Operations director jobs

We are seeking a dynamic individual with strong people skills to provide leadership across all of BTO’s Country Offices and to manage operations in Scotland. Operational management for Wales and Northern Ireland is provided by the Heads of those teams. The post holder will be part of BTO's senior leadership team, responsible for setting the direction and priorities of the organisation and attending Board meetings where they will represent BTO Country Operations. The postholder will directly manage an excellent team of senior Country Office staff members and work collaboratively with many others.

The role requires demonstrable experience in supporting, motivating, and leading multi-disciplinary teams and excellent people management and influencing skills. It will also require experience in developing strategic vision, setting measures of success, securing funding, and ensuring delivery of multiple and often complex projects. The post holder will need skills in, and a passion for communicating both internally and externally; a good science (ideally ecological) background, and an understanding of long-term monitoring and citizen science approaches to monitoring and research.

Ideally, the postholder will be based out of the BTO Scotland office in Stirling (which currently has the largest staff complement), but we would be willing to consider working out of the BTO Cymru offices at Bangor University or the BTONI offices in Lisburn, near Belfast, for the right candidate.

BTO operates flexible working, and a hybrid working pattern is available (60% office, 40% home). The postholder is expected to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues across the BTO, and whilst communication by virtual means is used frequently, regular travel (several times a year) between each of the offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and to the English office in Thetford, Norfolk is required, as is frequent working in person at the postholder’s office base.

FIND OUT MORE
Navigate to ‘Supporting documents' within the job details on our careers page to view:

• The full role description and person specification
• A message from BTO’s CEO, Juliet Vickery- ‘Intro to Director of Country Operations’.

WHAT DOES BTO DO?

BTO helps to secure the future for birds and nature, using our science, monitoring and data to inform good environmental decisions, inspiring others with the wonder of birds and empowering them to work with us. Our priority is to make a positive impact for birds, using our strong and objective science in partnership with others. We strive to work sustainably and to welcome everyone.

Our values
We are evidence-led, inclusive, collaborative and empowering.
Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination – will you be part of it?

WHAT WE OFFER

• £68,199 per annum
• Annual Leave: 25 days per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with service to 26 days after 5 years, 28 days after 10 years, and 30 days after 15 years (pro rata for part-time staff).
• Paid 'journey days' (up to 2 days) to staff who travel on holiday by land or sea instead of flying.
• Annual team away days
• Life assurance (four times salary)
• 11% employer pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced Family leave
• Health cash plan
• Retail discounts through MyLifestyle.
• Cycling friendly employer- gold accredited
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on: BTO books, Bird care from Vine House Farm  (10% discount on orders placed on the website) and Opticron (15% off)
• Free access to BTO training courses
• Flexible working
• Free eye tests and a contribution of £49 towards prescription glasses for VDU use only.
• Free car parking
• Effective job evaluation policy that recognises where staff increase their level of responsibility over time
• Coaching and mentoring scheme
• Staff groups and forums- First Aiders and mental health first aiders, Coaching and mentoring, Diversity working, Sustainability and Natural Working, Becoming Inclusive, Neurodiversity group, LGBTQ+ group and our staff group creating a positive and welcoming culture to work in.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment
• Commitment to sustainability

The closing date for receipt of applications is 23:59 on Tuesday 14th April and Interviews will be held remotely on Tuesday 5th May. 

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join Reprieve in a senior leadership position that brings together legal, compliance, governance, finance and operational oversight.

The Director (Legal and Operations) will play a central role in ensuring Reprieve runs effectively, is well-governed and has strong foundations for impact. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be a trusted advisor across the organisation providing expert guidance on organisational legal matters including employment law, compliance, sanctions, data protection, contracts, privilege, and managing relationships with key partners (you will not be responsible for strategic litigation relating to clients or day-to-day casework as these issues are handled by the casework teams).

You will also support the effective functioning of our Board, ensuring strong governance processes and compliance with our charitable and regulatory obligations. A key part of the role is skilled risk management - helping the organisation navigate complexity while enabling rather than constraining our work.

Reporting to the CEO, you will line manage the Head of Operations and Head of Finance, providing strategic direction and support to ensure these functions are operating as effectively as possible and that relevant information is able to be communicated appropriately and clearly to the Board.

This is a role that spans the technical and the operational, requiring someone who is comfortable working across different domains - from legal and compliance questions to organisational functioning, budgets and Board management. We're looking for someone with a sharp legal mind who understands NGO governance, has good judgment and an ability to work collaboratively and effectively with teams across the organisation.

As a small legal NGO, Reprieve punches above its weight, and this role is key to making that possible.

For full details, please read the job description. 

About Reprieve

Reprieve is a leading international human rights organisation working to end the death penalty and abuses committed under the banner of national security. Founded in 1999, our mission remains critically relevant as governments worldwide increasingly adopt authoritarian tactics, expanding executive power at the expense of civil liberties.

You can best judge a society by how it treats prisoners, criminal defendants, and the far-flung targets of an ever-changing counter-terror policy. To us, the rule of law means little if we selectively apply it to people we agree with. It is for all of us. Liberty is always eroded at the margins.

Reprieve’s staff is made up of courageous and committed human rights defenders. We provide vital legal and investigative support to those facing execution and victims of rendition, torture, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killing, and citizenship stripping. Our work spans multiple jurisdictions, challenging states' most egregious human rights violations through strategic litigation, investigations, and advocacy.

We support cases in courts worldwide while building the legal and political momentum necessary to consign these practices to history.

Based in London with Fellows and partners globally, Reprieve operates at the intersection of law, policy, and human rights, working alongside governments, senior legal practitioners, and civil society to advance systemic change.

We collaborate closely with our independent partner organisation Reprieve US.

Terms

This is a full-time role on a permanent contract. The annual salary is £71,379 per annum, less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance.

This role is based in Reprieve’s London office. Reprieve operates a hybrid working model and we require staff to work 40% of their working hours from the London office and the rest of the week from home. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK, which will be checked prior to interview.

Further information and how to apply

To apply, please read the full job description and submit a cover letter and CV addressing your interest in the role, and how you meet the criteria (both no more than 2 pages) via the application form on our website by 23:59 GMT on 5 April 2026. Please note that no other documents will be considered for this role and should not be submitted. We are also not able to accept applications via email.  

The Finance and Business Operations Director will lead VAST’s financial and operational strategy, ensuring robust financial management, effective HR and IT systems, compliance with Health and Safety, and the efficient running of The Dudson Centre.

The postholder will act as Company Secretary, overseeing governance and compliance, and also serve as the organisation’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the role contributes to strategic planning and organisational development, as well as supporting VAST’s day-to-day delivery.

What we're looking for

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, etc.)
• Significant experience in financial management and business operations in the VCSE sector.
• Strong leadership and strategic planning skills
• Knowledge of charity finance, governance, and compliance.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to travel locally and work occasional evenings/weekends.