Director of Operations

At Lancashire Students’ Union, we help more than 28,000 students learn well and live more. Our bar, cafe and venues give students somewhere to belong, and every pound they earn goes straight back into the student experience.

We’re an independent charity at the University of Lancashire, run by students, for students. We give free, independent advice when things go wrong, support student groups and societies, make sure students are heard by the University, and run social enterprise spaces across our Preston, Burnley and Westlakes campuses.

Our members are also our customers, our student staff and, through their elected representatives, our leaders. That makes us lively, sometimes unpredictable, and a really rewarding place to work. Do you enjoy running things well, and care about why you’re running them?

The role
As our first Director of Operations, you’ll make sure the business side of the Union works for our members. You’ll join a small Senior Leadership Team just as we reopen our expanded 53 Degrees venue and build a new commercial strategy with students.

What you’ll be working on

• You’ll lead our cafe, shop, bar and licensed venues, plus business development, events and sponsorship, and be our lead on premises and licensing.
• You’ll manage our finance team and work with our outsourced finance provider to set budgets, strengthen controls and give Trustees clear information.
• You’ll make sure our people processes, from recruitment to absence data, run consistently.
• You’ll build the systems that show where we’re doing well and where the risks are on health and safety, data protection and safeguarding.
• You’ll line manage four managers and coordinators, and mentor some of our elected Students’ Union Representatives.

This job is for you if...

• you’ve led teams across a broad, varied portfolio
• you’ve run commercial operations, ideally including licensed premises
• you’re confident with budgets and financial systems (you don’t need to be an accountant)
• you understand health and safety, employment law and safeguarding well enough to flag risks early
• you lead with compassion and are happy to offer honest, respectful challenge
• you believe in the power of membership organisations

You’ll need a Personal Licence and IOSH Managing Safely, but if you don’t have them yet, we’ll pay for both.

Key details
Reports to: Chief Executive
Salary: £42,973 to £48,340 (subject to in-year pay review)
Hours: 35 per week, with some evening and weekend work
Contract: Permanent, full time (open to part-time or flexible options)
Location: Preston, with hybrid working

Benefits

• 30 days’ annual leave plus University closure days (usually 5 more)
• Up to 6% pension
• Enhanced sickness and family leave pay
• Employee Assistance Programme and online GP service
• Personal development and training funds

How to apply
Apply via the link with your CV and answers to a few screening questions.
Closing date: 8 November at midnight
Interviews: week commencing 16 November. We’ll share the question themes in advance.