Operation manager jobs

The Operations Manager plays a key leadership role in ensuring the effective day-to-day running of the charity. Working closely with the Business Development Manager and Board of Trustees, the postholder will oversee operations, finance, governance, and organisational systems to ensure the charity delivers high-quality services in line with its mission and strategic objectives.

The role will strengthen organisational sustainability through robust financial management, effective systems and processes, strong team leadership, and support for income generation activities.

The Operations Manager in conjunction with the Business Development Manager together form the CVS’s senior management team. They will ensure the charity operates in compliance with all regulatory requirements while maximising impact for beneficiaries and communities.

Our client has supported children and young people across Berkshire for over 85 years; they champion safe spaces, trusted relationships and opportunities that help young people develop confidence, skills and aspirations. They are values-led, inclusive and youth-centred, working with communities, schools, partners and their member network to improve outcomes for young people across Berkshire. At an exciting time of growth, they are now recruiting for an experienced Operations Manager to join their small, committed team.

The Operations Manager is a pivotal senior leadership role within the organisation, responsible for strengthening the operational backbone of the organisation. This role ensures that the organisation’s buildings, systems, people, suppliers and processes operate smoothly, safely and compliantly, enabling high-quality youth work delivery. The Operations Manager provides strong day-to-day operational leadership and discipline, freeing the CEO to focus on strategy, partnerships and organisational growth. The postholder will be highly organised, practical and accountable, with a strong focus on implementation and follow‑through.

To apply for this role, you will have significant operational management experience in a charity, public sector, education, community or similar environment. You will have demonstrable experience of managing multi‑site operations, facilities or complex operational systems and will have proven experience of workforce planning, operational delivery and implementing organisational change. You will have experience of managing suppliers, contracts and procurement processes and will have a strong understanding of operational compliance, risk management and audit readiness. Overall, you will be practical, organised and solutions-focused, with the confidence to work across teams and with trustees, suppliers and external partners.

If you are interested in applying for this exciting position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange a call to fully brief you on the role.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity.

Please note this role will be hybrid-working, based either from Newbury or Reading, with regular travel across Berkshire.

Our client is committed to the protection and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Successful candidates will undertake an enhanced DBS check and references.

The Berkshire and Hampshire Borders (BHB) Methodist Circuit is a network of twenty-five churches across western Berkshire and northern Hampshire, united by a vision to proclaim God's love as a justice-seeking community. Our mission is to be a growing, inclusive, and evangelistic church where faith deepens and communities are transformed. 

As Operations Manager, you'll be the backbone supporting our work. Working with the Leadership Team, you'll coordinate the operational infrastructure that keeps twenty-five autonomous churches running — from property and finance to safeguarding and compliance — empowering churches and outreach staff to deliver high-quality support to church members and vulnerable people.

The Role
You'll provide operational guidance and support to the Circuit Leadership Team and Circuit Meeting (Trustees), attending meetings and preparing reports on governance matters. You'll manage the Circuit Finance Officer, ensuring sound accounting practices, financial controls, and reporting. Across property, you'll oversee 19 houses — coordinating quinquennial inspections, maintenance plans, manse preparation for incoming ministers, externally managed letting of surplus properties, and professional appointments for sales and purchases. You'll also support energy and telecoms contract negotiations.

In safeguarding, you'll co-lead the Circuit Safeguarding Team, coordinate training, and maintain records of DBS checks. For health and safety, you'll guide churches on policies, risk assessments, and fire safety, with professional support as needed. On EDI, you'll maintain awareness of Methodist policy, coordinate training, and promote inclusive practice. You'll line manage the Administration Finance Officer and Administration Officer.

Key Details
Permanent role, £45,000–£55,000, 37.5 hours per week based in Reading, Berkshire with occasional evening or weekend working and travel across the area. 33 days annual leave including public holidays, contributory pension, reasonable expenses reimbursed plus a training funded. Closing date: Friday 17 June. Interviews: early July.

