Operation manager jobs in oval, greater london

Purpose:

To support the effective management of Ella’s office, community hub and homes, ensuring they remain safe, well-maintained, and fully operational. The Facilities Assistant will act as a key point of contact for contractors and suppliers, assist with general upkeep of the facilities, and contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for staff and service users.

Main responsibilities:

Office and community hub support

• Ensure Ella’s office and community hub is well-maintained, clean, and organised for staff and service user use.

• Manage office supplies, ensuring sufficient stock levels of stationery, cleaning products, tea/coffee/milk, and other essentials.

• Collect the post regularly from Ella’s post address and ensure the post is delivered to the correct people. 

• Conduct basic maintenance tasks (e.g., replacing light bulbs, tidying storage areas) and liaise with contractors for more significant repairs or upgrades.

• Perform regular health and safety checks, reporting any issues to the Operations Manager.

Home visits and contractor management

• Obtain quotes for externally commissioned maintenance and facilities related contracts, ad hoc repairs, and redecoration of the building.

• Oversee and maintain the safehouse repairs log, ensuring accurate and timely updates are provided to caseworkers.

• Travel to Ella’s safe homes as required to meet contractors, suppliers, or delivery personnel.

• Oversee on-site work, ensuring contractors adhere to safety protocols and complete work to the agreed standard.

• Provide access to properties for repairs, maintenance, and inspections, and communicate progress to the Operations Manager. 

• Conduct basic checks within the homes, reporting any maintenance or safety concerns.

• Oversee and maintain the safehouse repairs log, ensuring accurate and timely updates are provided to caseworkers.

Health and Safety

• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards across all facilities, reporting hazards or risks to the Operations manager.

• Regularly inspect fire safety equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers, alarms) and assist with evacuation drills when necessary.

• Support the implementation of policies related to safe working environments.

General administration

• Maintain accurate records of contractor visits, maintenance schedules, and stock inventories.

• Assist the Operations Manager in keeping documentation up-to-date, including compliance certificates and maintenance logs.

• Communicate effectively with the team regarding any ongoing facilities work that may impact operations.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively and work independently.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Basic understanding of health and safety requirements.

• Comfortable liaising with contractors and overseeing on-site work.

• Willingness to travel locally between Ella’s office and safe homes.

• A proactive and practical approach to problem-solving.

Desirable:

• Experience in facilities or property management.

• Familiarity with trauma-informed environments or working in the charity sector.

• Basic maintenance skills (e.g., DIY tasks).

More about Ella’s 

Ella’s is a London-based organisation working with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. Our mission is to do everything we can to ensure survivors have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free. 

Here is a summary of our main activities:

• We run five safe houses. This supported accommodation is crucial for survivors, until they are ready and able to live independently. 

• We provide regular support for women and families in neighbourhoods across London, and many more further afield when they need us. 

• We speak out on issues affecting the women we work with. We care deeply about survivors of trafficking and exploitation and want to see a world where these crimes are not tolerated. 

Ella’s is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, as we believe having a diverse team adds value and positively impacts our service. We actively encourage applicants from BAME backgrounds, LGBTQ+ applicants and those with disabilities. We are committed to equality and diversity within our organisation.

Ella’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake disclosure checks. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants. 

The Director of Operations will play a pivotal role in driving the operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and strategic growth of Well Grounded. This position will lead on programme delivery, financial management, human resources, risk and compliance, governance, and facilities management, ensuring that the organisation operates smoothly and sustainably. 

The post-holder will act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), embedding a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation. This is a senior leadership role, requiring a strong background in operations, safeguarding, and strategic management within a social enterprise or charity/education setting. The role will include regular travel to our academies currently based in London, Bristol and due to launch in Leeds this year. Travel will be covered.

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024 we embarked on our new 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Our shops generate valuable income to support our services, create opportunities for homeless people to learn new skills and contribute to Crisis’ work in the community. They have a unique contemporary visual identity and are dynamic and creative places to work.

Location: 330 Mare Street, London, E8 1HA

Hours: 40, five days over a seven-day rota

About the role

We are recruiting for an Assistant Shop Manager to join a busy and creative team in Hackney. You will join an exciting team and collaborate to build a group of volunteers from all walks of life, raising money to fund Crisis’ work ending homelessness. We are bold with a culture of continuous review and improvement, where we try new things, take risks, and sometimes fail. There will be numerous opportunities to improve our team’s effectiveness. Your voice will count!

We also work closely with local artists and universities. We’d love you to bring your own ideas, along with your experience of fashion, retail and current trends, to this role. You will have opportunities to build your own skills and career progression through training and development – many of our shop managers were promoted internally. Ensuring our recruitment practices are as equitable as possible is our number one priority so we are looking for someone who advocates for others and challenges injustice.

You will be primarily based in the Hackney shop, but you may be required to travel to other shops within London 1 & 2 on a short-term basis.

About you

To be successful in this role you will have retail experience at a supervisory level alongside a genuine interest in charity retail. You will be keen to build your people management skills including working with Crisis members. We are particularly interested in meeting candidates with an interest or background in visual merchandising, although this is not essential. You will be committed to Crisis’s values and mission to end homelessness.

You may have experience in: assistant shop manager, assistant store manager, shop supervisor, store supervisor, charity shop manager, retail manager, charity retail

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note, our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Thursday 15 May 2025 at 23:59.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?

