Forest centre manager jobs in Upminster, greater london
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Why This Role Matters
Every day, people in our borough face the reality of homelessness. Every person facing homelessness needs practical support, stability and someone who believes their situation can change.This role is central to making that change happen.
As Operations Manager, you will help ensure that our services run effectively and compassionately, enabling people experiencing homelessness to access the support they need to rebuild their lives. You will manage a small, committed team, strengthen how our services operate, and help shape the way we respond to homelessness locally.
About Us
FCENS is a small and ambitious charity working alongside local partners, volunteers and people with lived experience of homelessness to deliver meaningful change in the community in Waltham Forest.
Our Vision is that no-one needs to be homeless in Waltham Forest and everyone has a place to go. Our Mission is to support single homeless adults in Waltham Forest towards transforming their lives.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Operations Manager to oversee the effective day-to-day running of the charity’s services and internal operations.
Reporting to the Director, you will ensure that services are delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard. You will also play an important role in strengthening operational systems and processes, helping the charity improve and grow its impact.
You will manage a small operational team including caseworkers, lived experience coaches, an administrator and an evening worker, supporting them to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed and person-centred support to people experiencing homelessness. You’ll also use your strategic thinking skills to help improve service provision.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Oversee the day-to-day delivery of the charity’s services.
- Plan and manage the annual night shelter season and the year-round drop-in centre.
- Maintain oversight of case management, outreach activity and data systems.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, and organisational policies.
- Oversee administrative and IT systems, including effective use of the case management system.
Service Development
- Review operational systems and processes to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Implement changes that improve efficiency, quality and impact.
- Use data, feedback and lived experience insight to inform service development.
Leadership and Team Management
- Line manage operational staff, providing supervision, guidance and performance management.
- Foster a supportive, inclusive and accountable team culture.
- Support staff wellbeing, training and reflective practice.
- Oversee the recruitment, induction and support of volunteers.
Strategic Contribution
- Work closely with the Charity Director to translate strategic aims into operational plans.
- Contribute to organisational planning, policy development and reporting.
- Provide operational insight and updates to the Charity Director and Trustees.
Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with other homelessness organisations and local partners.
- Support the development of positive relationships with local authorities, funders and stakeholders.
- Represent the charity in meetings and forums where appropriate.
About You
We are looking for someone with both strong operational experience in the homelessness sector and a commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness. You will identify with FCENS values, with a strong focus on trauma-informed care and lived experience.
You will bring:
- Significant experience in the homelessness sector or a related field such as housing, rough sleeping, outreach or multiple disadvantage.
- Experience managing services or operations within a small team or organisation.
- Experience line managing staff and supporting frontline practitioners.
- A strong understanding of safeguarding, risk management and good practice in frontline support services.
- Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
You will also be:
- Positive, resilient and solutions-focused.
- Calm under pressure and confident making decisions.
- Values-driven and committed to improving outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
- Comfortable working within the charity’s Christian ethos.
Flexible Working
We support flexible hours where operationally viable. Requests for flexible working arrangements and compressed hours will be considered.
Equality, Diversity and Safer Recruitment. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
As part of our commitment to safeguarding the people we support, this role will be subject to safer recruitment procedures, including reference checks and an enhanced DBS check.
Closing date for applications:5pm Monday 13th April 2026.Interviews expected week commencing April 27th 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Purpose of the job
As Major Donor Manager, you will support the delivery of UK Youth's major donor programme, cultivating high-value, long-term relationships with high-net-worth (HNW) individuals in support of UK Youth's mission and vision. You will build and manage a pipeline of major donors and prospects, working towards income targets that grow year on year, and play a critical role in securing unrestricted funding, programme funding and transformational capital investment.
This role requires a strategic, relationship-led approach and a deep understanding of major gift fundraising. You will work closely with senior leadership to ensure credibility, effective stewardship and meaningful donor engagement. The Major Donor programme prioritises depth of relationship and long-term value over short-term income targets, and you will be instrumental in embedding this culture across the organisation.
The role sits within the strongly performing and highly motivated Fundraising department, including events, corporate, trust and foundation fundraising.
Why work at UK Youth?
Every young person deserves a youth worker. UK Youth exists to make that a reality. As the UK’s infrastructure body for youth work, we support a network of thousands of youth organisations to improve young lives every day. At the same time, we are transforming the policies, investment, and ideas needed to future-proof youth work for generations to come.
