develop work in London, and work towards Arts Council England NPO status, we are investing in the infrastructure that will sustain our long-term impact.

We are not a corporate machine. We are a creative, relational organisation powered by a fierce belief that young people deserve space to tell their stories. Growth for us isn’t about becoming slick — it’s about becoming sustainable.

This role exists to help us strengthen our structure without losing our magic.

The Role

This is not simply an administrative post. It is a senior operational leadership role rooted in care, clarity and accountability.

Importantly, this is not a COO position. The Managing Director retains overall strategic leadership, governance accountability and final responsibility for income generation. The Operations Manager focuses on strengthening workforce systems, delivery oversight and organisational readiness within a shared leadership structure.

You will:

• Lead HR systems and workforce processes

• Line-manage the Project Manager

• Act as Safeguarding Co-Lead

• Oversee programme delivery, reporting and KPIs

• Maintain compliance, risk management and operational systems

• Contribute to funding bids and commissioned tenders

We are currently largely grant-reliant (not yet contract-heavy), so this role is about building readiness and strengthening infrastructure rather than managing complex commissioned contracts from day one.

Our Culture

Our core week runs Tuesday–Saturday, reflecting when young people need us most.

We offer flexible working wherever possible.
Every staff member receives a wellbeing grant and eight paid counselling sessions.
We prioritise reflective supervision and psychologically safe practice.
We do not believe burnout is a badge of honour.

We are a small team doing nationally recognised work. Collaboration, honesty and mutual care matter deeply here.

Who We’re Looking For

You may thrive in this role if you:

• Have experience in operations, HR, service management or organisational development

• Have contributed to funding bids or tenders

• Understand safeguarding and safer working practices

• Can balance accountability with empathy

• Care deeply about equity, anti-oppressive practice and access

You do not need to meet every single criterion perfectly. We are a learning organisation. We are more interested in alignment, integrity and reflective practice than a perfectly linear CV.

If you enjoy building strong systems around creative, purpose-driven work — and want to help shape the next phase of a nationally growing organisation — we would love to hear from you.