We strongly discourage applicants from using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. This is so we can run a fair, transparent process which gives all applicants an equitable chance of success. We want to hear about your own experience and perspectives in your application and if shortlisted, during the interview too.

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094

Firstly, thanks for your interest in this post.  We hope you see a role for you here at Age UK Lambeth. 

This is an exciting time for us and Age UK Lambeth. We have just been awarded a contract to deliver Preventative Services in Lambeth for five years with a possibility for an extension for two years. As well as holding a contract with them for delivery of the Adult Social Care Front Door service.

We are looking for a Finance Manager with experience in contract negotiation to join our  Senior Management Team (SMT) for two days a week.  We have a track record in successful grant applications and are looking to generate income from the delivery of services.

We want to find someone who can use their financial and analytical skills to support our SMT in growing our Charity to support residents in Lambeth. The postholder will be supported by our Finance Officer in delivering our finance operations.

If you would like an informal conversation about the post, please feel free to contact me by m email.

We hope that you find this post an exciting prospect for you and look forward to receiving your application. 

I wish you well in your application 

Paul Coles 

Chief Executive 

Are you a highly experienced, driven and proactive finance & operations professional? Are you passionate about creativity and social impact? Would you like to join a multi-award-winning charity at a time of exceptional growth and impact? We would love to hear from you.

Create has just entered Year Five of its ambitious seven-year strategy to double its reach/impact by the charity’s 25th anniversary in 2028. As the charity progresses into this critical phase of development, we have been awarded a major (£320k) grant to support capacity building. This will enable the further implementation of Salesforce as the charity’s CRM, focusing on the project management and finance functions of operation, transforming efficiency and reducing administrative strain. This will be achieved by creating the position of Technical Project Lead to project manage and oversee implementation of Salesforce; increasing capacity in the finance team by appointing a Finance Manager; and implementing new cloud-based financial accounting software to work alongside Salesforce. This is an incredibly exciting time to join the charity and make your mark.

The Director of Finance & Operations will direct, administer and coordinate the financial, governance, HR, IT and operational activities of the charity in accordance with company policies and the Strategic Plan established by the Chief Executive (CE) and the Board of Trustees, and to assure the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the planning, delivery and reporting of these activities.

Salary: £46,000-£51,000 per annum depending on experience.

How to apply

Download the application pack from our website which includes a full job description and person specification.

The deadline for applications is 9am on Wednesday 7 May 2025.

1st Interviews: Thursday 15 May at Create’s offices
2nd Interviews: Tuesday 20 May at Create’s offices

To apply, please send a completed application form with a short email providing a telephone number where you can be contacted in confidence.

Completed application forms should be returned to Create with the job title in the subject field).

Create is committed to a policy of equal opportunities embracing diversity in all areas of activity and welcomes applications from disabled people and people of all ethnicities.

No agencies / consultancies.

You'll work closely with the founders and our amazing volunteer team to take responsibility for the day-to-day operations, and take the lead on process improvement across all operational functions.

Send less to landfill and more to a good cause

A Good Thing is a fast-growing circular economy app, making it easy for businesses to donate unwanted items to local charities. We have over 2,000 charities and 800 businesses using the platform, donating items ranging from bricks, branded umbrellas and envelopes to laptops, trainers and bamboo poles.

We are a volunteer-run, non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) looking to hire an Operations Lead on a 6-month contract with a view to becoming our first permanent, employed member of staff.

A unique opportunity – about the role

This is a very expansive role, requiring a highly capable, dynamic, organised and self-motivated individual. 

As part of this role, you will:

Manage day-to-day app activity

• Review and manage business ‘offers’ and charity ‘needs’

• Provide the first response to inbound enquiries and support questions

• Verify eligibility of new charity sign-ups

• Process premium business account purchases and renewals

Support regional volunteer teams

• Onboard and train new volunteers

• Coordinate volunteer activity across the regional teams

Support ad-hoc projects, for example:

• Assist with the introduction and adoption of new app features

• Coordinate in-person events and conferences

• Conduct research for growth and partnership initiatives 

Lead operational maturity and process improvement

• Identify opportunities for automation and self-service to enable us to scale efficiently

• Identify and implement ways to scale volunteer activity

• Own the reporting of KPIs (e.g. app activity)

• Develop and maintain policies for business regulations and compliance

• Establish basic employment/HR processes (for you to become employee #1)

• Assist with and simplify bookkeeping and financial reporting

About you – who we're looking for

This is a broad and varied role of critical importance to the smooth and effective running of the charity.

Your experience:

• Entrepreneurial (ownership and development of an idea)

• Project management (formal or informal)

• Business operations (finance, HR, regulatory)

• Communications and teamwork

Your skills:

• Excellent organisation and planning skills, comfortable managing multiple competing priorities.

• Excellent digital skills, comfortable with learning new technologies.

• Excellent communicator, presenting complex information clearly in verbal and written form.

• Critical thinker, able to identify improvements to the way we work.

• Self-starter and a fast-learner.

Technology is at the heart of what we do and how we do it. You will be expected to quickly learn new technologies and drive new ways of using technology to help our small team work efficiently.

Experience with the following applications is not required, but would be an advantage:

• Google Workspace (Mail, Chat, Docs)

• Zoom, Google Hangouts

• Stripe, Xero

• Google Looker / Big Query

• The A Good Thing app, naturally!

