Operation manager jobs in woodstock, oxfordshire

Job Introduction

• Location:  Oxfordshire
•  Annual Salary: £47,710.05
•  Hours per week: Full time (37.5 hours) 
•  Required: Full UK driving licence and access to a car/vehicle. 
•  Sponsorship is not available for this position

Help lead the kind of support that helps people live life their way.

At Affinity Trust, we support people with Learning Disabilities, Autism and related support needs to live the kind of lives most of us take for granted - ordinary, full, and led by choice. As an Operations Manager, you will be leading a team that is all about making that happen.

How will I be effective?

You will show others what good support looks like, helping managers and teams grow their confidence and skills to do their best.

You will build relationships with families and stakeholders so that the people we support can achieve great outcomes in life. 

You will encourage teams to be creative, courageous, and practical in helping people live life their way. 

What will I do as an Operations Manager?

You will ensure people are in receipt of amazing, safe, and consistent support which is always shaped around them.

You will lead with heart, setting a clear example and creating a place where everyone feels respected and valued.

You will bring people together to work in the same direction, making sure the people we support are truly at the centre of everything.

You will help people have real choice and say in their lives. 

You will maintain and manage an effective budget. 

You will be responsible for enhancing and maintaining quality and compliance across all the locations under your management.

You will be the Registered Manager for your locations and be part of the on-call rota 

This post reports into the Divisional Director. 

What do I need?

You will have previous experience managing teams (managers) in supported living, ideally supporting adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism.

You will have a clear understanding of the expectations set by our regulators, the CQC.

You will need previous experience in managing and maintaining a budget.

A proven history in driving and maintaining KPIs, compliance, and quality.

A confident use of tools like Word, Excel, and other everyday IT systems.

You will need to work flexibly, as required and be prepared to frequently travel across the area

What do I get in return?

We have a range of benefits that you can mix and match to suit you, such as:

• Buy and sell annual leave – transfer windows open twice a year. 
• Wagestream – an app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it, access to coaching, vouchers, discounts, cashback and more.  
• Vivup – spread the cost of home and electronics items, or a bike to cycle to work through fixed salary reductions throughout the year. 
• Simply Health - Fully funded health cash plans giving you access to a 24-hour GP, money back on prescriptions, dental treatment, opticians, and access to many more health benefits.
• Blue light card – we will reimburse your Blue Light Card membership which provides discounts in your favourite shops and restaurants
• Care Friends - our employee referral and reward app. You’ll receive points which can be exchanged for extra money. 
• Pension and Life Assurance - you’ll be enrolled into our Scottish Widows pension scheme and Life Assurance scheme. 

If you want to lead a team that helps people live life the way they choose, with purpose and pride, apply today.

If you are offered a role with us, you will need to complete an enhanced DBS check. We will submit your application and pay for your check. 

We’re committed to being Disability Confident and we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if sufficient applications are received.

Culham St Gabriel’s Trust is an endowed charitable foundation whose vision is for a broad-based, critically reflective religion and worldviews education contributing to a well-informed, respectful and open society. The Trust is committed to providing teachers of religion and worldviews and other professionals with the connections, challenges and professional development they need. 

As our Digital Operations Manager you will be an experienced professional who is passionate about digital strategy and transformation. You will have knowledge of the charity, education or religion and worldviews sector. You will be a collaborative team player who thrives in an often-changing context, having an innovative and adaptable approach to your work.

You will join a small, friendly staff team. Our values lie at the heart of everything we do and are summed up in the principles of empowering others and collaborating purposefully. We are a remote working organisation, meeting regularly online for team meetings, and in-person at least once a month. Occasional travel to other in-person meetings on Trust business may be required as part of this role. 

It is necessary that you have a right to work in the UK.

We encourage you to have a short informal conversation about this role before you decide whether to apply. 

Reports to: Chief Executive

Key Benefits: 10% employer pension contribution, salary sacrifice scheme offered, optional private health insurance, employer supported volunteering scheme.

