219 Operation executive jobs

Change for Good Community Chaplaincy is looking for an experienced and committed Executive Director to lead our charity through an exciting stage of growth.

Founded in 2012, Change for Good began as a mentoring project in HMP Wandsworth and has grown into an established resettlement charity working across London. We support people before and after release through in-prison support, "through the gate" work, volunteer mentoring, and our peer support group, Next Chapter. Mentoring, advocacy, and peer support sit at the heart of everything we do.

As we grow, we're looking for a hands-on Executive Director who can lead the development and implementation of our strategic plan, lead and inspire our small staff team, champion the vital work of our volunteer mentors and our peer support group Next Chapter, and strengthen our relationships across the criminal justice and voluntary sectors - including our partner multi-faith prison chaplaincies.

About the role

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development and implementation of Change for Good's strategic plan, working closely with the Board of Trustees
• Serve as ambassador and primary spokesperson for the charity, promoting our mission and programmes

Programme Delivery & Impact

• Ensure the effective delivery of our programmes: in-prison support, through the gate, volunteer mentoring, and Next Chapter
• Monitor and evaluate programme outcomes, and produce quality impact reports for funders and stakeholders

Income Generation & Sustainability

• Contribute to funding strategy, diversifying and growing income streams to secure the charity's long-term sustainability
• Produce high-quality reports that meet funders' requirements and maintain strong funder relationships

People & Volunteers

• Lead, motivate, and support high-performing staff team, building a positive and inclusive team culture
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and development of staff and volunteer mentors
• Support the vital role of our volunteer mentors, ensuring they feel well trained, supervised, and valued

External Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the criminal justice and voluntary sectors

About you

This role would suit an experienced manager ready to take the step up into their first leadership role, as well as someone with prior senior leadership experience.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Management experience within the charity or voluntary sector, with the confidence and ability to lead a high-performing team
• A genuine passion for prisoner and ex-prisoner welfare, and a commitment to our mission
• Experience working with vulnerable or marginalised populations
• Experience within the criminal justice system or resettlement sector
• Ability to work closely with the Board of Trustees to develop and deliver strategic goals
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to represent the organisation externally
• Resilience, and the ability to thrive in a challenging and evolving environment
• Experience of, or willingness to lead on, fundraising and income generation

Change for Good is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and we particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in charity leadership. We warmly welcome applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Change for Good has a Christian foundation and works within multi-faith prison chaplaincy settings. Applicants should be comfortable working within, and respectful of, our faith-based ethos and multi-faith environment.

A little bit about the role

Contract: Full time, fixed term
Salary: £87,632.09 (incl London Office Allowance) plus competitive pension
Location: Hybrid- 2 days per week in London Office

The Culture and Operations Director (COD) ensures Frontline is a high-performing, well-governed charity with a strong culture of freedom and responsibility - a place people can do their best work to achieve Frontline’s mission.

They have strategic responsibility for charity-wide planning to ensure Frontline’s operational functions, effectively support teams to navigate challenges whilst maximising new opportunities. The successful candidate will join Frontline at a pivotal moment and play a key role in driving the next exciting step of our growth.

The COD will ensure high-quality operational support is available to all teams. Working closely with Frontline’s Leadership Group (Heads and Directors), to make sure that the appropriate and timely information, tools and guidance (e.g. HR, IT and finance) are available to managers and teams as needed. This includes working alongside other members of SLT, to:

• Confidently support Frontline through a period of growth and structural change
• Embody the culture of freedom and responsibility, leading by example, and implementing strategies which improve efficiency and quality
• Maintain Executive oversight of Frontline’s finances, working  with Head of Finance and Finance Audit and Risk Committee (FARC) Chair to ensure budgeting and financial decision-making is robust and strategic, to support the ongoing stability of the charity
• Maintain clear communication across teams, ensuring a connected and informed workforce who collaborate effectively. Oversee the success of key events such as annual all-staff away days, monthly gatherings and leadership stocktakes
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders including Frontline trustees, partner organisations and the Department for Education (DfE)
• Effectively lead teams to maintain Frontline's strong track-record of meeting legal/regulatory requirements, to minimise risk to the charity

Key Responsibilities

The COD will lead teams delivering on operational priorities in line with freedom and responsibility, to ensure we remain high performing:

Change management:

• Lead the coordination and project-management of an organisation-wide restructure, ensuing the charity is well-positioned to deliver on contractual obligations whilst diversifying to further amplify our impact and that teams are kept well-informed and feed into structural changes
• Support Frontline teams to work  collaboratively and deliver plans to broaden the scope of Frontline's work, extending activity beyond current areas of focus whilst maintaining a strong, shard commitment to Freedom and Responsibility.
• Develop and adhere to tracking and monitoring systems ensuring annual priorities remain on track to achieve Frontline's mission and long-term strategy.

