Operation manager jobs in Leicester

About Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS) 

Friends of Ibba Girls School, South Sudan (FIGS), is a registered UK Charity (114620) set up in 2011, at the request of local community leaders to help build and develop a girls’ boarding school in South Sudan. Ibba Girls Boarding School now educates over 320 primary and secondary school girls from across Western Equatoria State and employs around 40 staff. 

The school provides high-quality education in a context where most girls leave school before completing primary education and very few reach secondary level. FIGS is a relatively small UK-based charity with a strong national reputation and a substantial impact, demonstrating what high-quality girls’ education can achieve in South Sudan. FIGS works closely with Windle Trust International, which provides technical, financial and organisational support to the school in South Sudan. 

FIGS raises approximately £500,000 each year to meet the running and development costs of IGBS and FIGS. Fundraising and effective communications are therefore central to our mission. We are a small team and are looking for someone who will thrive in a varied role, is proactive, organised, and capable of handling multiple demands, with a readiness to learn and take on additional responsibilities. 

The Role 

This role involves supporting both fundraising and communications activities, alongside essential administrative functions. The Fundraising and Communications Officer will play a key role in implementing FIGS’ fundraising and communications plans, supporting donor engagement, campaigns, events, and day-to-day operational administration. You will be working closely with our Head of Fundraising and Communications, ensuring that FIGS has the resources to continue to support the education and boarding of over 320 marginalised girls in South Sudan.

The role is home-based but requires the ability and willingness to travel to fundraising and supporter events across the UK, including occasional evenings and weekends. 

FIGS is a trustee-led charity, with an active and engaged Board that plays a hands-on role in governance, strategy, fundraising and ambassadorial work. Trustees bring a wide range of experience, including diplomacy, international development, education, finance and communications, and work closely with staff to ensure the charity is well-run, accountable and effective. 

While Trustees retain strategic oversight and are closely involved in key decisions, FIGS also has a small paid staff team responsible for day-to-day operations, fundraising delivery and communications. The culture is collaborative and supportive, with regular interaction between Trustees and staff, and a shared commitment to the success of Ibba Girls Boarding School. 

The staff team currently consists of: 

• Head of Fundraising and Communications, responsible for overall fundraising strategy, communications, donor relationships and line management 

• Fundraising and Communications Officer (this role), supporting the delivery of fundraising and communications activity, donor engagement and essential administrative functions 

Staff work remotely within the UK and collaborate closely online, with regular team meetings and clear priorities. In South Sudan, Windle Trust International acts as FIGS’ managing agent, providing professional management and operational oversight of Ibba Girls Boarding School. 

This role sits at the heart of FIGS’ fundraising and communications work. You will work closely with the Head of Fundraising and Communications, interact regularly with Trustees (particularly around campaigns, events and reporting), and help ensure that systems, supporter engagement and communications run smoothly and professionally. 

The role is well-suited to someone who enjoys working in a small, mission-driven organisation, is comfortable with a degree of trustee involvement, and values collaboration, clarity and shared responsibility. 

Key Responsibilities 

Fundraising and Communications 

•  Support fundraising plan delivery: Assist in achieving income targets and KPIs, including helping to draft grant applications and end-of-project reports. 

• Campaign and appeal support: Assist with planning and delivery of fundraising campaigns and appeals (digital and postal). 

• Donor communications: Draft and support newsletters, blogs, appeals, event invitations, and other donor communications

• Relationship-building: Support engagement with individual donors, community groups, churches, schools, and other supporters 

• Events support: Assist with organisation, promotion, and delivery of webinars and in-person fundraising/supporter events. 

• Online presence: Help maintain and develop FIGS website, email marketing, social media content, and video content. 

• Donor stewardship: Ensure supporters are thanked promptly and follow-up actions are completed in line with policy. 

• Ambassadorship: Represent FIGS positively in communications and at events. 

Administration and Fundraising Support 

• Database and record maintenance: Update CRM and administrative records. 

• Administrative support for campaigns and events: Help coordinate fundraising activities and materials. 

• Communications materials coordination: Maintain photo/video archive, collateral, and documentation. 

• Administrative support for smooth running: Ad hoc tasks as agreed with Head of Fundraising and Communications. 

• Trustee and volunteer support: Practical arrangements for events and supporter engagement. 

• Support Head of Fundraising and Communications with monthly fundraising and communications reports

• Gift Aid and basic financial support (future): Assist with processing if needed. 

• Team meetings: Prepare for and attend weekly online meetings. 

And other duties from time to time as set out by the line manager.

Person Specification 

Essential

• Experience in fundraising, communications, charity administration or a closely related role. 

• Experience of fundraising from Trusts and Foundations, digital fundraising, email fundraising, or demonstrable transferable skills. 

• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and engagingly for different audiences. 

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, with strong attention to detail. 

• Confidence in using databases/CRMs, email marketing platforms and standard office software. 

• Understanding of, or willingness to learn, GDPR and good practice in supporter data management. 

• Ability to work independently from home and manage competing priorities. 

• UK-based, with the ability and willingness to travel to events across the UK. 

• Commitment to FIGS’ values and to the importance of girls’ education. 

Desirable 

• Experience supporting or delivering digital fundraising campaigns. 

• Experience of fundraising in a small charity environment. 

• Experience of video editing for communications purposes. 

• Experience supporting events (online or in-person). 

• Experience managing or contributing to websites and social media for an organisation. 

• Familiarity with Gift Aid processes.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

FIGS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

 

How to Apply 

To apply, please submit: 

• A CV 

• A supporting statement (up to 500 words) explaining your suitability for the role and how you would contribute to FIGS’ fundraising and communications work. 

Please also include details of two referees. 

Applications should be submitted via Charity Jobs. Interviews will be held remotely. 

• Application Deadline: February 23rd

• First round interviews: WC March 2nd

• Second round of interviews:  WC March 9th