Holiday Entitlement: 25 days per annum, bank holidays and four discretionary days pro rata 

PINF is the first charity in the UK that exists to support high-quality journalism. We exist at the cutting edge of charity law and need an experienced charity professional to make sure we do things properly. 

As Head of Operations & Governance, you will be responsible for overseeing the back-office operations of the charity. You will be a key point of contact for the team and support the Executive Director to ensure smooth, efficient and compliant operations.

You will be a senior member of the team, responsible for ensuring that PINF operates within its legal and regulatory framework, including in relation to charity, corporate, tax, employment and data protection regulations. The role involves liaising with the Chair, Board of Trustees, Executive Director, legal advisors and regulators to support best practice in financial management, governance, risk management and compliance.  

Duties and responsibilities 

• Financial Management 

• Ensure consistent delivery and quality of finance operations, including transactions processing, which will involve managing a bookkeeping service.

• Prepare and monitor annual budgets, management accounts and project budgets.

• Lead on the financial aspects of fundraising, contract management, and funder reporting. Including managing restricted and unrestricted funding. 

• Oversee the process of preparing statutory accounts, including liaising with accountants and auditors.

• Maintain internal controls and policies to protect assets, prevent fraud, and ensure business continuity. 

• Participate in the Finance & Fundraising Committee and support the Treasurer to plan and deliver meetings. 

• Prepare financial reports for board meetings and engage in board discussions.

• Governance 

• Manage our annual governance cycle, working closely with the Chair, Treasurer and Executive Director to ensure legal compliance and to plan and prepare for Board meetings including taking appropriate minutes.

• Manage the organisational risk framework including identifying emerging risks and working with the Executive Director to mitigate them.

• Companies House and Charity Commission filings.

• Develop and maintain a suite of policy to ensure PINF meets its obligations as a charity and an employer.

• Play an active part in board discussion to support good decision making.

• HR 

• Manage HR across the organisation; ensuring all HR processes and policies are fit for purpose, up to date and adhere to law, and are understood and implemented across the organisation.

• Manage recruitment processes for all staff.

• Manage the annual leave tracker. 

• Operations and administration 

• Ensure the smooth running of the organisation by leading operational planning and monitoring progress.

• Lead on relationships and contracts with external suppliers and contractors.

• Ensure PINF has appropriate insurance cover. 

• Occasional support with charitable activities (meetings, events, publications, etc.) 

Requirements  

• A professional qualification in finance, management, law, or a related field and at least five years’ experience relevant to this role.

• Deep understanding of good governance and best practice in the charity sector.

• Understanding of relevant laws relating to employment, data protection and running a charity. 

• Sympathy to the aims and objectives of PINF. 

• Full professional proficiency in English. 

• Right to work in the UK. 

Skills and attributes 

• Experience of managing charity finances and budgets (Essential). A related finance or accountancy qualification would be desirable. 

• Experience of managing operations in a comparable charity or business, with both strategic and day-to-day operational responsibilities. 

• Developing HR processes and policies and taking the lead in implementing these across an organisation. 

• Developing processes and procedures and making improvements for efficiency and impact. 

• Experience of working closely with trustees, non-executives or senior leadership teams.

• Strong oral and written communications skills, including having the confidence to use your expertise to provide feedback and constructive challenge to senior leaders.

• Excellent problem-solving and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to work remotely and independently and to collaborate with others. 

• Enjoy being the key point of contact and support in a small, remote team. 

• Ability to stay on top of your workload by using relevant software (including Microsoft Office and finance software such as Xero), keeping accurate and up-to-date records, and prioritising between competing tasks. 

Please apply using Charity Job. Once you click apply you will be prompted to upload your CV and answer an application question in up to 5000 characters: What do you see as the main challenges facing PINF as a small but ambitious charity, and how will you use your experience to address them as Head of Operations & Governance? 

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!