People and Culture:

• Manage the Head of People to identify new and creative ways to further strengthen and embed our culture and grow personal accountability
• Support the Head of People to ensure excellent HR administration, support and use of data (e.g. staff turnover, sickness levels and performance reporting) to inform future planning and decision-making
• Ensure the team design and deliver high-quality staff induction and training which support staff to thrive (e.g. personal leadership, managing effectively and radical candour)
• Maintain awareness of trends and developing technologies to support efficiencies, e.g approaches to recruitment and support to managers.

Finance and Governance:

• Manage Head of Finance and Compliance to ensure sound budget management (£25m annually), financial controls and clear reporting mechanisms are in place
• Work with the Finance team to ensure FARC and the board have the necessary information and confidence in the financial leadership of Frontline.

Charity Quality and Efficiency:

• Manage and support IT and System leads across Frontline, ensuring they have the resources and compliance mechanisms to ensure robust systems are in place.
• Support Contract Governance teams to negotiate and implement significant government contracts, ensuring outcomes are achievable and effective governance and commercially sound contracts are in place.

Help widen access to education while gaining hands-on experience across governance, finance, events, systems and strategy in a national charity.

Join Classics for All as our Operations Intern and develop the skills, confidence and experience to launch a career in the charity, education or cultural sectors.

Operations Intern
£23,088 per annum (30 hours per week, 0.8 FTE)
Fixed-term until September 2027 | Hybrid working | London

Do you enjoy bringing order to complexity, spotting ways to improve how things work, and helping people succeed?

Classics for All is looking for an enthusiastic and organised Operations Intern to join our small, ambitious team. This is a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience across the full breadth of charity operations while helping us expand access to Classics education for young people in state schools across the UK.

You'll work directly with our Chief Executive and colleagues across fundraising, communications, programme delivery and operations. Rather than being confined to a single project, you'll gain exposure to how a national charity actually works: from supporting trustee meetings and finance processes to helping run events, improving systems and maintaining our Salesforce database.

No two days are the same. One day you might be preparing papers for a trustee meeting, processing invoices or supporting organisational planning. The next you could be helping coordinate a national event, improving administrative processes or ensuring our data is accurate and up to date.

We designed this role as a developmental opportunity for someone looking to build a career in the charity, education, cultural or non-profit sectors. You'll receive support, mentoring and practical experience that will help you develop highly transferable skills in project coordination, governance, administration, finance and organisational management. 

Why join Classics for All?

Classics for All is a national education charity working to ensure that every young person, regardless of background or postcode, has the opportunity to explore the ancient world through language, culture and history. We support schools across the UK to introduce and sustain Classics, helping young people develop confidence, curiosity and cultural understanding. 

Our team is collaborative, supportive and mission-driven. You'll join us at an exciting time as we develop a new organisational strategy and build on the impact we've already achieved supporting schools and teachers across the country. 

We're looking for someone who:

• Enjoys organising information, processes and tasks.
• Has excellent attention to detail.
• Likes solving problems and finding practical solutions.
• Communicates clearly and professionally.
• Is curious, proactive and keen to learn.
• Wants to gain experience across multiple areas of charity operations.
• Shares our commitment to educational opportunity and inclusion.

We particularly welcome applications from people who may not see themselves reflected in the traditional image of Classics.

You do not need to have studied Classics and there definitely won't be any Latin tests. We're interested in your potential, motivation and willingness to learn. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and especially from groups currently underrepresented within the Classics community.

What we offer

• A genuinely varied role with meaningful responsibility from day one.
• Direct exposure to charity leadership and governance.
• Structured support and development opportunities.
• Flexible and hybrid working.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Generous annual leave plus Christmas closure period.
• The opportunity to help shape educational opportunities for young people across the UK.

Wycombe Refugee Partnership is at a crucial stage as a charity, having experienced rapid and exponential growth since early 2024. The needs and situations of those it supports are constantly changing, and the charity is looking for someone with energy and a passion to respond to these new challenges.

The Operations Manager is responsible for the overall management and development of the charity. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the postholder will ensure that the charity is well managed, financially sustainable, legally compliant and continues to provide high-quality support for asylum seekers and refugees.

The role combines strategic leadership with practical day-to-day management and requires someone who is comfortable working in a small organisation where flexibility and initiative are essential.

Location: Amersham Hospital, Buckinghamshire, with a minimum of 50% on-site working and flexibility to work remotely.
Salary: Circa £60,000 FTE per annum
Contract: Permanent, Part-Time, 3-4 days per week

Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity is looking for an experienced and collaborative finance leader to become its new Head of Finance and Operations, helping shape the financial and organisational foundations of a newly merged charity.