This Job Is For You If…
You have experience in an operational, administrative, or management role coordinating processes, policies, and systems. You've supported multiple stakeholders — staff, volunteers, or committees and have familiarity with safeguarding, health and safety, or compliance. You're organised, an excellent communicator, and can work with sensitivity within a faith-based organisation. You hold a full driving licence with access to a reliable vehicle and are willing to travel. Desirably, you have a relevant qualification, experience with financial administration or property management, and understanding of Methodist Church structures.

Development
You'll have significant training opportunities, including a substantial overlap with the outgoing postholder for thorough knowledge transfer.

Appointment is subject to Enhanced DBS disclosure, satisfactory references, right to work in the UK, and a three-month probationary period. We encourage applications from all sections of the community — you don't need to meet every criterion to apply.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 60,000 young people each year at its 46 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate to take on the permanent role of Regional Operations Manager for our centres in North East England, currently Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Newcastle and Gateshead

As a Regional Operations Manager you will line manage the Centre Leaders in your region to ensure that centres are working effectively, that the high quality of programme delivery to young people is maintained across the cluster, and that targets are monitored and met. And of course, you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people and helping them achieve their ambitions.

Contract

Full-time, permanent

Start date

As soon as possible

Working hours

Monday: 9:30am – 6:00pm 

Tuesday: 9am – 5:30pm 

Wednesday: 9am – 5:30pm

Thursday: 9:30am – 6:00pm 

 Friday: 9am – 5:30pm

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Salary

 £41,000 per annum

Location

This role could be based at one of our centres in Middlesbrough or Gateshead 

Annual leave

33 days (inc bank & public holidays)
+ 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement
(one day per year of service, up to 5 days)

Application deadline 

9am Thursday 4th June 2026

Interview Day (in-person)

Thursday 18th June 2026

Please ensure that you are available on these dates

About us 

CASPA encourages autistic pride and supports autistic individuals to have fun, learn life skills, and make safe and inclusive community connections. 

Our vision is to build a society in which autistic individuals feel understood and empowered to be their full self and live their best life. Our values are: 

Acceptance – We are inclusive and celebrate our differences. 

Support – We are supportive, caring and kind. 

Community – We connect people and build community. 

Trust – We earn trust and create safety. 

Communication – We listen to others and communicate honestly. 

About the role 

The HR and Operations Manager is responsible for managing the employee lifecycle and core operational functions at CASPA.

The role ensures that HR and operational processes are efficient, compliant, and accessible.It also has a strategic focus on user experience in a neurodiverse organisation. 

What you’ll do: 

• Manage the full employee lifecycle 

• Keep HR processes running smoothly, ensuring they are efficient, compliant and easy to use. 

• Maintain accurate HR systems so all our date is up to date and GDPR compliant. 

• Manage monthly payroll and pension processing. 

• Provide clear, practical HR advice, guidance, and support to managers and staff on employee relations and workplace issues 

• Lead staff wellbeing, engagement, and development to promote a positive workplace culture. 

• Help deliver important infrastructure projects. 

• Make sure day-to-day operations run efficiently. 

• Keep processes running smoothly so our teams can focus on supporting our members and staff. 

• Bring a strategic focus on accessibility and a great user experience for everyone. 

Salary Band: £26,590.64 per annum
Contract Type:  12 month fixed-term contract with potential to extend 

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer 

Working Pattern:28 hours per week. 

Location: Able to work at CASPA's Oakley House Bromley office on Mondays and/or Tuesdays with hybrid-working flexibility for remaining hours.

About you 

We’re looking for someone who is 

• Resilient and solution-focused 

• Able to work independently and as part of a team 

• Proactive and people-focused in communications with colleagues and staff 

• Takes pride in delivering high-quality work 

• Eager to learn and develop in the role 

You are also someone who shares our way of working: 

Committed – We are committed to CASPA’s mission and our work. 

Learning – We share knowledge, learn from others to grow our skills, and  support others to grow. 

Proactive – We take action, problem solve and “muck in” where needed. 

Organised – We plan and manage our time, tasks and responsibilities. 

Optimistic – We think positively, encourage fun, and promote autistic Pride. 