The Head of Operations and Projects will oversee the infrastructure of our charity. This position will involve fostering a motivated and engaged volunteer base, strategic oversight of our BUBR Africa initiative and conducting impact analysis of our activations. The ideal candidate will be passionate about community engagement, skilled in project management and possess a strong analytical mindset.

We help young people to build life-long belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their own passions and discover talents they never knew they had. Because when you prove yourself that you’re ready for anything nothing can hold you back.

Do you want to be part of that?

The Operations Officer will lead on the engagement of NHS Trusts as Approved Activity Providers across the UK, increasing opportunities for young people to volunteer in the health sector, to support the NHS and their local community

Whilst delivering this project, you will work alongside 4 other Operations Officers within the AAP team, who each manage a varied portfolio of AAPs for each Section of the Award. The role will be field-based, and applicants will work from home most of the time. This role will involve some travel to attend field-based meetings when necessary.

What we are looking for:

We are looking to recruit a dynamic, proactive, and effective team player to join the AAP Team. The post-holder will report to the UK Operations Manager (Approved Activity Providers) and will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of a project to improve DofE participants access to meaningful volunteering opportunities within NHS Trusts.

You will be a passionate advocate for the work of the DofE and be driven to realise the DofE’s strategic ambition to give more than one million young people the chance to participate in our life-changing programmes, over the next five years.

A full job description can be viewed below.

What will you get in return?

The opportunity to work for a successful and dynamic charity that has the development of young people at its heart and the wellbeing and development of its people constantly in focus.

You will be joining a team of empowered colleagues working together.

From day one we offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary, generous pension, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and 3 days paid director days over the Christmas shutdown, volunteering days, Healthcare cash plan, employee assistance programme and an extensive online training programme, plus many more. 

How to apply:

If you think you have the desired skills and experience, then please apply online. As part of the application process, you will be expected to complete competency-based questions relevant to the role to help us assess your application.

This is a fixed term contract until 31st March 2027

Closing Date: Thursday 15th May -  Midnight

First Interviews: Wednesday 28th May 2025

Second interviews: Wednesday 4th June 2025 if required.

The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. (e.g. DBS/PVG or similar), including 2 references covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.

If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.

• Location:  Oxfordshire
• Annual Salary: £38,755
• Hours per week: Full time (37.5 hours) 
• Training Provided: Opportunity to complete NVQ/QCF Diploma Level 5
• Required: Full UK driving licence and access to a car/vehicle. 
• Sponsorship is not available for this position

Supporting people to live great lives.

Affinity Trust helps people live meaningful lives on their own terms. As a Support Manager, you will play a key role in supporting adults with learning disabilities across locations in Oxfordshire, helping them to live life the way they choose.
 

How will I make a difference?

• You will empower your teams to support people to live their lives their way with creativity, patience and empathy
• You will build a community of support to achieve great outcomes for people through your relationships with teams, families and professional bodies.
• You will be a role model to your team, building a culture of belonging.
• You will be willing to work flexibly to meet the organisation's needs, with regular presence at locations and on-call support on a rota basis.
   

What do I need to demonstrate in my application?
 

• Previous experience managing support for people with learning disabilities and complex needs.
• You will be able to plan, monitor and evaluate continuous improvement initiatives
• You will have a strong practical understanding of CQC/SCI Regulations and reporting requirements. 
• You will be able to undertake CQC registration if required.
• You will be confident in using Microsoft Office programmes such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint
• You will be willing and able to participate in the on-call support rota
   

What benefits will I have?

We have a range of benefits that you can mix and match to suit you, such as:

• Care Friends - our employee referral and reward app. You’ll receive points which can be exchanged for extra money. 
• Wagestream – an app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it, access to coaching, vouchers, discounts, cashback and more.  
• Blue light card – we will reimburse your Blue Light Card membership which provides discounts in your favourite shops and restaurants.
• Simply Health - Fully funded health cash plans giving you access to a 24-hour GP, money back on prescriptions, dental treatment, opticians and access to many more health benefits.
• Vivup – spread the cost of home and electronics items, or a bike to cycle to work through fixed salary reductions throughout the year. 
• Buy and sell annual leave – transfer windows open twice a year. 
• Pension and Life Assurance - you’ll be enrolled into our Scottish Widows pension scheme and Life Assurance scheme. 