Formed in April 2026 through the merger of Scannappeal and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Fund, Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity brings together two established organisations with a shared commitment to improving healthcare across Buckinghamshire. This is an exciting opportunity to join at a formative point in its development, with strong foundations already in place and significant scope to shape what comes next.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic financial leadership across the charity, supporting the Chief Executive, Trustees and senior colleagues with clear insight, advice and constructive challenge. You will lead financial strategy, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting, alongside oversight of governance, risk, investments and organisational systems.

You will also play an important role in supporting and developing the existing finance team. Working closely with the Finance Manager, you will build strong relationships, provide direction and support, and create the right balance between senior accountability and genuine ownership within the team. You will work collaboratively across the charity, as well as with Trustees, auditors, investment managers and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with significant senior-level experience across strategic financial management, reporting, governance and risk. You will combine strong technical expertise with sound judgement, excellent communication skills and a collaborative leadership style. Experience of joining or inheriting an established team and developing people to take ownership of their work will be particularly important.

This is an opportunity to play a central role in building the financial and organisational strength of a new independent charity, helping Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity turn its ambitions into greater impact for patients, NHS staff and communities across Buckinghamshire.

Please download the Candidate Information Pack [PDF] for further information.

Closing Date: Tuesday, 15th September

Rural Refugee Network (RRN) is a small local charity in East Hampshire, Havant and Portsmouth, working alongside refugees and people seeking asylum through the work of six board members, thirty operational volunteers, one part-time permanent employee and a small bank of project staff and contractors. The charity is widely recognised by stakeholders and the local community for sensitively and effectively addressing the many challenges people arriving in the UK face as they strive to resettle and thrive in our community.

RRN is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead its support for refugees and people seeking asylum. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a small charity through a period of significant change, with overall operational responsibility for the charity, including partnerships, funding, coordination of delivery, safeguarding and compliance. 

Working directly with a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries, the ideal candidate for this complex and high trust role will be self-reliant, adaptable, and able to engage and influence through excellent face-to-face and online communication skills. This is a genuinely flexible role, with significant autonomy over when and where work is undertaken. There will be regular opportunities for in-person team management and relationship-building, alongside substantial flexibility in how the wider working week is structured and where work is carried out. We are looking for someone who is confident working independently, manages their own time effectively and values the trust and responsibility that come with this level of autonomy.

A candidate who is energised by working flexibly and sensitively with a small team will thrive in this role, which offers the opportunity to make a direct and meaningful impact on people’s lives.

Experience in the refugee sector is desirable.

Deadline: 5pm Monday 21 September

To apply, please send your CV and a supporting statement of not more than 2 sides, explaining your motivation, reflecting on how you would approach being RRN’s only core employed leader, and demonstrating your fit against the specification below. Please use the email subject heading “Head of Operations Application”. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applications.

Job Description

Title: Rural Refugee Network Head of Operations

Reports to:  Board of Trustees

Hours:  Part-time (0.5 FTE, negotiable). Permanent contract.

Salary range: £40,000 - £45,000 FTE depending on experience.

Benefits: 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata to hours agreed). 3% employer pension contribution.

Location and expectations: Flexible hybrid working with frequent travel to projects, events and stakeholder meetings in Portsmouth, Havant, Petersfield and the wider Hampshire area. Occasional evening and weekend in-person working required.

Purpose: To lead the day-to-day operation, development and sustainability of Rural Refugee Network, working with trustees, volunteers, funders and partner organisations to ensure refugees and asylum seekers receive practical support and RRN maintains compliance and operational sustainability.

About the role:. 

In this small charity, the Head of Operations combines operational coordination, programme oversight, partnership development and income generation, with delivery shared across volunteers, trustees and contracted staff.The role offers a high degree of autonomy and flexibility, alongside the opportunity to shape how the organisation works and develops. It requires strong judgement in balancing opportunities, risks and priorities within limited capacity, and the confidence to work independently while bringing others with you.

RRN is volunteer-led, and the Head of Operations is the organisation’s only permanent employee, holding overall coordination and accountability for day-to-day operations. This is therefore a broad, high-trust role: rather than delivering everything directly, you will enable and coordinate others, working closely with trustees, volunteers and contractors who deliver significant elements of the activity you lead.

The role will suit someone who enjoys variety, autonomy and a flexible working pattern, and who is comfortable taking ownership while knowing when to collaborate, delegate or seek support.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership, coordination and partnerships

• Deliver agreed strategic objectives and support trustees in developing future priorities.

• Prepare quarterly Board reports.

• Coordinate relationships with statutory, voluntary and community partners.

• With the support of trustees, represent the charity in local forums, develop opportunities for collaboration and promote RRN in the local community.