How we work

This is a part-time role, but in order to support daily activity on the app, we require someone who can be flexible and spread their working hours across a five-day week.

We are a *fully-remote* organisation, meeting regularly on video calls and using messaging (Google Chat) day-to-day. We love to get together for events when we can.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About Open Cages

Open Cages is a UK-registered charity fighting animal suffering. We are part of an international organisation, Anima International. To achieve our goal we use scientific evidence, careful reasoning, and draw upon decades of collective experience. Just in the last few years, we have successfully helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of farmed animals in the UK.

We are impact-oriented and use a wide array of tools to make the world a better place. Our current toolkit includes:

• Investigations which reveal the reality hidden behind the walls of factory farms
• Negotiations with companies to encourage them to eliminate cruel practices from their policies
• Advocacy to secure legal milestones for animals

At Open Cages we won’t stop until we end animal suffering. We would like to invite you to join us and help us achieve this goal.

What do you gain by working at Open Cages?

• Meaningful work – you will help build a world free from animal suffering
• Time – you will be able to focus full-time on helping animals
• High degree of flexibility – the work is almost totally remote and you will organise your working hours and workflow yourself
• Trust – we expect you to make mistakes as a given and learn from them
• Autonomy – you will experience freedom and independence in your decision-making
• Transparency – you will have access to the work and decisions of others
• Honest work culture – you will know what your colleagues are doing and what they really think
• Knowledge – you will learn and receive support from people who have been fighting for animals for many years
• Opportunity to grow – you will learn every day and be encouraged to experiment beyond your skill set
• Ability to influence the organisation – we encourage our people to openly speak their mind and thus you will be able to impact what kind of organisation we are
• A laugh – animal advocacy can be dark at times, we think that having a fun atmosphere is key to balance this
• Transparently set compensation – Our salaries are not negotiable and are based on a transparent algorithm that is the same for each role

Following a 3-month probation period, you will transition to a fixed-term contract. Upon successful completion of this term, you will be offered a permanent employment contract. A minimum salary of £39,695.24 gross (our salary base for people resident in the UK) will apply from the beginning of the probationary period. The salary base may change due to your previous experience related to the position, or your experience in animal advocacy (+3% for each year). In addition, the salary increases with your seniority in Open Cages according to the following model:

+ 7% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the first 5 years of work

+ 5% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next 5 years of work

+ 3% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next 5 years of work

+ 2% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next years of work

About your role

We are a small and ambitious early-stage organisation with two full-time team members. Our current objective: to help the 1 billion chickens raised annually in the UK. By joining us as our first employee focussed on operations, you will help lay the foundations of the organisation as it prepares for rapid scaling, not only increasing our impact for animals now but by also helping to shape the organisation we want to become. If you have an engineering mindset, like to organise things (ideally in spreadsheets), and navigate through novel problems, it’s time to use your strengths for animals. Whilst it may sound challenging, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of making a historic change for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Someone has to pick up that challenge, and we hope it will be You.

To help the billions of animals trapped on factory farms, we need an organisation that is expertly designed and not weighed down by inefficiencies. In this role your first task will be to help us manage, monitor and speed up our internal processes such as accounting, finances, payments, staff operations, donor management and event planning.

We can accommodate to you

Due to the broad scope of our work, there is no simple description of the perfect employee. There may also be certain areas where you are stronger than others, and we are open to fitting the role around you. We are looking for a generalist rather than a specialist. However, you do need to have some particular strengths such as conscientiousness and an analytical mind. Ideally, some day, you will be able to lead a team of your own and transfer your knowledge to them.

No previous experience is required for this role. While experience will be valued (and reflected in the salary), we welcome applications from both seasoned professionals and passionate newcomers who align with our organisational culture.

What do we require from you?

• Strong belief in the mission of our organisation. Working for us should not be thought of as a ‘career step’. We want people who are motivated by our mission above all.

• Flexible availability. We think of ourselves as a small startup. The fate of the organisation rests on a handful of highly motivated advocates who want to do something ambitious with their lives. We want to maintain the intensity of our current operating culture, so you should expect to work the occasional weekends and late evenings.

• Not being an asshole. We expect you to treat others with respect, decency and compassion – even the occasional adversaries.

• A preference for hard work. Activism is our passion and one of the main motivations in life. To fit our culture, you have to be a person that is proactive and enjoys work.

• Growth mindset. Nobody knows how to fix the world, so we need you to keep learning. We constantly strive to be better at our activism, but also as people.

• Strong interest in a high-feedback culture. We have a culture of honest and direct communication. We talk openly about our strengths and weaknesses on a daily basis because we want to be the best. You will know what your colleagues really think of you and be encouraged to speak your mind.

• Ability to reason and communicate your thinking, especially in written form. In order to thrive in our organisation you must be able to think carefully, try to back up your ideas with reasonable evidence, and above all be open to being proven wrong and changing your mind.

• Fluency in English. You will be working in a UK-based organisation which will require constant communication with English speakers.

• Ability to work in the UK. This offer is open to candidates who are either currently UK-based, or are willing to move to the UK for the job. We are happy to do whatever we can to help you in relocating, depending on your needs and our ability. If you have any questions about what we can help with, don’t hesitate to write to us!