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. 
 
We are keen to attract those with lived experience of autism. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and disability. 

The safety and welfare of our members is paramount. This post is subject to satisfactory references and a full DBS check. 

Closing date for applications: 11th June 2026 

Interviews to take place: w/c 15th June 2026 

We may close our recruitment campaign early based on application suitability and encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

Please note that this role requires candidates to have the right to work in the UK for the duration of employment without sponsorship. 

If you want CASPA to delete your personal information after the recruitment campaign closes, let us know when you apply. 

We are looking for a Operations Manager to join our team, responsible for ensuring the daily running of our kennels, ensuring that all interactions with our dogs contribute to their development and progress. 

This is a live-in role where accommodation will be provided on site.

What does this role do?

As Operations Manager, you will:

• lead, manage and develop the team, delivering high performance and meeting all objectives.
• optimise kennel occupancy by supporting the intake process and work with the Welfare Manager to ensure fast and effective assessments of dogs.
• be responsible for the day to day operations of the kennels, including ensuring all procedures are followed by the team such as checking for microchips and checking paperwork is completed accurately.
• maintain effective contact time between colleagues and dogs, focusing on rehabilitation to move all dogs towards rehoming.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you'll need some experience of leading a high-performing team, coaching them to ensure they deliver their outputs effectively and on time, underpinned by excellent communication skills. You'll have strong dog handling skills, comfortable handling dogs of various breeds and characteristics. You'll be confident working alongside other management colleagues to deliver great outcomes for the centre, ensuring as many dogs as possible are rehomed.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for the 18th and 19th June at Shrewsbury Rehoming Centre.

Purpose of Role:

• To ensure the smooth and effective running of all aspects of Healthwatch Bucks’ delivery.
• Work with the Chief Executive to review, maintain, and update policies and procedures and ensure organisational compliance.
• Maintain HR and other records in line with agreed policies and legal requirements.
• Provide effective administrative support for the recruitment, onboarding, induction, training, and departure of staff, volunteers, and directors.
• Oversee a professional, courteous, and empathetic signposting service for people seeking health and social care information.
• Ensure that all staff, volunteers, and directors can use data, information, and record-keeping systems appropriately and comply with policies and procedures, including Data Protection, confidentiality, and GDPR.
• Act as the central point of contact for volunteers, helping to facilitate positive relationships between volunteers and staff and ensuring volunteers remain engaged in the wider work of the organisation.
• Deputise for the Chief Executive at agreed meetings and forums.

This is a home based role with regular travel within Buckinghamshire.

Centre Operations Manager – Animal Welfare

We are seeking an experienced operational leader to oversee a busy animal welfare centre, leading teams, volunteers and day to day operations while helping improve outcomes for animals in care.

Position: Centre Operations Manager
Location: Bedfordshire, near Milton Keynes
Salary: £34,944 to £39,944 per annum depending on experience
Hours: 40 hours per week, including alternate weekends
Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 17th June 2026 - Please note we are accepting applications on a rolling basis and may close the recruitment process for this role prior to the deadline, so early applications are encouraged.

Benefits include: 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, contributory pension scheme, life assurance, employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to lead the operational delivery of a well-established animal welfare and rehoming centre. The role combines operational management, people leadership and community engagement, ensuring the smooth running of the site while maintaining the highest standards of animal care and customer service.

You will lead a team of employees and volunteers, oversee the welfare and rehoming journey of animals in care, manage site operations and help drive local fundraising and community awareness activities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a large team of staff and volunteers
• Overseeing the intake, assessment and rehoming of animals
• Ensuring excellent standards of animal welfare at all times
• Managing operational performance across the site
• Supporting recruitment, training and staff development
• Managing health and safety compliance across the centre
• Overseeing site maintenance, equipment and external contractors
• Managing budgets and supporting income generation activities
• Building positive relationships with supporters, stakeholders and the local community
• Working collaboratively with internal teams and veterinary partners

About You

We are looking for a confident and compassionate manager with strong operational leadership experience and a genuine passion for team development and animal welfare.