Programme and volunteer coordination

• Provide oversight of funded and core programmes.

• Recruit, train and manage project staff (currently two youth workers) and contracted/sessional staff.

• Recruit, train, support and retain volunteers.

• Oversee referral pathways and access.

• Support volunteer-led communications activity including website, newsletters, social media, impact reports and case studies.

Income development and funding

• Write grant applications and manage reporting requirements (with volunteer/trustee input).

• Maintain and develop funding pipeline and actively develop new funding streams.

• Support relationship-building with donors and community supporters.

Finance and compliance 

• Monitor programme budgets, working with the Treasurer.

• Support trustees in governance, reporting and compliance responsibilities.

• Maintain organisational policies and procedures.

• Lead safeguarding practice and reporting, acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensuring policies are implemented by staff, volunteers, and contractors.

• Maintain oversight of organisational risk, compliance with Charity Commission, data protection, employment requirements and insurance arrangements.

• Ensure appropriate administrative systems are in place and followed, including maintaining up-to-date records in the CRM, Lamplight.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Substantial experience managing programmes or services in the charity/social impact sector, including line management, budgeting and financial oversight, and grant compliance/reporting.

• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience leading and recruiting volunteer teams. 

• Deep understanding of safeguarding and compliance and recent experience leading safeguarding practice and decision-making. Up to date on requirements and best practice.

• Ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement about what trustees need to know and when, and to prioritise effectively within limited capacity and competing demands.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, IT proficiency.

Desirable

• Experience working with refugees, asylum seekers or other vulnerable groups.

• Understanding of immigration, integration or resettlement issues.

• Successful fundraising and bid-writing experience. 

• Experience of local authority commissioning or grant funding.

• Comfort and experience in IT, data and/or CRMs.

RRN is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check, including a check of the relevant barred list, two satisfactory references, including your most recent employer, and safer recruitment practice including verification of employment history and a right to work check. RRN is unable to sponsor work visas, so applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

Head of Organisational Strategy and Operations (known internally as Infrastructure Lead) is a senior strategic leadership role within Healing Justice Ldn, working closely alongside the Executive Director to help shape and steward the organisational infrastructure, systems, and coordination practices needed for HJL’ s next phase of development.

The role exists to strengthen the connective infrastructure that enables HJL’ s organisational arms to operate autonomously while remaining aligned, collaborative, sustainable, and responsive within rapidly changing political, social, and movement landscapes.

Rather than focusing primarily on operational administration or hierarchical management, the role centres on developing values-aligned systems, organisational practices, and ways of working that support collective care, adaptability, organisational health, and long-term sustainability. Working across programmes, research, narrative strategy, operations, and leadership, the post holder will support communication, coordination, learning, and organisational coherence across the organisation while strengthening distributed leadership.

This role would suit someone who has previously held senior leadership responsibility across multiple organisational areas within a values-led, justice-oriented, community-based, or movement environment. As a newly created role within an evolving organisational structure, the responsibilities, focus, and ways of working within the role may continue to develop over time in response to organisational learning, growth, and changing needs.

Responsibilities

 Organisational stewardship & coordination

• Shape and steward HJL’ s organisational infrastructure, systems, and long-term sustainability alongside the Executive Director and wider leadership.
• Support strategic coherence, communication, and coordination across HJL’ s organisational arms, including programmes, research, narrative strategy, operations, and infrastructure.
• Develop organisational systems, structures, and practices that support autonomy, collaboration, accountability, adaptability, and collective wellbeing.
• Support organisational decision-making, governance, and ways of working that reflect HJL’ s commitments to disability justice, racial justice, accessibility, collective care, and community accountability.
• Help strengthen organisational resilience and responsiveness within changing political, social, funding, and movement conditions.

Infrastructure & organisational development 

• Lead the development and stewardship of values-aligned organisational systems, policies, and internal processes.
• Build and strengthen the connective infrastructure that supports collaboration, shared learning, and coordination across different organisational areas.
• Support organisational learning, reflection, adaptation, and knowledge sharing processes across teams and leadership.
• Help create structures and organisational cultures that support sustainable collaboration, leadership development, conflict navigation, and organisational wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with advisors, external partners, and leadership to support organisational sustainability and adaptive development.

Organisational sustainability & external relationships (Operational sustainability) 

• Work alongside the Executive Director and external finance partners to support organisational sustainability, financial planning, and resource stewardship.
• Contribute to fundraising strategy, partnership development, and relationship-building with funders, collaborators, and aligned organisations.
• Support infrastructure connected to organisational growth, partnerships, and long-term sustainability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across HJL s wider ecosystem of collaborators, movement partners, advisors, and aligned organisations.