If you want to empower people to live the life they choose … Apply today.
 

If you are offered a role with us, you will need to complete an enhanced DBS check. We will submit your application and pay for your check. 

We reserve the right to close this advert early if sufficient applications are received.

We’re committed to being Disability Confident and we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

About VODG

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) represents over 130 organisations within the voluntary sector whose work is focused on enabling disabled people of all ages to live the lives they choose. VODG believes that an ambitious, reliable and vibrant voluntary sector that works together is critical to achieving this aim.

VODG’s mission is focused on two key areas – enabling our members to be the best they can and improving the environment in which our members operate.

VODG believes that our membership approach and operations should centre around the views of disabled people and be influenced by professional expertise.

Introduction to the role

The coordinator role is crucial in enhancing the productivity and efficiency of the leadership team within the organisation. Serving as a central point of contact, this position involves a diverse range of responsibilities, from managing executives' calendars and coordinating meetings to handling communications with professionalism and discretion. By implementing improvements to organisational processes and maintaining meticulous record-keeping, the coordinator role contributes significantly to the smooth operation of daily activities of the organisation.

Additionally, the role involves coordinating events, assisting with project administration, and supporting financial reporting, all while embodying the core values of the organisation.

This position not only demands strong organisational skills but also a proactive approach to achieving corporate objectives and fostering a collaborative work environment. 

Purpose of role 

The Operations Coordinator will: 

• Act as a central point of contact, managing executive calendars, coordinating meetings, and facilitating effective communication while maintaining a high level of professionalism and discretion. 

• Be responsible for improving organisational processes, ensuring meticulous record-keeping, and contributing to the seamless execution of daily activities.

• Coordinate events, project administration, and financial reporting, all aligned with the organisation's core values. 

Specific responsibilities and duties 

Administrative Support  

• Assist with a variety of administrative tasks that enhance the productivity of the leadership team, such as scheduling and coordinating meetings, managing executives' calendars with attention to priorities, and organising files and documentation for easy access.

• Identify and implement improvements to existing organisational processes and procedures to boost efficiency, ensuring that the team can operate at maximum effectiveness. 

Communications  

• Act as a central point of contact for both internal team members and external stakeholders, handling communications with a professional demeanor.

Meetings  

• Collaborate closely with the Business and Operations Manager to support the overall management of meetings, including preparing detailed agendas, taking comprehensive minutes during meetings, and circulating documents to all participants in a timely manner, ensuring that all follow-up actions are clearly outlined. 

Event Coordination 

• Coordinate a variety of events and meetings, supporting logistics such as venue selection, catering orders, accessability requirements and technical arrangements.

• Assist in the planning and scheduling of member events and meetings, ensuring all details are attended to, such as invitations, attendee confirmations, and venue preparations. 

Project Administration 

• Maintain comprehensive administrative records relevant to projects, ensuring that all documentation is current and easily accessible to project team members. 

Record Keeping 

• Establish and maintain accurate records, comprehensive databases, and organised documentation related to office operations and employee activities, including diligent management of the CRM system to ensure timely updates and accuracy of information. 

Finance 

• Assist with the preparation of financial statements and reports, maintaining accurate and organised accounting records, and supporting the reconciliation of accounts to ensure data integrity.

General 

• Support the organisation to achieve its corporate objectives. 

• Be a proactive and professional representative of VODG and its values at all times, including in relation to the prioritisation of your own responsibilities and professional development. 

• Undertake such duties as may be deemed necessary by the CEO and/or the line manager that are commensurate with the level of this post. 

About VODG

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) represents over 130 organisations within the voluntary sector whose work is focused on enabling disabled people of all ages to live the lives they choose. VODG believes that an ambitious, reliable and vibrant voluntary sector that works together is critical to achieving this aim.

