Operations manager jobs in Central london, greater london

We are currently looking for a  Senior Commercial Operations Manager to join our Commercial team on a permanent full time contract.

You will lead the strategic planning and operational delivery of the Southbank Centre’s vibrant outdoor commercial estate, overseeing a diverse portfolio of restaurants, a weekly food market, and seasonal pop-ups. You will be responsible for enhancing the reputation of Southbank Centre as a destination by ensuring commercial operations are delivered to consistently high standards, aligned with organisational values and visitor expectations.

Please download the attached Job Description for a full overview of this role's responsibilities.
If you are viewing on a job board, please head to our webpage to find the original advert

The annual salary stated is based on the Full-Time Equivalent (40 hours per week). If the job is part-time, the weekly hours will be stated within the advert.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.

Please note, applications sent via Email or 3rd party agencies will not be considered.

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We welcome applications from all backgrounds. By attracting people with diverse attitudes, opinions and beliefs we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. The Southbank Centre is a warm and welcoming place to work, with great aspirations and ambitions to create great and accessible work for all. We pride ourselves in building a supportive environment to enable the development of our colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

• To oversee all operations for our outdoor commercial portfolio, ensuring the seamless delivery of our restaurants, food markets, and seasonal & ancillary pop-ups hitting targets.
• To provide effective, inclusive leadership and line management of the Commercial Operations team, creating a positive, high-performance and collaborative culture where accountability, capability and continuous improvement are embedded.
• To develop and drive entrepreneurial activity to the benefit of Southbank Centre, maximising operator and supplier relationships and identifying opportunities and collaborating with other departments.
• To lead the delivery of commercial change, including operator transitions, refurbishments and compliance-led improvements, ensuring business continuity and income protection.
• To ensure our outdoor estate consistently delivers a world-class visitor experience, aligning commercial operations with the Southbank Centre’s core values and reputation.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience delivering complex commercial operations within high-footfall, multi-site environments, with accountability for income, compliance and performance.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, including but  not limited to commercial, property and legal colleagues, to deliver operational and contractual outcomes.
• Proven delivery of restaurant openings, refurbishments, transitions or closures within live hospitality environments, managing risk, continuity of trade and reputation.
• Strong practical understanding of food and beverage operations, including food safety, licensing, planning and front-of-house/back-of-house requirements.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget management, forecasting, financial risk assessment and tracking of project budgets and milestones.
• Ability to manage complex, fast-paced change programmes with material commercial impact, balancing competing priorities and making sound decisions under pressure.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, operators and partners while maintaining control in high-pressure environments.

Benefits

As well as working at one of London's most popular and exciting  sites the successful candidate will also benefit from the following:​​​​​​​

• A min 5%  pension contribution (going up to 9% depending on employee contribution), from day 1 of employment
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working model depending on operational requirements
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced family leave benefits
• Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
• Staff ticket offers for SC events
• Free entry to Hayward Gallery
• Free/discounted entry with other reciprocal organisations
• Free staff yoga 

Portfolio Manager, Funding Department

6 - 9 Months Fixed Term Contract

£45,905 - £48,848 pa

City of London E1 8QS and we are a hybrid working organisation

Please note this is a hybrid role based on the successful candidate working at least two days a week in our London office. Remote contracts would not be considered for this role.

Purpose of Role

The Portfolio Manager will play a key role in the success of the team responsible for Comic Relief’s funding programme focused on tackling the effects of poverty. This role is focused on forced migration (in a team that also works in areas such as food insecurity, homelessness in the UK, and maternal and child health internationally),

The Portfolio Manager will hold direct responsibility for new Comic Relief grant making and ongoing grant management both in the UK and internationally, ensuring excellent grant making practice.

The Portfolio Manager will collaborate with other teams in the funding department and across the wider organisation to support Comic Relief’s overall objectives, including income generation.

Key responsibilities:

Grant making and ongoing grant management

· Manage new grant making, including working with colleagues to design funding opportunities, assessing funded partners, designing appropriate ongoing support mechanisms, and working with learning colleagues in the Funding Team on appropriate data collection

· Manage assigned funding portfolios and relationships with funded partners, ensuring that the portfolio is managed in a timely and responsive way, using Comic Relief’s (CR’s) systems and processes.

· Coordinate with other colleagues across the different teams in the funding department to ensure effective and efficient ways of working, and fruitful collaboration and learning across different funded issues and areas.

· Manage all ongoing requirements, such as narrative, financial and risk reporting, collaborating across the funding team and wider Comic Relief as appropriate.

· Work with the Assurance and Finance teams to ensure ongoing compliance across the portfolio with legal requirements, our grant conditions, reporting requirements and best practice.