Organisational health, risk and resilience (Risk, Resilience & Infrastructure) 

• Identify, map and respond to organisational vulnerabilities, operational challenges and external pressures affecting HJL’ s work and sustainability.
• Support systems and practices related to safeguarding, accountability, evaluation, organisational learning, and collective wellbeing.
• Support the organisation to navigate complexity, uncertainty, conflict, and change in ways that remain adaptive, relational, and values-aligned.

Person specification

Experience & Capabilities 

We recognise that people develop leadership experience through many different pathways and do not expect applicants to meet every area listed below.

We are particularly interested in people who bring systems thinking, organisational leadership experience, and experience working within complex, values-led environments.

You may bring:

• Significant experience working within community-based, justice-oriented, movement, or values-led organisations.
• Experience holding strategic responsibility across multiple organisational areas such as organisational development, governance, operations, partnerships, sustainability, fundraising, or people management.
• Experience developing or evolving organisational systems, structures, policies, or ways of working within changing or complex environments.
• Experience supporting organisational growth, transition, resilience, or change.
• Experience building collaborative relationships with funders, partners, advisors, communities, or wider movement ecosystems.
• Systems thinking, facilitation, coordination, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to navigate complexity, ambiguity, conflict, and organisational change with emotional maturity and relational awareness.
• Ability to support collaboration and coherence across multiple teams, work streams, or organisational areas without relying on hierarchical management approaches.
• Understanding of equity-centred, accessibility-informed, trauma-informed, and relational approaches to organisational development and leadership.
• Commitment to collective care, disability justice, racial justice, and community accountability.

Benefits

• 4% Pension contribution
• Individual professional development budget
• Enhanced annual leave provisions beyond the statutory minimum including a summer and winter break
• Staff training on somatics, trauma and resilience
• Free office refreshments
• Season ticket loan
• Enhanced parental leave pay

Introductory / Q&A Webinar

Interested in learning more about the role and our organisation? Join us for a one-hour webinar hosted by our Executive Director, Farzana Khan. We'll share insights into the role, our work and what you can expect from joining the organisation. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A.

The webinar will take place at 5pm on Tuesday 15 September 2026 (click apply link for details on how to join the webinar).

Recruitment Timeline

• Applications Open: Wednesday 9th September 2026
• Introductory / Q&A Webinar: 15th September 2026 at 5pm BST
• Applications Close: Monday 21st September 2026 at 3pm BST
• 1st stage virtual interview: w/c 5th October 2026
• 2nd stage in person interview and task: w/c 12th October 2026
• Appointment made by Monday 19th October 2026

About Healing Justice Ldn

Healing Justice Ldn (HJL) is a community-led organisation working at the intersections of health justice, collective care, healing, and systems change. Rooted in disability justice, transformative practice, and liberation work, HJL develops community-led approaches to wellbeing that address the structural impacts of racism, ableism, state violence, and inequality.

Through research, training, political education, movement support, and healing practice, HJL works to build the infrastructures, relationships, and capacities needed for long-term collective resilience and liberation. The organisation supports communities, organisers, practitioners, and movements to develop sustainable approaches to health, care, and social transformation.

HJL operates through an evolving organisational model centred around autonomy, connection, collaboration, and collective stewardship. Different organisational “ arms ” hold distinct areas of practice while remaining connected through shared values, coordination structures, and relational infrastructure.

As HJL enters a new phase of organisational development, there is an increasing need for organisational infrastructure, systems, governance, and connective coordination that can support sustainable growth while remaining responsive and accountable within rapidly changing political, social, and movement landscapes.

Head of Operations 

Bath | c.£47,000 – £49,000 | Full-time | Permanent

Are you an experienced operational leader who enjoys bringing people, processes and systems together to make an organisation work better?

We’re working with a fantastic Bath-based education charity to recruit a new Head of Operations at an exciting point in its development.

This is a broad and influential role, overseeing the organisation’s central operations across finance, facilities, data and insight, and administration. You’ll manage a team of experienced functional leads and create the effective ‘engine room’ that allows the wider organisation to focus on delivering for its beneficiaries.

The role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you’ll take responsibility for the smooth and effective running of central operations, with a particular focus on finance and financial planning, alongside organisational resilience, risk, compliance and continuous improvement.

Your responsibilities will include:

· Leading and developing a multi-disciplinary operations team

· Overseeing the finance function, including financial management, reporting and compliance

· Leading the annual budgeting, financial planning and resource allocation process

· Overseeing facilities, infrastructure, data and central administration

· Leading on operational risk, business continuity and regulatory compliance

· Improving systems, processes and ways of working across the organisation

· Supporting annual planning, organisational development and strategic delivery

· Working closely with the Chief Executive, senior leadership team and Trustees

· Managing relationships with external consultants, suppliers and other key partners

· Helping build a collaborative, effective and continuously improving organisational culture

The role has significant breadth, but you don’t need to be a technical specialist in every area. We’re looking for someone with the judgement to know when to lead directly, when to draw on the expertise within their team and when external support is required.