VODG’s mission is focused on two key areas – enabling our members to be the best they can and improving the environment in which its members operate. VODG believes that our membership approach and operations should centre around the views of disabled people and be influenced by professional expertise.

Introduction to the role

Reporting to the Head of Membership and Operations, the Business Development and Partnership Manager will play a crucial role in driving sustainable growth and cultivating strategic partnerships that align with the organisation's core mission and values. This newly created position aims to strengthen our expansion efforts and help us adapt to the changing landscape of care and support for disabled people.

We are seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Business Development and Partnership Manager who will lead initiatives to identify, develop, and manage partnerships that can drive significant growth and enhance our market presence. This role will also focus on existing revenue streams and explore new areas for development and growth. The position requires exceptional relationship-building skills and a deep understanding of partnership management. It also requires a strategic approach that blends attention to detail and results-oriented delivery.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills to effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels, along with a proven track record of successful partnership management and revenue growth. As we continue with our growth plans, this role will be essential in advancing our organisational goals and objectives while fostering an environment both internally and externally that draws in expertise and insight from beyond our membership.

Purpose of role

The role will:

· Formulate and nurture strategic partnerships with corporate partners and non-profit organisations.

· Enhance the visibility and reputation of VODG among key stakeholders.

· Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligning with VODG’s mission and vision.

· Manage relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

· Foster collaboration and create synergetic relationships for mutual benefits.

· Assess partnership effectiveness through detailed metrics and feedback.

· Negotiate corporate partnerships and secure commercial sponsorships.

· Build long-term relationships that promote shared goals and lead to the development of new business opportunities.

· Focus on exploring new areas for development and growth.

· Support internal colleagues, as necessary, on partnership grants and awards.

· Coordinate with colleagues for alignment of activities with organisational goals.

Specific responsibilities and duties

Business Development Strategy and Implementation 

· Develop and implement comprehensive business development strategies to identify and secure partnership opportunities. 

· Identify and explore innovative areas for development and growth.

· Set clear goals and objectives to measure the success of business development efforts. Analyse market trends and the competitive landscape to inform partnership strategies.

Partnership Development and Relationship Management 

· Identify and engage potential partners while building and maintaining strong relationships with existing stakeholders. 

· Serve as the main point of contact for key partners, ensuring their needs are met and expectations exceeded. 

Opportunity Identification and Market Research 

· Identify and evaluate new business opportunities and partnerships that align with organisational goals, including new membership opportunities.

· Conduct market research to recognise trends, opportunities, and challenges in the sector, analysing competitor activities to inform strategies.

· Deliver on existing opportunities and identify new ones, including sponsorship activities for events, projects, programmes, work, events and conferences, and smaller strategic roundtables.

Negotiation and Contract Management 

· Lead detailed negotiations for partnership agreements, ensuring favourable terms for both parties, and oversee contract management to ensure compliance and performance monitoring.

Collaboration and Project Management 

· Work closely with internal colleagues to align partnership initiatives with business objectives, managing execution to ensure initiatives align with organisational priorities. 

· Collaborate with internal teams to coordinate campaigns and promotional events effectively.

Performance Tracking and Financial Management 

· Monitor and analyse partnership performance, using data to refine strategies and maximise impact. Prepare regular updates on business development activities and partnership outcomes. 

· Prepare budgets and financial forecasts related to business development activities, monitoring and reporting on the financial performance of initiatives and partnerships.

Networking and Representation 

· Represent the organisation at industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events to promote business development initiatives and cultivate a strong professional network for future partnerships. 

·Engage in community outreach and represent the organisation in public forums to expand its network and promote its mission

Radley College is seeking to appoint a dedicated and forward-thinking Radleian Society Manager to lead and develop the College’s alumni relations programme. This is a key strategic role, focused on fostering strong, lasting relationships with Old Radleians (“OR”s), current and former parents, and former staff.