· Collaborate with Partnerships colleagues to manage donor reporting and other information needs for external and internal use, such as information about our funded work and our partners.

Cross organisation and sector collaboration

· Support resource mobilisation partnerships through collaborative and supportive working with Comic Relief’s communications, fundraising and partnership teams.

· Work with the Partnerships Team to support strong relationships with existing and potential co-funding partners, including corporates and/or trusts, foundations and institutions, and support proposal development, reporting and other requirements.

· Work collaboratively across CR to support storytelling around CR’s impact.

· Develop a good understanding of areas of social change within assigned funding portfolios and areas of new grant making to be able to represent Comic Relief’s funding and priorities to internal and external stakeholders

· Contribute to internal communications regarding the work of the team and the wider Funding Team.

· Represent Comic Relief to strategic partners and co-funders, in relevant networks, and at external events.

General

· Manage the work of consultants and other contractors as required.

· Communicate in an open, honest and transparent way with funding applicants, funded partners and funding partners.

· Ensure that, when applicable, people with lived or learned experience are actively engaged with our work, contributing to the design and decision-making process of our funding portfolios.

Note: Some UK and/or international travel may be required for this role. 

Person specification

Essential criteria

· Significant understanding/experience of the systems and structures that perpetuate social injustice and keep people trapped in poverty, including the best approaches to address them

· Experience and knowledge of grant making and programme design, including developing, implementing and evaluating programmes, and managing grants within a donor and / or implementing organisation.

· Experience of managing restricted donor funding and supporting ongoing donor management (e.g. government funding and/or funding from other institutions, trusts foundations or corporate entities)

· Personal and effective relationship builder with high emotional intelligence to nurture trust and respect in all relationships.

· Motivation, flexibility and resilience to navigate unforeseen challenges and collaborate effectively.

· Analytical thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture and make appropriate and effective decisions.

· An understanding or lived experience of social injustice, and proven track record of working in alignment with Comic Relief’s commitment to social justice, anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and equity

Desirable criteria 

· Experience with or knowledge of decolonising philanthropy and the wider funding sector

· Understanding of, and commitment to, the use of storytelling to engage the public in programmatic work

· Experience of budget management

Perks and benefits:

· Flexible working hours

· Work from home option

· Life Insurance

· Wellness programs

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

· Paid emergency leave

· Sabbatical Opportunities

· Professional development

· Mentoring/coaching

· Paid volunteer days

· Payroll giving

· Salary sacrifice

· Team social events

· Extracurricular clubs

· Cycle to work scheme

· Free fruit

To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.

Comic Relief reserves the right to close the role early if a large number of applications are received.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why work at Comic Relief

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London,

There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.

Disability Confident Employer

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV and application questions.

We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email us via our website to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters.

Job Introduction

The role is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding individual to join the Philanthropy and Partnerships team at Diabetes UK.  With more people living with diabetes and millions more at risk of developing Type 2, our work has never been more needed. You will lead on enhancing the infrastructure, data, research and operations that enable the philanthropy and partnerships team to deepen relationships, secure increased income and deliver an excellent supporter experience. You will ensure compliance with fundraising best practice, support implementation of improved CRM functionality and process improvements to enhance our efficiency and impact as a team and develop data driven prospect research strategies that align donors to key priority ambitions to deliver sustainable growth.

Role description:

In this role you will

• Oversee prospecting and data and information management that underpins all of the Philanthropy and Partnerships teams activities working closely with external partners and internal stakeholders.
• Create and implement innovative and data driven strategies for prospect research, moves management, partnership approval and pipeline development
• Evaluate and provide critical analysis of fundraising and prospecting activity to deliver actionable insight, process innovation and project management
• Create project management plans for funding our ambitions and critical pieces of philanthropy and partnerships operational work
• Line manage a prospect research function
• Actively engage with the wider philanthropy and partnerships team, other directorates and external audiences to maximise opportunities for collaboration and growth.  
   

The ideal candidate:

We are looking for a highly motivated professional who thrives on working in a fast-paced complex environment within a large team. You will need: 

• good knowledge and experience of CRM relationship management, prospect research, philanthropy and partnership fundraising
• demonstrable experience in information and data management, analysis and fundraising operations.
• an ability to work collaboratively with key internal stakeholders, to support the development of relationships between philanthropists, partners and Diabetes UK
• to be an excellent communicator, problem solver, highly accurate and analytical in your work with good project management skills
• to be able to interpret information and make strategic recommendations
• to be flexible, agile and able to adapt to respond to internal and external changes
• to possess a solid understanding of charity legislation, fundraising regulation, and data protection.

For further information about the role please refer to the job description at the end of the page.