About you 

This could suit someone from an operations, finance or facilities background who has progressed into broader organisational leadership.

You’ll need significant experience of managing across multiple functions, alongside a track record of leading teams and improving systems and processes.

You should also be comfortable overseeing budgets and financial processes, managing risk and compliance, and working with external suppliers or professional advisers. Experience within a charity, education, membership or other mission-driven environment would be particularly valuable.

Most importantly, we’re looking for a practical and solutions-focused leader who enjoys bringing different functions together. Someone who can see the bigger picture but is equally comfortable getting involved when needed, building strong relationships and maintaining momentum through change.

This is a new role within an organisation already midway through an ambitious development programme, so there is a genuine opportunity to influence how the organisation operates in the future.

Salary: c.£47,000 – £49,000
Location: Bath – predominantly campus-based with some flexibility for remote working
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time

Closing date: 21st September 2026

If you’re looking for a broad leadership role where you can make a tangible difference to how a values-led organisation works, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you an experienced and highly organised operations professional who enjoys making sure an organisation runs smoothly?

We are looking for a Business Operations Manager to lead and strengthen our day-to-day operations. This is an important role within our charity, responsible for ensuring our staff, volunteers and trustees have the effective systems, support and working environment they need to deliver the best possible services for the people we serve.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and senior managers, you will lead operational activity across:

• office and business support;
• finance and HR administration;
• facilities and building management;
• governance and organisational compliance;
• health and safety;
• the continuous improvement of systems and processes.

You will manage and develop the Business Support Team, coordinate operational priorities, and help ensure our organisation remains safe, efficient, welcoming, and well organised.

About you

You will have experience of managing office or business operations within a charity, public-sector organisation or a similar working environment. You will also bring:

• experience of leading an administrative or business support team;
• knowledge of finance and HR administration;
• experience of facilities or premises management;
• an understanding of GDPR, health and safety and organisational compliance;
• excellent planning and organisational skills;
• the ability to manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure;
• confidence in using Microsoft 365 and organisational databases; and
• a practical approach to improving systems and ways of working.

A relevant Level 5 qualification or degree would be welcomed, but we also value equivalent knowledge and experience.

Experience within a Parent Carer Forum, SEND organisation, charity or community organisation would be an advantage, although it is not essential.

Most importantly, you will be approachable, collaborative and committed to creating an inclusive organisation that provides an excellent experience for staff, volunteers, families and partners.

What we offer

We want our people to feel valued, supported and able to do their best work. As part of our team, you will receive:

• Generous annual leave – statutory minimum holiday entitlement, including bank holidays, plus an additional 5 days’ paid annual leave each year. For someone working five days per week, this is 33 days’ paid leave per year, including bank holidays, pro rata for part-time employees.
• Workplace pension – eligible employees will be enrolled into our NEST workplace pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme – access to the Wisdom Employee Assistance Programme, providing confidential support for your health and wellbeing.
• Support and development – regular supervision alongside opportunities for learning and development.
• An inclusive and supportive workplace – where different perspectives, experiences and ways of thinking are welcomed and valued.

You’ll also have the opportunity to be part of an organisation working to make a meaningful difference to the people and communities we support.

How to apply

Please submit an application form explaining how your experience, knowledge and skills meet the requirements of the role.

Closing date: 21st September 2026 at 9:00 am

Interview date: w/c 28th September 2026

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

This role is subject to a basic DBS check and satisfactory references.

Help build the operational backbone of a multi-award winning charity that's ready to grow further, with a clear path to becoming our COO.

For seven years, one exceptional leader has held impact, organisational development and much of YUAF's operations, building the processes, funder relationships and team support that became part of the spine of how we grew. As they move on, we're not just replacing them. We're rethinking and widening the role.

This post exists to hold the organisation steady and take operational responsibility off the Chief Executive's plate, freeing her to focus on strategy, key donors and the funding pipeline.

What you'll hold

You'll report to the Chief Executive and sit on the Senior Management Team, owning income generation, impact and evidence, business planning, governance, performance management and the systems underneath them all. You'll line-manage four people: the Pathways Lead, Marketing Lead, Project Manager and Futures Lead.

Where the role is going

From month seven, this role is intended to move to full time with deeper ownership of income and strategy. As YUAF grows, and subject to income generation, we want this post to develop into our Chief Operating Officer role. We'd rather appoint someone who outgrows this description than someone who fits it exactly.