Reporting to the Development Director, the post holder will be responsible for delivering an ambitious and wide-ranging engagement programme that reflects the values and vision of Radley College. This includes oversight of events, communications, digital engagement, and the facilitation of mentoring and networking initiatives through the College’s Futures Programme.

The successful applicant will

Lead a dynamic calendar of alumni and parent engagement events, including reunions, networking forums, and social gatherings

Oversee communications, both digital and print, to ensure high-quality, consistent outreach and storytelling

Act as liaison to the Radleian Society Committee and other affiliated groups, managing volunteer engagement and project delivery

Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Development Office and Futures Team to connect alumni with current pupils and recent leavers

Utilise data insights to inform strategy, track engagement, and report on key outcomes

We’re seeking a passionate and strategic individual with a strong background in alumni relations, events, or community engagement. You’ll be an experienced team leader with excellent interpersonal skills and the confidence to connect with a wide range of stakeholders.

We encourage early application and reserve the right to appoint at any time. Closing date for applications is 12 noon Thursday 15 May 2025 with first interviews being held on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May, and second interviews on Thursday 22 May.

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.

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. 

​

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.

About the role

We’re recruiting for a Head of Retail Operations for our Southern Division. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of driving success within five regions, leading a team of dedicated Regional Managers across 85 shops with around 270 colleagues.

This isn’t just about overseeing operations – it’s about owning them. You’ll have the freedom and autonomy to shape the strategy for your division, making key decisions on everything from financial performance to people development. You’ll build a values-led, inclusive culture – one where our people feel appreciated, respected and supported.

As part of the senior leadership team, you’ll play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Mind Retail, bringing fresh ideas and driving initiatives that make a real impact. And because every pound we make in our shops helps support Mind’s mission, the work you do will have a lasting and meaningful impact.

This is a role for an ambitious leader – someone ready to take ownership, think strategically and inspire a team to do great things.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is a natural leader, passionate about creating high-performing teams and building an inclusive culture
• Has senior-level experience leading multi-site, large-scale retail operations and knows how to drive commercial success
• Understands retail finances inside out, from managing P&L’s, to spotting opportunities for growth
• Thinks strategically, but isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and make things happen
• Embodies our values and behaviours

Ready to make a difference?

Join Mind Retail. Join the fight for mental health.

Due to our commitment to work/life balance, you must live within reasonable travelling distance of the division. The geography of the division covers the South East, South West, South Wales, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Mind Retail reserve the right to close the vacancy to applications earlier, should we receive a high volume of strong candidates. Therefore we encourage an early application.

About our benefits

As Head of Operations, you’ll receive:

• A competitive salary of £59,753 per year
• A company car
• A strong commitment to work-life balance with a working pattern that supports this, with the occasional weekend working
• 25 days’ paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Development workshops & courses, to help build your career
• Comprehensive, personalised induction programmes, tailored to your role when you join us
• A huge variety of additional qualifications & development programmes for anyone looking to grow their skills
• Family friendly policies & enhanced pay
• A competitive pension scheme & life assurance, available to all our employees
• 25% staff discount in all Mind shops
• Access to exclusive discounts at over 160 retailers through our employee savings app
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Interest free season ticket loan

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating an income of around £25 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we’re going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve. There’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We value the power of diversity. We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We are creating an inclusive working environment where everyone is appreciated for being authentic and bringing their whole selves to work.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working with us to share this commitment. In line with our Safer Recruitment policy, the successful candidate will be required to provide references and will be expected to undertake an enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children's Barred List and/or ‘Work with Adults' workforce check based on their role and responsibilities. A DBS check is a process to check someone's criminal record (if they have any). A Barred List is a list of people who are barred from working with children. To enable you to predetermine what might be disclosed in your DBS check, please use this disclosure calculator.

Mind Retail is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applicants from all communities. We are committed to the fair treatment of our staff, potential staff and volunteers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

This job vacancy is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. 

More details

For more information and a full person specification, please review the job description.