You do not need to be vegan or vegetarian. While all of our events provide only plant-based meals, we are open to anyone who wants to fight for a world that is free from animal suffering. We won’t turn down any help.

What will you do?

• Build culture – you will help build and reinforce our culture, so we never lose what makes up the strength of Open Cages.

• Embrace reality – you will make it your mission to understand the world as it is rather than as you would like it to be.

• Manage activists – you will manage and work with teams of both employed and voluntary activists.

• Experience frustration – you will feel frustrated about things you could do better or things that are not working in the organisation or your team, and use this frustration as an opportunity to refine and elevate our organisation.

• Question ideas – you will question common knowledge, especially your own ideas, so that our results are always as good as they can be.

• Optimise your performance – you will continuously deepen your knowledge – both about particular areas of animal advocacy and about how the world works – and enjoy this process.

• Prioritise action – you will act even when there is not sufficient data.

• Abandon projects – you will change your objectives when it makes sense, no matter the time already invested.

• Respect and trust others – you will be there for others and trust their intentions. You will support them when they succeed and when they fail.

• Seek information independently – you will be responsible for acting very independently which will require you to obtain and verify data.

• Make mistakes – you will embrace your mistakes without being ashamed with the desire to learn from them.

• Oversee employment – you will oversee payroll, staff contracts, and employment matters and payments.

• Manage and optimise finances – you will be in charge of our income and expenses. This will include making sure that we have efficient and accurate accounting, and that we have enough income to achieve our goals.

• Help ensure legal governance – you will help submit our annual accounts to the charity commission and ensure compliance with all legal duties, such as making tax payments.

• Manage supporters – you will handle communication with our supporter base and manage donors, primarily through email.

• Improve team coordination – you will worry about how to make the team more effective and help us work better together by improving structure, tools, and internal processes.

• Build and improve tools – you will spot inefficiencies and opportunities in our processes – such as our newsletter and payments software – and improve them, for example by building automation tools.

• Plan events – you will handle logistics and planning for internal and external events such as recruitments, training, and team building activities.

• Obsess over speed – your job will not be to simply manage internal operations, but to reduce the organisation’s time spent on them so that it becomes faster and more efficient.

Do you think this role is too challenging and you're not fit for it?

You may be thinking that this role would be interesting for you, but you won’t make the cut. 

We encourage you not to worry and fill out the application nonetheless, especially if you meet our requirements (even on a basic level) and you think this position could bring you a lot of joy. Leave the judgment about your competence to us. You may even learn something useful along the way.

We prepared support materials to help you through the application process. We'll also be hosting informational webinars about this role and our recruitment process – click ‘Redirect to recruiter’ to see the website for more details.

The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is the leading membership association for foundations and independent grant-makers in the UK. 

Driven by a belief that foundations are a vital source for social good, our purpose is to strengthen trusts and foundations so they can rise to the challenges of our times. We do this through the provision of policy and advocacy, research and information, and a wide-ranging programme of events and learning.

ACF are recruiting for a Finance and Operations Officer to work within our Operations team. You will support the Head of Finance with a range of financial administration including processing and paying invoices, reconciling bank statements, updating our accounting and CRM systems, responding to member queries in relation to payments and invoices, processing expenses and supporting the cash flow forecasting process.   

You will also provide other operations support relating to office management and will support the HR Manager by maintaining annual leave and sickness records, providing administration support for staff onboarding and leaver processes, and updating key documents such as organisational charts and welcome handbooks. 

We are looking for someone process-oriented with excellent attention to detail and administrative skills, with experience of financial administration, proficiency in Excel, and the ability to ensure accurate data entry and reporting. 

As an employer we offer a great range of benefits including generous leave entitlements, flexible working arrangements, an employee assistance programme, free flu vaccine vouchers, season ticket loans and a 10% employer pension contribution. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

 JOB PURPOSE

To provide the administration of ACF’s finance processes. 

To support with other Operations functions including IT, HR, and office management. 

KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Finance 

Prepare invoice authorisation and payment process, ensuring invoices and expenses are recorded and approved appropriately, and payments made to suppliers in a timely manner. 

Reconcile bank statements, accounting software, and CRM, to ensure accurate income and expenditure records. 

Administer the corporate credit card scheme to ensure statements and transactions are approved, reconciled and accurate. 

Issue and update membership invoices using CRM. 

Manage outstanding debtor balances to ensure timely receipt of cash for ACF’s income. 

Respond to member and supplier queries regarding invoices and payments. 

Support cashflow management by maintaining a cashflow forecast. 

HR 

Maintain annual leave and sick leave records. 

Support HR manager with onboarding new staff: issuing offer letters, contracts, new starter forms, sending reference requests and arranging IT set up. 

Support HR manager with processing staff leavers: managing leaver checklists, issuing leaver letters, requesting the closure of IT accounts. 

Update ACFs organisational chart and welcome handbook as required. 