How you'll start

The first six months are a settling period at 30 hours per week. You'll learn how the organisation actually works, get embedded in the culture, and understand the programmes by spending real time with young people and the people who deliver them.

You'll build relationships across the team, with funders and with partners, and by month three, we want people to naturally come to you as a trusted point of contact.

We also want you to look at YUAF with fresh eyes. Where are the gaps? What's held together by one person's memory alone? Where does delivery quality drop, and why? What would make life easier for the staff doing the hardest work? Bring us both the diagnosis and the solutions.

The timing is on your side: November to February is our quietest season, when the Studio Bus is largely off the road. Delivery picks up again in March 2027, so the role builds in stages rather than coming to you all at once.

How to apply

In addition to providing your CV and cover letter, it is a requirement of the application process that you complete our Head of Operations Questionnaire. A link for this can be found on the attached job description. 

Note

We recognise that AI is a useful tool, however, we will be assessing applications, cover letters and running through AI to ensure that it was written by yourself as part of our shortlisting process. So please take the time to write your own application, this is a serious role that requires critical and independent thinking.

Dean Farm Trust is seeking an experienced and compassionate Sanctuary Operations Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and operational management of our 32-acre animal sanctuary near Chepstow.

Home to 200 rescued animals, including pigs, cows, sheep, goats, equines and birds, Dean Farm Trust provides a home for life to animals in need. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with animal welfare at its heart.

The Sanctuary Operations Manager will lead our on-site team, working through our Team Leaders to ensure the Sanctuary operates safely, effectively and to the highest standards of animal welfare. The role will oversee staffing and rotas, volunteer development, recruitment and training, budgets and resources, facilities and maintenance, land and pasture management, health and safety, compliance, contractors, projects and the operational delivery of Sanctuary events and activities.

We are looking for someone with strong leadership and people-management experience who is confident managing a busy operational environment and developing both staff and volunteers. You will need to be organised, practical and able to balance the immediate demands of running a sanctuary with longer-term planning and improvement.

This is an important appointment for Dean Farm Trust as we strengthen our operational structure and build a sustainable future for the Sanctuary. The successful candidate will work closely with the Director and Trustees while taking real ownership of Sanctuary operations and providing strong, consistent on-site leadership.

A genuine commitment to animal welfare and to the values of Dean Farm Trust is essential.

Please read our full Candidate Pack before applying. It includes the complete Job Description, information about Dean Farm Trust and further background on why we are recruiting for this role now.

In this role you are responsible for day-to-day operational activity across both finance and HR functions, working closely with the Finance Officer and reporting to the Head of Finance (with ‘dotted line’ reporting to Director of Finance and Operations in respect of HR activity). 
The role requires effective use of systems to enable efficient processes, with responsibility for data held on the HR system and management of routine employee related processes including recruitment and onboarding. The role also shares responsibility for processing invoices and payments on the finance system, responding to queries from colleagues and 3rd party partners. You will provide support for Head of Finance and Director Finance and Operations where required, including data analysis, reporting and preparation of returns across both finance and HR remits.

How to apply
To apply for this role please send your CV and cover letter (maximum two pages) including responses to the three questions below:
1. Tell us about a time when you identified a process that could be improved or made more efficient. How did you approach making the change, and what did you do to ensure the process was accurate, consistent and effective?
2. Describe a situation where you had to handle sensitive financial or employee information while also resolving a difficult or confidential issue. What approach did you take?
3. Give an example of when you have had to manage competing priorities. How did you decide what to do first, and how did you ensure important deadlines were met?

HR and Recruitment
• Maintain accurate data on our HR system including starters, leavers, holiday and other absences
• Report on key employee metrics including sickness absence, holiday, TOIL, diversity
• Support line managers with recruitment activity including making effective use of the Applicant Tracking System to ensure a good candidate experience and to report recruitment metrics to enable continuous improvement
• Manage onboarding for new starters including reference requests, pre-employment checks, induction processes
• Coordinate arrangements for training sessions for staff
• Support Head of Finance with monthly payroll processes
• Support Director of Finance and Operations in maintaining and publicising HR policies, keeping the Employee Handbook current
• Maintain up to date employee guides and templates for key HR processes including appraisals, mid year reviews, recruitment, induction, flexible leave

Finance Administration
• Maintain appropriate employee access to Finance Systems, including being able to claim staff expenses and raise sales invoice requests, and support employees in using these systems. 
• Respond to queries in the central accounts mailbox, liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support Head of Finance and Finance Officer with Purchase Ledger, including posting and payment of supplier invoices in a timely manner, ensuring accurate coding and authorisation in line with limits, maintenance of supplier accounts, reconciliations and remittances.
• Support Head of Finance and Finance Officer with management of company credit cards and virtual cards, including reconciling statements and accurate posting to the ledger. 
• Assist in raising sales invoices and accurately recording income. 
• Assist with Credit Control, chasing overdue debts and reporting to the Head of Finance.
• Support Head of Finance with analysis of financial data from the finance system (Xero) for reporting and other ad-hoc purposes
• Assist in maintaining up to date procedures. 

