Operations Director

Are you a collaborative leader with the vision and passion to help our charity grow and become stronger, more resilient, and sustainable? 

We’re looking for an exceptional leader to join Community Action Redbridge as our new Operations Director – a pivotal role at the heart of our organisation. 

With an income of just under £1 million and a diverse portfolio of new and established grant-funded programmes, we’re entering a period of  transformation, with ambitious plans to grow our impact and strengthen our organisational resilience. 

We’re now seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Operations Director to help drive this momentum – leading the way in reimagining how we work to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and embedding a culture of shared  leadership, continuous learning, and improvement. 

You will be a natural collaborator and a strong communicator, able to build trusted relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders alike. In this role, you’ll ensure that our operations run smoothly and effectively – aligning  systems and processes with our strategic goals while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and regulations. 

You’ll provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across our core functions, including: 

• Finance 

• Human resources 

• Digital and communications 

• Risk and compliance 

As a key member of our Senior Leadership Team, you’ll work closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees, partners, and colleagues to bring our vision to life, drive forward our strategic priorities, and foster a working culture where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work. 

Please note that this role can be offered on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of three days per week in the office. As an organisation rooted in community, we believe that regular in-office presence is important to foster collaboration, connection and team cohesion. The role is part-time (28 hours per week), and these hours can be worked over four or five days, depending on your preference 

About Community Action Redbridge 

Community Action Redbridge is a local infrastructure charity dedicated to building a fairer Redbridge where everyone and every community has an equal opportunity to thrive. Through our work, we support the development of strong and resilient communities where people lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. 

At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice and to tackling the root causes of inequality. We’re passionate about shifting power, amplifying community voices, and working collaboratively to create social change. 

We do this by: 

• Strengthening and championing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, so local organisations have the tools and support they need to grow and thrive. 

• Supporting local people to drive change in their own communities, through social action, volunteering and active participation. 

• Bringing people and organisations together, from the VCSE sector, public services, and local businesses, to collaborate on shared ambitions for Redbridge. 

How to apply 

Please submit your CV and a covering letter answering the following 4 questions (no more than 500 words each):  

1. Can you describe a time when you provided strategic oversight across several functions? How did you align systems and processes to organisational goals, and what impact did this have on efficiency, resilience, or impact? 

2. Tell us about a time you led significant organisational change, for example, improving systems, embedding digital innovation, or redesigning processes. How did you bring people with you on the journey and ensure improvements were sustained? 

3. Please give one example that illustrates your ability to oversee financial management. Include aspects such as planning, monitoring, reporting, and ensuring compliance, and explain how you reviewed budgets, analysed expenditure, identified financial risks or opportunities, and used this to support strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability. 

4. Community Action Redbridge is driven by values of shifting power, collaborating, learning, and seeing the bigger picture. How have you demonstrated inclusive and values-led leadership in previous roles, and how would you foster an empowering and collaborative learning culture in this role? 

We encourage early applications, as interviews will be held on a rolling basis. The vacancy may close early if a suitable candidate is appointed.