UK Youth exists to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. By joining UK Youth, you can help create a society that backs young people – through each spark, struggle and success.
Key responsibilities
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Major Donor Fundraising and Pipeline Development
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Cultivation, Stewardship and Events
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Capital Appeal Support – Avon Tyrrell
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Communications and Engagement
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Strategy and Performance
Experience we're after
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Proven experience in major donor fundraising, with a track record of cultivating and securing five or six figure gifts from HNW individuals.
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Experience of building and managing a major donor pipeline from prospect identification through to solicitation and stewardship.
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Experience of senior stakeholder management, including working with CEOs, trustees and senior volunteers.
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Experience of managing a diverse workload with multiple deadlines, stakeholders and deliverables.
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Experience of thinking strategically and developing compelling fundraising propositions aligned to organisational priorities.
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Experience of delivering cultivation and stewardship events for major donors.
What we can offer you
We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:
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Flexible/Agile Working
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27 days annual leave (24 days + 3 days winter closure) plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)
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Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity
-
Other training available in support of your personal and professional development
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Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)
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Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary
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Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally
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20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.
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IT equipment provided for the duration of contract
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CycleScheme and TechScheme
How to apply
If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.
Closing date: 14th April 2026 at 23:59 (midnight)
Provisional Interview Dates: w/c 27th April 2026
As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Purpose of the job
UK Youth exists to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning.
To do this, we work with a network of youth organisations delivering youth work and outdoor learning youth work across the UK, as well as national, regional and specialist infrastructure bodies that collectively strengthen the impact and sustainability of the sector.
Together, this network forms a connected system focused on one shared aim: widening the reach and deepening the impact of youth work and outdoor learning.
As our Network Manager, you will live and breathe our network, developing a deep understanding of the makeup, needs and priorities of network members to lead effective engagement and establish a high quality experience. You’ll drive a number of projects and steward relationships as part of our evolving offer, focusing on listening, moving from a transactional to a relational approach to supporting and learning from our network, equipping leaders with the skills, networks, and confidence to deliver exceptional support to young people.
You’ll support the Head of Network Development and the Senior Leadership Team to evolve UKY’s network offer as part of our new strategy. You will be a key advocate for the sector, ensuring our network remains responsive, resilient, and well equipped to meet emerging opportunities and challenges.
The role requires deep understanding and experience of the youth sector, the ability to confidently build relationships with leaders of practice and organisations, as well as a highly organised, and proactive individual with strong project management and excellent stakeholder management skills.
Why work at UK Youth?
UK Youth exists to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. We support a network of thousands of youth organisations across the UK to improve young lives every day. At the same time, we are transforming the policies, investment, and ideas needed to future-proof youth work and outdoor learning for generations to com e:
• We back youth work leaders with the evidence, connections, and investment they need to thrive.
• We keep youth work effective with research, large-scale pilot programmes, and professional development initiatives.
• And we work with young changemakers to inspire lasting change in the attitudes of the public and funders.
Key responsibilities
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Relationship Building, Network Onboarding and Partnerships
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Network Engagement, Experience and Capacity Building
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Planning, Budget and Resource Management
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Leadership and Management
Experience we're after
• Experience delivering youth work practice with young people.
• Understanding of youth policy, workforce challenges, and sector-wide trends including the changing aspirations and needs of young people and the impact of youth work in supporting these.
• Knowledge of youth sector infrastructure organisations and their roles at national, regional, and local levels.
• Strong programme and project management expertise, including a demonstrable track record of successfully leading and managing large-scale or complex programmes and projects in a previous role.
• Excellent relational and stakeholder engagement skills, with proven experience building and maintaining relationships across diverse organisations.
• Proven experience in network development, membership engagement, or partnership management within the charity, youth, or community sector.
• Experience in workforce development, training, or skills enhancement within a sector-focused setting.
• Excellent line management skills, with experience developing staff and effectively managing performance.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage diverse audiences in a variety of settings.
• Experience in budget management and financial planning.
What we can offer you
We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:
-
Flexible/Agile Working
-
27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)
-
Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity
-
Other training available in support of your personal and professional development
-
Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)
-
Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary
-
Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally
-
20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.
-
IT equipment provided for the duration of contract
-
CycleScheme and TechScheme
How to apply
If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.
Closing date: 7th April 2026 at 09:00am
Provisional Interview Dates: 13th and 14th April
As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.