Ad hoc HR administration support around peak periods e.g. end of year reviews 

Other 

Support other Operations and Office Management functions as needed, including IT and office equipment, ensuring adequate levels of kitchen and office supplies, managing incoming post, and liaising with suppliers. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

Demonstrable experience of financial administration

Demonstrable experience of using databases and spreadsheets ensuring accurate data entry and quality 

Strong working knowledge of MS Office, particularly MS Excel and ability to report and present data clearly 

Strong IT/systems skills, particularly including Excel and databases

Numerate 

Developed administrative and time management skills 

Excellent attention to detail 

Process-oriented 

Rational, logical thinking 

Organised 

Pro-active 

Flexible 

Discretion in dealing with confidential information 

Desirable

Finance qualification or study 

Experience of using Sage 50 Accounts 

Experience of CRM systems 

Understanding of basic accounting

Understanding of VAT 

Developed analytical ability 

Interviews to be held w/c 12 May, in-person 

Thames Chase Community Forest was established in 1990 and covers an area of 98 square miles on the edge of east London and south-west Essex. Thames Chase Trust welcomes around 65,000 visitors per year to the Forest Centre complex. The architecturally acclaimed Visitor Centre is the information hub for the entire Community Forest and includes a cafe, shop, and public toilets. The complex also includes a 17th century barn, original stable block, refurbished Education Room, and farm cottages.

Our dedicated and friendly Forest Centre team seeks to provide the best possible visitor experience and to continue to develop and grow the complex. You will manage volunteers and five members of staff focussed on the Forest Centre complex. The staff team includes four Forest Centre Assistants and one Forest Centre Caretaker. You will be further supported by our Communications and Media Officer, Finance Officer, and Administration Officer. You will also work closely with the Progammes Team whose focus is project delivery across the Community Forest.

Role Description - What will you do?

People

You will bring this spectacular place closer to the hearts of visitors, our local communities and our many partners and you will lead on facilities, retail, catering (outsourced), visitor experience, membership, and volunteer teams. 

You will show initiative in developing the visitor experience through events, guiding, informing, and reinforcing the Thames Chase Plan, brand and values.

You will need to be able to promote the natural and cultural heritage of landscapes.

You will be familiar with the use of professional and social media and will need to be an exceptional communicator and an inspiring manager for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team of staff and volunteers.

You will know just how to get the very best out of everyone and to support and motivate the team. There are set targets for income, and you will be responsible for ensuring that your team meets these.

You will lead the development, integration and delivery of all the visitor facing elements of the Thames Chase Forest Centre complex.

Place

You will work with the Thames Chase Community Forest Director, Deputy Director, your fellow colleagues and with the support of the Board of Trustees, to create a sense of place, a destination venue and a resource that families and visitors will consider as a day’s offer.

You will sensitively maximise the built heritage within the complex, acknowledging that this adds to the sense of place, our culture, heritage, and tradition. In particular, the agricultural heritage of this landscape.

Business

You will support the Thames Chase Community Forest Deputy Director in leading staff and volunteers in developing and growing the income from all aspects of the Forest Centre, to support the work and aims of the Community Forest and provide a quality visitor experience.

To create a robust business plan for the Forest Centre complex that identifies income potential and scope for maximising the diverse facilities on site whilst protecting the built, cultural and natural heritage

The approach you will need and the skills and attributes we require

To be an exceptional communicator, team-player, and an inspiring manager of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team. Teamwork will be essential for your role.

To quickly gain an understanding of the Thames Chase Plan and the overall functions, aims and objectives of Thames Chase Community Forest.

To quickly gain an understanding of the Forest Centre budget and financial procedures.

To be familiar with the use of social media, be an effective communicator and able to engage and enthuse others.

To be IT proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Google Docs.

To have a Full UK driving licence.

To be flexible. The operation of the Forest Centre complex is 7 days. The role requires some evening, weekend and bank holiday working

Role Purpose

The Operations Director is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective running of all operational aspects of Katherine Low Settlement. This role oversees the day-to-day operational leadership of the charity, ensuring that its systems, processes, and teams are aligned with strategic objectives and compliant with relevant legislation.

This position will lead on programme delivery, financial management, human resources, IT infrastructure, risk and compliance, governance, and facilities management, ensuring that the organisation operates smoothly and sustainably. The post-holder will act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), embedding a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation, and also be responsible for policy development and culture and wellbeing. 

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Operations Director will work closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees, funders, partners, and staff to drive organisational effectiveness and ensure that the charity can continue delivering high-impact work.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Organisational Strategy

• Provide strategic leadership for all operational functions, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Develop and implement efficient systems, processes, and policies to improve operational effectiveness.
• Work closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to ensure that the charity is resilient, agile, and positioned for sustainable growth.
• Oversee cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring that operations support and enhance programme delivery.
• Lead on operational planning, resource allocation, and impact measurement.

Programme Delivery & Impact

• Ensure all programmes and services are effectively designed, resourced, and evaluated to achieve the best outcomes.
• Lead on the development of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks to track programme impact and efficiency.
• Work with programme teams to ensure services are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of beneficiaries.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks that could affect programme delivery.

Financial & Resource Management

• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and management in partnership with the Finance Team and CEO.
• Ensure financial policies, processes, and controls are in place and adhered to.
• Work with the fundraising team to ensure grant and contract funding is effectively managed and reported.
• Ensure long-term financial sustainability through effective resource allocation and cost efficiency.
• Support the development of business models, funding strategies, and income diversification.

