Operations Manager

Southwark Law Centre is a charity offering free specialist legal advice and representation to individuals in Southwark and beyond. 

Southwark Law Centre

Job Description

Job Title: Operations Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Salary: NJC Scale SP SP27-31 £41,580 - £44,480 (starting salary dependent on experience)

Hours: Full-Time – 35 hours per week

Main Objectives

·         To oversee the smooth running of the Law Centre

·         To ensure we have the right systems in place to support staff to work efficiently.  

·         To identify opportunities to use tech to support our mission. 

·         To lead on data, supporting us to tell our clients’ stories and to demonstrate the transformative nature of our work.

Key Responsibilities

1. IT Coordination

• Oversee the Law Centre’s IT systems to ensure they are secure, efficient, and meet the organisation's needs.
• Manage and develop the Law Centre's case management system to ensure it supports the effective delivery of services and reporting requirements.
• Liaise with external IT providers to coordinate maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting.
• Identify and implement opportunities for digital transformation and improved operational efficiency.
• Complete the annual Cyber Essentials return, ensuring that the organisation maintains the highest level of data security.
• Ensure the Law Centre makes use of the most appropriate and cost effective equipment, systems and software.
• Providing basic training to staff on systems and tools
• Maintain the asset register.
• Maintain the organisation’s IT plan and update it annually

2. Systems

·         Lead on our paperless working processes

·         Ensure that our Sharepoint site is set up logically and with the correct permissions in place.

·         Develop our Sharepoint site in order that it functions as an intranet for sharing information internally.

·         Negotiate and manage our contracts with printing providers

·         Maintain regular reviews of the systems we’re using, assessing whether they are fit for purpose or not and whether there are alternative products which represent better value for money.

·         Manage the organisation’s telephony.

3.  Data and Reporting

• Maintain a clear overview of the data collected by the organisation.
• Prepare reports from the case management system and other data collection tools to feed into reports and funding bids.
• Develop new reports to feed into our billing and accountancy as well as various audits.
• Review and analyse the organisation’s data to understand trends and to assist with service development.
• Play an integral role in using data to communicate the impact of the organisation.  

4. Data Protection

·         Overall responsibility for the data protection obligations of the organisation.

·         Keeping abreast of changes and updates to Data Protection legislation.

·         Delivering regular training to staff on Data Protection.

5. Finance and Billing

·         Support the finance manager and practice manager by ensuring all systems are optimised for efficiency.

·         Liaising with our payroll provider, responsible for running monthly payroll accurately, including keeping track of new starters and leavers.

·         Support casework staff with training and technical solutions to allow them to bill files efficiently.

·         When needed, to work with the finance manager and practice manager to coordinate regular payment runs. 

·         Attendance at regular meetings of the Finance Sub-Committee.

6. Support to Executive Director

• Member of the senior management team, contributing to strategic planning and organisational development.
• Provide operational insights and recommendations to enhance the Law Centre’s performance and service delivery.
• Coordinate and chair regular meetings of the IT Working Group
• Report regularly to the Trustees on operational issues

7. Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including health and safety and data protection (GDPR).
• Participate in and ensure the smooth running of the annual Lexcel audit as well as other regular audits.

8. Professional Development

• To attend regular support and supervision and appraisal meetings.
• To keep up-to-date and to meet identified learning and development needs as appropriate.

9. Teamwork and Service Development

• To attend and contribute to staff meetings

• To attend and actively participate in other meetings as required, and to take an active role in the planning and development of the Law Centre.
• To network and liaise with external agencies as agreed.

10. General

• To uphold and promote the Aims and Principles of the Law Centre
• To be available to work outside normal office hours on occasion as required and notified in advance.
• To undertake any other duties that are compatible with the functions of the post.

Person Specification

Essential

• Excellent IT skills with extensive experience working with Excel and other Microsoft Office products as well as database products.
• A minimum of two years experience in a similar role, or relevant transferrable skills.
• Ability to develop, maintain and report on data and compliance records, including the ability to impart information in an understandable way.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Highly organised with the ability to set priorities, meet goals and evaluate processes and results.
• Confident, self reliant, capable of taking the initiative and working autonomously.
• Good attention to detail.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills. 

Desirable

• Experience managing and developing case management systems or similar software.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and supplier relationships effectively.
• Experience in supporting legal or advice services organisations.
• Knowledge of the operational challenges facing community-based organisations.

Please visit our website to download an application pack

Closing date for applications: 28 July 2025 at 9am

Interviews will take place on: 6 August 2025