There is an opportunity to attend theatre press nights where appropriate and to take advantage of trade tickets when offered

This role sits within the Finance and Operations team whose focus is to ensure the organisations operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. Our team operates across Finance, HR, Technology, Facilities and Compliance, to ensure that systems and processes are set up which promote smooth delivery and support the work of the organisations. This includes adherence to regulatory requirements and best practice standards

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with Mencap to recruit a new Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the UK's leading disability charities at a pivotal moment of investment and renewed ambition. 

Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations
Salary: £65,000 - £70,000 dependent on experience
Location: Hybrid (London HQ)

Mencap is seeking an exceptional fundraising operations and strategy leader to join the organisation as Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations. This is a newly created and highly influential role at the centre of Mencap's fundraising transformation journey. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Fundraising, the successful candidate will act as a key strategic partner, helping to build the systems, processes, insight and infrastructure required to support sustainable fundraising growth.

This role will shape the future of fundraising strategy and operations at Mencap. Working across a directorate with clear ambition for growth, you will lead the planning, performance, insight, systems and case for support activity that helps their fundraising teams work with clarity, consistency and confidence.

Mencap’s fundraising teams need strong foundations to build trusted relationships, grow income and deliver lasting impact for people with a learning disability and their families. You will work closely with senior fundraising leaders and colleagues across Mencap to turn the ambition of Mencap 2030 into joined-up plans, strengthen reporting and forecasting, and improve how data, systems and evidence are used to support decision making.

We are looking for a confident fundraising strategy and operations leader who combines strategic thinking with strong planning, reporting, systems and stakeholder management experience. You will be able to bring structure to complex work, improve ways of working and support sustainable fundraising growth across the directorate.

You will directly lead key roles across fundraising operations, case for support, stewardship and strategy, creating the leadership, confidence, systems and ways of working needed for fundraising strategy and operations to support growth. This role is for someone who can connect strategy with delivery, build the conditions for teams to succeed and help the directorate scale income and deliver lasting impact.

Over the last year Mencap has made significant investment in fundraising capability, including the implementation of Salesforce. As the organisation enters the next phase of its development, the focus is shifting from implementation towards optimisation, embedding best practice, building capability and creating a more strategic, data-led fundraising culture. This role will be instrumental in helping Mencap realise the full value of that investment.

This is not a traditional fundraising role. Rather than leading frontline income generation, the Head of Fundraising Strategy & Operations will be responsible for building the engine that enables fundraising success. You will identify risks, strengthen processes, improve ways of working and create the conditions that allow fundraising teams to perform at their best.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role requiring strong relationship-building skills, excellent project management capability and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director, helping to drive continuous improvement across the fundraising function and supporting the wider transformation agenda.

Potential Early Objectives / Success Measures

• Develop and embed a clear fundraising planning cycle aligned to Mencap 2030.
• Establish reliable operational reporting, forecasting, budget oversight and KPI routines across the Fundraising Directorate.
• Strengthen use of data, insight and Salesforce to support decision-making, performance management and continuous improvement.
• Review fundraising systems, data and compliance practices, including GDPR, Gift Aid and Fundraising Regulator requirements.
• Develop a clear case for support and stewardship approach that can be used consistently across fundraising activity.
• Build capability, confidence and clear accountabilities across fundraising operations, case for support, stewardship and strategy roles.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading fundraising operations, strategy, planning, insight or performance functions.
• Strong understanding of fundraising processes, systems and best practice across multiple income streams.
• Experience managing CRM platforms and driving organisational adoption of data and technology solutions.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver complex initiatives.
• Experience developing performance frameworks, reporting systems, KPIs and management information.
• Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to translate data into actionable insight and strategic recommendations.
• Experience building operational infrastructure and supporting fundraising growth or transformation programmes.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments and seniority levels.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of developing capability and building high-performing teams.
• A strategic mindset combined with strong operational delivery skills and attention to detail.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and fundraising excellence.

Above all, we are looking for a collaborative and solutions-focused leader who is passionate about fundraising excellence. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of fundraising at Mencap by building the systems, insight and operational foundations that will support long-term sustainable growth and enable greater impact for people with a learning disability and their families.

How to Apply
The deadline for applications is Friday 2nd October with 1st stage interviews to take place w/c 12th October. To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role via our website using the apply now button.
If you have any initial questions before applying, please get in touch. We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from people with diverse experiences and are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments required throughout the recruitment process.