Safeguarding & Risk Management - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• As the Designated Safeguarding Lead (a role delegated by the Chief Executive), ensure robust safeguarding policies, procedures, and practices are in place.
• Provide training and guidance to staff on safeguarding responsibilities and best practices.
• Oversee the Deputy Safeguarding Leads, acting as the main point of contact for safeguarding concerns from them, ensuring they are appropriately reported and addressed.
• Embed a strong safeguarding culture, ensuring that all programmes and services prioritise the safety and wellbeing of beneficiaries.

Human Resources, People Management & Wellbeing

• Lead the HR function, ensuring best practices in recruitment, retention, staff development, and performance management.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), embedding a culture of fairness and opportunity for all.
• Develop and implement HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with employment law and best practice.
• Promote staff wellbeing, fostering a positive and supportive working environment.
• Line manage operational staff, providing leadership, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.

IT Infrastructure, Systems & Data Management

• Oversee the organisation’s IT strategy, ensuring systems and processes are secure, efficient, and fit for purpose.
• Lead on the implementation and management of Salesforce (or another complex CRM system), ensuring data integrity and effective reporting.
• Ensure cybersecurity, data protection, and GDPR compliance, embedding best practices across the organisation.
• Identify and implement digital solutions to enhance operational effectiveness.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards, including charity governance, employment law, and safeguarding.
• Work closely with the Board of Trustees, providing reports and operational insights to support decision-making.
• Develop and maintain an effective risk management framework, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated.
• Oversee all policy development, ensuring policies are up to date, legally compliant, and well-embedded across the organisation.

Facilities & Office Management

• Oversee the management of charity premises, assets, and office operations.
• Ensure facilities are safe, secure, and compliant with health and safety regulations.
• Lead on business continuity planning and disaster recovery strategies.

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role, ideally within the charity or non-profit sector.
• Strong understanding of programme management, financial oversight, HR, IT, and governance.
• Demonstrable experience of managing budgets using complex Excel spreadsheets.
• Experience with Salesforce or another complex CRM system, including implementation, reporting, and data management.
• Demonstrable experience in people management, of multi-level and departmental teams, with the ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding best practices, with experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Strong policy development and implementation skills, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency.
• Experience in culture and wellbeing initiatives, fostering a positive workplace environment.
• Experience working with Boards of Trustees and governance structures.
• Excellent risk management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with proven experience of building relationships with funders, partners, and regulatory bodies.

Desirable Experience & Skills

• Experience in charity fundraising operations.
• Knowledge of GDPR, data protection, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Understanding of health and safety, facilities management.

Personal Attributes

• A strategic thinker who can balance day-to-day operations with long-term vision.
• A collaborative leader who values teamwork and inclusivity.
• A proactive problem solver, able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• A strong commitment to the values and mission of the Katherine Low Settlement.

Further Information 

·Katherine Low Settlement is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

·All offers to work at Katherine Low Settlement are subject to satisfactory references, which is standard KLS policy applicable to all roles. KLS also ask for an enhanced DBS (formerly known as CRB) check 

·You will adhere to matters of confidentiality concerning this role and the KLS team

The above job description reflects the position at the time of writing; it is not intended to be a task list but indicates the general level of work involved. It is expected that duties will be reviewed and revised as required.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Variety is looking for an experienced Office and Facilities Manager who is proactive and highly organised to oversee the smooth day-to-day running of our office environment. This role blends operations, facilities management, and a bit of people-first thinking—ensuring the workspace is safe, efficient, and enjoyable for everyone. We own our building in Camden which has three floors and we intend to rent out one of the floors (one floor is c2,628sq feet). This role requires management of office building matters, tenants and general office management including assistance to CEO.

ABOUT VARIETY

 Variety, The Children’s Charity provides practical, life-changing support to disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK. There are currently 4.3 million children living in poverty in the U.K, with 600,000 children both disabled and living in poverty. Variety’s programmes make an immediate and lasting difference to disabled and disadvantaged children and young people by directly improving their wellbeing and quality of life. As well as improving physical and mental health, Variety’s support enables children to reach their full potential.

In 2024, His Majesty King Charles III graciously accepted the Patronage of Variety, the Children's Charity. This historic milestone coincided with Variety’s 75th anniversary and stands as a testament to the trusted role that Variety plays as a national children's charity meeting the needs of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Office Management:

• Oversee daily office operations and maintain a professional, welcoming environment.
• Act as the primary point of contact for office-related vendors (cleaning, supplies, security, etc.).
• Manage office supplies inventory and place orders when necessary.
• Support onboarding/offboarding processes from a facilities perspective
• Handle incoming mail and deliveries and ensure efficient distribution.
• First point of contact for calls, visitors, and general office inquiries.

Governance:

• Assistance to CEO with diary coordination, organisation of events, meetings, and in-office gatherings.
• Coordination of finance committee and Trustee meetings
• Minute taking at meetings as required
• Administrative assistance as required

Facilities Management:

• Oversee building maintenance, safety procedures, and office infrastructure.
• Liaise with tenants, building management, and external contractors to ensure facilities are well-maintained.
• Monitor and manage office budgets related to supplies, utilities, and maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations; manage risk assessments and fire safety drills.
• Lead sustainability initiatives within the office (e.g. recycling, energy-saving practices).
• Ensuring health and safety compliance for staff including being the fire marshal

Cost management

· solicit and compare competitive quotes for office services and building making recommendations based on quality, reliability, and value.

· Negotiate contracts to optimise costs without compromising service standards.