You will bring:

• Experience managing and developing large teams
• Strong coaching and people management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Good organisational and time management abilities
• Experience managing budgets and operational processes
• Confidence using IT systems including Microsoft Office
• An understanding of health and safety responsibilities within a workplace environment
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced setting
• A full UK driving licence

Experience within animal welfare, rescue, veterinary, charity or customer focused operational environments would be highly beneficial.

About the Organisation

This organisation is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable animals through rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming services. With multiple centres across the UK, they are committed to providing high standards of care while helping pets find safe and loving new homes.

You will be joining a passionate and supportive team committed to making a meaningful difference every day.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Operations Manager, Charity Operations Manager, Site Manager, General Manager, Animal Welfare Manager, Visitor Operations Manager, Veterinary Practice Manager, Regional Operations Manager or Service Manager.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Location: Contracted to our Peterborough office with the flexibility for hybrid working
Salary £40,000 - £45,000 depending on experience
Full time: 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: We want all our employees to feel valued and engaged and are committed to offering a positive working culture along with a good work-life balance. As well as ensuring we pay our employees fairly, we offer the following benefits: Flexible working, Generous annual leave, Private Medical Insurance, including dental and optical, Pension Scheme, Sick Pay, Death in Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Bike Loan Scheme, Cycle2Work Scheme, Eyecare, Discount Portal.
 
Closing date: Tuesday 16 June 2026. We may extend the closing date, however, please apply as soon as possible.
 
Telephone interviews will be held week commencing 22 June and face to face interviews will be held in our Peterborough office week commencing 29 June 2026.
 
No agencies please
 
Be a part of an energetic and vibrant team who are driven by the desire to improve the lives of people living with kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease.
 
The IT operations manager will lead the day-to-day delivery of IT services at Kidney Research UK, ensuring a reliable, secure and well-governed IT environment that enables colleagues to deliver the charity’s mission. The role will own operational service delivery, supplier and contract performance, infrastructure coordination, and operational cyber security controls.
 
This is both a hands-on and leadership role, where you will work both independently and manage internal and external resources and partners to help support our ambitious 2020-2030 strategy.
 
The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of managing IT operations, service delivery and cyber security in a small-to-medium organisation. With a strong and practical understanding of Microsoft infrastructures, you will also have experience of managing outsourced service desk and technology partners.
 
With excellent planning, prioritisation and communication skills, you will be able to translate technical issues and concepts into clear updates for non-technical colleagues and senior stakeholders. In addition, you will have strong incident management and problem-solving skills, including root-cause analysis.
 
If you are interested in the position, please complete the online application form and submit together with your CV.
 
We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone and encourage applications from all sections of the community.
 
About Kidney Research UK:

Kidney Research UK is the leading charity in the UK focused on funding research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease and for more than 60 years the research, we fund has been making an impact. But kidney disease is increasing as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, making our work more essential than ever.

At Kidney Research UK we work with clinicians and scientists across the UK, funding and facilitating research into all areas of kidney disease. We collaborate with partners across the public, private and third sectors to prevent kidney disease and drive innovation to transform treatments.
Over the last ten years we have invested more than £71 million into research. We lobby governments and decision makers to change policy and practice to ensure that the estimated 7.2 million people living with all stages of kidney disease in the UK have access to the most effective care and treatment, and to make kidney disease a priority.

Most importantly, we also work closely with patients, ensuring their voice is heard and is at the centre of everything we do, from deciding which research to invest in to how we plan our priorities and our work across the charity.

Those patient contributions are vital, always helping us and our partners to understand what life is like with kidney disease, always ensuring we see the patient behind the treatment and always reminding us that behind every statistic and every number is a person – the patients and the carers who inspire our mission and push us forward to make a difference and change the future of kidney disease.
 
You may have experience in the following: IT Operations Manager, IT Service Delivery Manager, Infrastructure Manager, IT Manager, Head of IT Operations, IT Service Manager, Technical Operations Manager, IT Infrastructure Lead, IT Support Manager, Cyber Security Manager, IT Programme Manager, Service Desk Manager, Network and Infrastructure Manager, IT Delivery Manager, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Not for Profit, NFP, etc
 
REF-228 806

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Housing Operations Manager located at our Head Office in Islington.

£59,535.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x pensionable salary (T&Cs apply)
• Free DBS

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

Housing operations and tenancy management

• Lead the day-to-day landlord function across supported housing services, keeping standards consistent and addressing issues before they escalate.

Safeguarding and Risk Management

• Take responsibility for ensuring housing management activity actively identifies and responds to safeguarding risks, including where concerns emerge through non-engagement, property condition, or repeated enforcement action.

Property, Estates and Void Management

• Oversee a planned programme of estate inspections, tenancy audits, and housing-led health and safety checks, ensuring actions are clearly recorded, owned, and followed up where standards fall short.

Compliance and Resident Safety

• Take day-to-day responsibility for housing-led compliance activity, working closely with Property and Compliance teams to make sure statutory requirements are met in practice, not just on paper.

Leadership and Team Management

• Line manage Housing Officers, setting clear expectations around performance, accountability, and professional conduct, and addressing issues promptly where standards slip.

Cross-Departmental Coordination

• Act as the main operational link between Housing, Property, Compliance, Care and Support, and Income teams, ensuring issues are addressed collectively rather than passed between services.

Customer Involvement and Tenant Experience

• Promote meaningful resident involvement in housing services, ensuring opportunities for engagement are accessible and appropriate to the needs of supported housing residents.

Performance, Quality and Assurance

• Use performance data, case audits, complaints, and service insight to identify emerging risks, recurring issues, and gaps in housing management practice.

Key relationships

• Head of Housing
• Housing Officers
• Income Team
• Care & Support operational teams

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, networks in local business community.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Ideally educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 3 or other business/management qualification.

Desirable:

• Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications are desirable.

About us:

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed

This role will lead woodland creation, management and monitoring projects across Cumbria, working with a range of funding programmes, partners and contractors. You’ll manage staff, schedules and resources, helping keep projects running smoothly from planning through to delivery.

The role will also drive the development of new forestry services and opportunities as Raise continues to grow.

We’re looking for someone proactive with strong operational or project management experience who can coordinate people, manage complexity and support specialist teams.

You might come from a range of nature-based backgrounds, including forestry, farming, conservation, land management or another outdoor or environmental sector, but you do not necessarily need to be a trained forester.

As a neurodivergent-led organisation, we value different ways of thinking and welcome applications from people with a wide range of experiences. What matters most is your ability to lead delivery, build good working relationships and help projects move forward.

If you want to help deliver practical woodland and nature projects with communities across Cumbria, we’d love to hear from you.

About Raise

Raise: Cumbria Community Forest is a neurodivergent-led organisation working across 1,300 square miles of Cumbria. We work with landowners, communities and partners to create and care for woodlands that support biodiversity, climate action and people’s connection to nature. Our work combines practical forestry delivery with community engagement, skills development and long-term stewardship.

Working with us

This is a role that involves working across Cumbria, including regular site visits to woodland and rural locations.

You will need to be comfortable working outdoors and travelling between sites as part of your role.

A full UK driving licence is required.

You will be working with landowners, contractors and partners, often in complex delivery environments where priorities need to be managed day to day.

What we offer

· Hybrid working

· 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays

· Enhanced pension scheme

· In-house training opportunities

What we’re looking for

You don’t need forestry qualifications, but you do need relevant experience in operational or project management.

We are looking for someone who can:

· manage projects or programmes from planning through to delivery

· coordinate people, staff and external contractors

· work with landowners, partners or stakeholders

· manage multiple priorities and resolve operational challenges

· support specialist technical teams in delivery

· communicate clearly and build strong working relationships

Experience in forestry, farming, conservation, land management or similar outdoor sectors would be an advantage, but we are open to different backgrounds.