· Proactively identify areas for cost reduction or improvements.

Administrative & Support:

• Maintain records of office leases, utilities, and insurance policies.
• Manage access control systems and office security.
• Support leadership with general administrative tasks when required.
• Create and maintain facilities manuals, process documentation, and onboarding guides.

Other

· Health and safety duties including fire marshal- training will be provided.

· Undertake any other duties that may from time to time be required.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Essential:

• Proven experience as an Office and Facilities Manager, or similar role.
• Strong organisational and multitasking skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-solving attitude with a high attention to detail.
• Familiarity with office software (e.g. MS Office, Teams)
• Knowledge of health and safety standards and regulations.

FURTHER INFORMATION

· Limited travel around the UK may be required. 

· Variety, the Children’s Charity, is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

· Variety, the Children’s Charity, is committed to the principle of equality regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, political opinion or affiliation, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, or disability. It is the responsibility of employees to apply Variety’s Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety Policies in their own area of responsibility and in their general conduct.

· Proof of eligibility to work in the UK is required.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your CV with a covering letter explaining why you’d make a great candidate for this role.

Applications will close at 5pm on Friday 23rd May with interviews taking place week commencing 2nd June 2025. Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements or need any adjustments for the interview

EQUALITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Inclusion is one of our key values and it is our ambition to recruit great people from diverse communities.

We welcome and encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment/identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy/maternity and or marriage/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief.

Please let us know if you have any access requirements which we might need to consider in relation to the selection process.

Join Us in Shaping Better Places

The Urban Design Group (UDG) is a small, dynamic charity and professional membership organisation dedicated to promoting excellence in urban design. With a vibrant network of nearly 1,500 members—ranging from professionals and educators to advocates and enthusiasts—we work to ensure towns and cities are designed for the people who live, work and thrive in them.

As we enter an exciting new phase with a 5-year strategy in development, we are looking for a Fundraising and Communications Manager to drive our income generation and communications efforts. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of a respected organisation at the heart of urban design in the UK.

About the Role

Fundraising & Membership Development

● Develop and implement strategies to grow our membership and diversify income.

● Secure new revenue through sponsorships, grants, and fundraising campaigns.

● Build strong relationships with stakeholders and funders.
 

Communications

● Raise UDG’s profile across the built environment sector, government, media and public.

● Manage all communication channels: email newsletters, social media, website.

● Lead media engagement and develop high-quality content and messaging.
 

Events

● Support the delivery of our flagship events, including the National Urban Design Conference and Urban Design Awards.

● Lead on planning, promotion, and delivery of both in-person and online events.
 

What We’re Looking For

Essential Experience

● Minimum 3 years in fundraising, marketing, or communications in a relevant sector.

● Track record of developing and delivering successful income-generation and engagement strategies.

● Strong communications experience across digital platforms and media engagement.
 

Essential Skills

● Excellent verbal and written communication, networking, and presentation skills.

● Website and CMS management; confident with tools like Mailchimp, Eventbrite, and Zoom.

● Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects.
 

Personal Attributes

● Friendly, enthusiastic, and collaborative.

● A proactive self-starter with a solution-focused mindset.

● Passionate about making a difference through your work.
 

Desirable

● Experience delivering high-profile events.

● Knowledge of, or interest in, urban design, the built environment or sustainability.

● Experience working in a small or charitable organisation.

What We Offer

● Flexible Hybrid Working: One day in the office, the rest remote. Some UK travel and occasional evening/weekend work.

● Generous Holiday: 28 days pro-rata + bank holidays + Christmas closure.

● Supportive Team: Work with a close-knit, creative, and purpose-driven team

● Competitive Salary: £40,000 pro-rata.

About the role

As one of two Regional Programmes Manager, you’ll inspire and lead a team of Senior Programmes Officers and Kinship Family Workers to effectively deliver high quality support services for kinship families across Greater London, the South of England and the Midlands.

You’ll do this by working in close collaboration with local authority teams who have commissioned our services and other funders where appropriate.

You’ll have accountability and ownership for ensuring we deliver impactful services for kinship carers and that we meet targets for our commissioned services. Working collaboratively with our other managers in other services, you’ll ensure we’re delivering high impact programmes.

You’ll ensure your team have real clarity and direction on their role and responsibilities - encouraging curiosity, learning and solutions-focused thinking. As a leader in the organisation, you are a key model for the team.

Your team will deliver the following programmes:

• Kinship Connected – in-person one-to-one support and support groups in the community
• Kinship Reach – remote one-to-one support and virtual support groups
• Kinship Ready – online workshops to prepare new and prospective special guardians for their role, as well as wraparound one-to-one support (in one local authority)

You will also manage a new role of Grants Officer - London, funded by the Aviva Foundation.

As one of our deputy safeguarding leads, you’ll be part of our key safeguarding structure.  This means you’ll take ownership to make sure our people feel confident and well supported to demonstrate best practice and making sure safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee the day-to-day running of programmes, supporting mostly home-based Senior Programmes Workers and Kinship Family Workers to ensure high quality, consistent and impactful programme delivery.

• Meet performance targets as directed.

• Create and keep developing processes and systems which support consistency across all programmes, ensuring good quality documentation and manualisation on Notion.so

• Develop quality assurance frameworks with other service managers and directors.