Sight Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity providing specialist care, education and research for people with vision impairment. The charity has been in existence for over 230 years, and offer a variety of services in the community as well as education, transcription into alternative formats and residential care for adults and children. Their vision is of an inclusive Scotland where people of all visual abilities have the opportunity to thrive. To achieve their mission and as part of the new fundraising strategy the Fundraising and Audience Development team recognises that there are efficiencies within fundraising operations that need to be identified and implemented – this role will be critical to delivering that. 

Within the Fundraising and Audience Development team the post holder will work closely with peer managers on areas such as supporter journey planning, developing CRM integration with platforms such as MailChimp for integrated marketing opportunities, providing accurate and useful reporting and CRM dashboards, and processes for prospect research and pipeline management. This role has line management responsibility for the Fundraising and Engagement Administrator.

This role would suit someone who has experience of fundraising operations, supporter care or database functions within a fundraising team. The successful candidate will want to work in a role where they can use their experience to really shape and improve fundraising operations and have both immediate and long-term positive impact on income generation.

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.

If you need assistance with downloading the pack, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 2nd June 2026 

Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 11th June 2026 

About Us

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of parents, children, providers, early years professionals and the wider business community, working together for investment and reform of early education and childcare in England.

We believe that we all benefit from a well-functioning early education system and we all have a role to play in ensuring it works for children, parents and the economy.

We are backed by some of the most high-profile campaign and research organisations in the UK. Our members span providers, parent groups, trade unions, the business community and NGOs. Together, we use our collective voice and research to build public and political support for change.

This is an exciting time to join the Coalition. We have experienced significant growth in recent years and, with early years firmly on the political agenda, we expect this to continue.

About the role

• Hours: 30 hours per week (this can be worked over 4 or 5 days). We will consider other working patterns with a minimum of 3.5 days per week worked over 4.
• Duration: Two-year contract, renewed subject to funding
• Location: Home-working, can be based anywhere in the country
• Salary: c. £53,820 per annum FTE (£43,056 pro-rata for 4 days)

We are a remote team, with most colleagues based outside London. This role will support the whole organisation and requires occasional in-person meetings such as in-person team planning days which you will be expected to travel to.

We work flexibly and understand the realities of balancing work with caring commitments. We trust you to manage your time, but expect most hours to be worked within core office hours. To support effective remote working, all staff work on Thursdays.

This is a senior, cross-cutting leadership role sitting at the heart of the organisation. You will lead on operations, finance, HR and organisational systems, while working closely with the Executive Director and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Board to ensure the Coalition is sustainable, well-run, and set up for growth and impact.

About You

You are an experienced operations leader with a strong track record of building and running effective organisational systems, ideally within a charity, social impact or policy environment.

You are equally comfortable developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to deliver. You bring strong financial and organisational management skills, and are motivated by enabling high-impact teams to thrive.

You have experience working at senior leadership level and are confident operating across a small, fast-paced organisation where priorities can shift quickly. You are a systems thinker who can spot gaps, create structure, and improve how things work.

What You Can Expect to Be Doing

Function leadership

• Work as part of the Senior Leadership Team
• Contribute to organisational strategy, planning and growth
• Support organisational decision-making, balancing operational, financial and strategic priorities

Develop operations and organisational systems

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, ensuring efficient and effective operations
• Develop and implement systems, processes and policies to support a scaling organisation
• Take ownership of organisational infrastructure (e.g. CRM, internal systems, workflows)
• Improve internal coordination, planning and ways of working across functions

Financial management and sustainability

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including reporting, invoicing and payments
• Support organisational financial planning, forecasting and scenario modelling
• Work with external accountants/bookkeepers and ensure strong financial controls
• Support the Executive Director and Board on financial governance and decision-making

People management

• Ensure the organisation has robust HR systems in place, ensuring they reflect changes in legislation, support staff wellbeing and development and foster an inclusive and positive culture
• Lead recruitment, onboarding and staff contracts
• Support performance management, team development and organisational culture

Programme and contract management

• Oversee operational delivery of programmes and projects
• Manage funder agreements and contracts, ensuring compliance and reporting
• Support programme leads with planning, delivery tracking and coordination
• Strengthen systems for delivery and accountability

Governance and organisational support

• Support effective governance, including Board coordination and reporting
• Ensure strong administration of meetings, papers and decision-making processes
• Strengthen alignment between governance, strategy and operations

Cross-organisational leadership

• Act as a central coordination point across policy, campaigns, research and communications
• Support other heads of function to deliver effectively through strong operational systems
• Identify and address organisational capacity gaps, particularly in admin, finance and infrastructure

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience of working at senior leadership level
• Strong experience in operations and financial management
• Experience establishing or improving systems and organisational infrastructure
• Experience of HR processes and people management
• Experience supporting governance and working with senior stakeholders
• Ability to operate effectively in a small, fast-paced and growing organisation
• Strong organisational, problem-solving and communication skills

Desirable

• Experience in a charity, coalition, membership or policy organisation
• Experience supporting organisational growth or scaling
• Experience managing CRMs or digital systems
• While not essential, we would welcome applications from candidate who have either a HR or a financial qualification i.e. CIPD qualified or AAT qualification or similar level of experience and knowledg

The application process

Please apply with a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) by the listed closing date. No agencies please. We recognise that the use of AI technologies can be useful in reducing the work that goes into job-hunting, however, we kindly request that you use your cover letter to evidence that you have understood the requirements of the role and provide examples of how you can meet the criteria.

The EECC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We use anonymous recruiting during the application process and we use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to disability or race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the disabled or Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidate in order to diversify our staff team.

We regret that our small team does not have capacity to respond to unsuccessful applicants individually.

Timeline

• Closing date: 23:30, Thursday 11th June
• Notified for interview by: Tuesday 16th June
• Interviews: We expect this to be a two-stage interview process with first interviews held on either 24th or 25th June and second stage interviews arranged an agreed time.

Contract
Full-time, permanent
(We welcome proposals for flexible working arrangements)

Salary
£50,000 per annum

The Director of Operations for Edinburgh International Book Festival [EIBF] sits at the intersection of programme delivery, organisational management and operational leadership. The role combines events delivery with charity-wide management. This ensures that EIBF runs smoothly, festivals and events happen effectively, and all activity aligns with our charitable objectives and purpose.

The Director of Operations will lead all operational and logistical aspects of the annual Book Festival and year-round programmes. They will ensure effective governance, efficient systems, safe and compliant event delivery, and ensure resources are allocated appropriately to support the charity’s mission to promote engagement with, and enjoyment of, books, writing and ideas. They will manage relationships and contracts with site and production teams, and a range of other key stakeholders and partners. They will own and actively manage policy and systems management in the organisation, including oversight of digital infrastructure, as well as lead the HR function in a busy organisation.

Success in the role will balance the following elements:

• Leading the operational delivery of the Festival and programmes including effective stewarding of key relationships and contractors
• Optimising the culture of EIBF through effective management of HR and internal processes
• Effective management of EIBF planning, systems and processes, including digital transformation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Strategic operations
• Strategic contribution
• Festival delivery
• People and resource management
• Governance and compliance 
• Systems and process improvement
• Leadership and team management 

Essential Person specification:

• Significant senior operational leadership experience within a complex, fast paced organisation
• Proven experience translating organisational strategy into effective operational delivery, systems and processes
• Experience leading organisational change, growth or transformation while maintaining operational resilience • Strong experience delivering complex live events or public programmes, including logistics, production, venues, and supplier management
• Experience managing contracts, procurement processes, and strategic operational partnerships
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance, risk management, and health and safety
• Experience leading HR processes, people management, and organisational culture development
• Experience delivering systems development, digital transformation, or process improvement projects
• Strong understanding of organisational infrastructure including IT, CRM, ticketing. and data governance
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work strategically while remaining practical and hands-on in a small, agile organisation

For more information on key responsibilities and person specifications please see full Job Description on EIBF website. 

Key Dates:

Closing date for applications: Monday 29th June 2026.

Interviews will be held in central Edinburgh during the week of 6th July. Remote interview requests will be considered but in person is preferred.