• Support your team to establish and deliver in-person and virtual peer support groups regionally and generate engagement with kinship carers.

• Line management and supervision of Senior Programmes Workers and Kinship Family Workers as required.

• Actively encourage personal development and support staff to deliver key targets and outcomes and ensure high levels of wellbeing.

• Work with the Director of Services and Digital, Head of Programmes and the Business Development team to develop proposals and present to local authorities to secure commissions.

• Manage the delivery of commissioned contracts through collaborative relationships with local authorities, ensuring targets are met.

• Manage the programmes and services within budget, in accordance with Kinship’s financial procedures and ensure the reporting of progress in line with funder requirements.

• Work actively and positively with other managers within Kinship to ensure sharing of best practice, problem solving, relevant connections and consistency of delivery across England and Wales.

• Act as a deputy safeguarding lead at Kinship

Essential requirements include:

• Substantial experience in managing a regional service or programme with high quality outputs (national experience desirable but not essential).
• Substantial experience of managing, developing and evaluating effective and innovative services for families experiencing crisis and experience in reaching ‘hidden communities’ and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience of leading and managing continuous improvement in changing contexts.
• Experience of governance and managing risk on high profile service delivery.
• Experience of ensuring that services are designed and led with user needs at the heart, ensuring that the voices of our kinship carers inform ongoing design and development of our programmes.
• High quality digital and data literacy and using technology to help us to be better in our processes. You’ll have to own Salesforce and be a massive champion for the team. You will be accountable for ensuring they use it well.
• Substantial experience of leading high-performing service teams including managing wellbeing, development and performance.

How to apply

In place of a cover letter, you will be asked to answer the following five questions, alongside providing your CV. Please keep your answers to a maximum of 250 words.

1. Tell us why you’re interested in working for Kinship in this role and what experience you bring that would make you successful? This is an opportunity to tell us about you, your experience and your values.
2. Please give an example where you have managed a successful regional programme or service (this could also be national). Please include scale, key performance indicators and outcome. What made it a success?
3. What makes you a great team manager? Give one example of how you have supported teams and individuals to flourish and one example when you have had to step in to address behaviour or performance issues. (This is an opportunity to share your enthusiasm for supporting others to develop and deliver to a high standard. You can share evidence of how your approach has worked and how you’ve tackled challenges and difficult conversations along the way).
4. Quality assurance and consistency is key to making sure our programmes deliver impact for our kinship carers. This includes ensuring your team are following processes, using our case management system effectively and have the tolls to do their role. Please describe how you would approach this at Kinship using a previous example.
5. In this role you will be a deputy safeguarding lead at Kinship. This is a key role, the lives of kinship carers are incredibly complex.  Give one example of a safeguarding situation that required your response in a previous role. Explain what your rationale and thought process was. How did you hold appropriate boundaries and progress actions to effectively safeguard vulnerable children and adults?

Key Dates

• Application deadline: Wednesday 30 April, 9am
• First interview: Online – Tuesday 6 May
• Second interview: In person (Vauxhall, London) – Tuesday 13 May (travel expenses covered if required)

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to.

We are made by and for our community of kinship carers. Like family, relationships run deep. And we hear their experiences; for too long they have been isolated without the help they need.

We support, advise and inform kinship carers. Connecting them so they feel empowered. Because a child needs the love and warmth of a thriving family.

We develop research, campaigns and policy solutions. Creating positive change across society. Because for kinship families, love alone is not enough.

Through our work we harness frustrations to fuel passion for change. And tough experiences to inspire ideas that transform lives.

And as we see momentum building, we keep using evidence to demonstrate the value of kinship care. Helping kinship carers navigate challenging circumstances. Believing in a child’s potential.

Join us. Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research? 

Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced and motivated Community Development Manager to join our team and lead the West team of Community Fundraisers to reach ambitious goals and grow our presence with our West region.

Position: Community Development Manager (West) 

Location: Home-based, within our West region which includes South West England, West Midlands, Wales, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire.

Salary: Circa £43K per annum 

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week 

Benefits: Holiday entitlement, 25 days per annum, excluding UK Public Holidays, access to an Employee Assistance Programme, personal safety app, and option to join our healthcare scheme. 

Closing Date: Friday 30th May. Early applications will be considered as they are received and, as a result, the closing date may be brought forward.

About the Role 

Brain Tumour Research is a growing charity with a diverse range of exciting and fast-paced campaigns and activities. Our Community Fundraisers are at the heart of everything we do, and responsible for income generated through Regional Workplace Fundraising, Challenge Events, Fundraise your Way (including schools, individuals and community groups), Fundraising Groups and our flagship campaigns which are Walk of Hope and Wear A Hat Day. 

The Community Development Manager will lead of team of Community Fundraisers across the West of England and Wales, stewarding supporters to generate and grow income in order to achieve a regional team target of approximately £1 million. You will work within an innovative and supportive fundraising team, who are passionate about our cause as well as cross-functionally with teams such as PR and Comms, and the Research, Policy and Fundraising departments.

About Brain Tumour Research 

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative and ambitious charity. You will play a crucial role in helping the charity meet its strategic plans and objectives, which include campaigning to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK. 

We are invested in our employees and are proud to be accredited by Investors in People. 

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.​

​To apply: Please send your CV via our Application System. See attached for a copy of the JD. 

​