Contract: Full-time (open to part-time for right candidate, minimum 3 days per week) 
Salary: £35,000-£37,000 (based on experience, pro-rata if part time)
Contract type: 12-month fixed-term (with strong intention to extend subject to funding) 
Start date: May 2026
Reporting to: Director, John Schofield Trust 
Location: Remote (UK only), with occasional travel

1. About the John Schofield Trust

The John Schofield Trust is a charity dedicated to improving social mobility and diversity in journalism and the media. We support early‑career journalists and university students from under‑represented backgrounds through high‑quality mentoring, professional development and access to industry networks.

Our work focuses on long‑term, meaningful relationships between experienced media professionals and talented individuals at the start of their careers. As demand for our programmes continues to grow and we work to adapt to a changing sector, we are looking for an Operations Manager to play a central role in delivering our work.

2. Role Summary

The Operations Manager will be a pivotal new role within the John Schofield Trust’s small staff team. You will be responsible for the end‑to‑end delivery of our mentoring programmes, ensuring an excellent experience for both mentors and mentees.

You will manage relationships with mentors, mentees and partner organisations, oversee programme operations, and contribute to the Trust’s learning, impact reporting and future development. This role suits someone who enjoys working with people, managing multiple moving parts, and taking initiative in a mission‑driven organisation.

3. Key Responsibilities

Programme delivery and quality

• Manage the day‑to‑day delivery of the Trust’s mentoring programmes, including supporting a new ‘emerging newsroom leader’ pilot scheme

• Oversee recruitment, selection, training and matching of mentors and mentees 

• Ensure a high‑quality experience for participants throughout the programme lifecycle

Relationships and partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with mentors, mentees and alumni 

• Represent the Trust in meetings with universities, newsrooms and other partners 

• Support the growth and engagement of our mentor and supporter network 

Data, impact and learning

• Maintain and develop the Trust’s database of mentors, mentees and supporters 

• Collect and analyse programme data to monitor impact and learning 

• Gather testimonials and case studies for reporting to stakeholders and the wider public

Organisational contribution

• Support events and occasional in‑person activities 

• Administer elements of our governance, including minuting of meetings and assembling annual report 

• Contribute to the wider work and development of the Trust, including our marketing and communications

• Undertake other tasks in line with the role 

4. Essential Experience and Skills
 

• Experience of successful programme or project management 

• Strong relationship‑building and stakeholder management skills 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines 

• High standards of professionalism and attention to detail 

• Confidence using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, to manage and analyse data 

• Experience supporting or delivering events 

• Awareness of journalism, media, education and/or training and development 

5. Attributes
 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills 

• Proactive, organised and solutions‑focused 

• Comfortable working independently in a small, remote team 

• Motivated by social impact and widening access to opportunities 

6. Desirable (Not Essential)
 

• Experience working in or with the journalism or media sector 

• Experience running mentoring, coaching or development programmes 

• Experience of fundraising or donor engagement 

• Experience using social media or digital marketing 

• Confidence using AI tools

We encourage applications from candidates who meet most, but not all, of the criteria above.

7. Application Process

Please submit the following by email to info[at]johnschofieldtrust[dot]org[dot]uk with the subject line ‘Operations Manager application’:

• A CV (maximum three sides of A4)

• A cover letter (maximum two sides of A4)

Your cover letter should explain why you are well suited to the role, referring to the responsibilities and criteria above and giving specific examples.

Please provide both documents in PDF form and include your name in the file name e.g. ‘Tom Smith Cover Letter’ or ‘Tom Smith CV’.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process.

8. Key Dates
 

Application deadline: 23:59 on 23rd March 2026 

Interviews: End of March – Beginning of April

Start date: May 2026 or sooner if notice period allows

9. Equal Opportunities
 

The John Schofield Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We are open to flexible working arrangements, and we welcome candidates who have taken non-linear career paths.

Due to the volume of applications, we cannot provide feedback to candidates not invited to interview.

10. Questions
 

If you have any questions about the role email info[at]johnschofieldtrust[dot]org[dot]uk

Thank you for your interest, and good luck.

Are you an operational leader who thrives on optimising the systems behind ambitious fundraising?We’re looking for a Development Manager, Operations to lead the infrastructure that powers our Development team, ensuring our systems, finances, governance and insight are robust, efficient and campaign-ready.

About the Barbican

Each year, the Centre presents hundreds of different performances, events and exhibitions that entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in. 
As the Barbican approaches its 50th anniversary, the Centre stands at a pivotal moment in its history. With a new CEO in post, £191m secured for the first phase of a major capital transformation, and a renewed artistic and audience-focused vision, we are laying the foundations for the next 50 years. 
As we enter this bold new chapter, we are preparing to launch a major fundraising campaign to support both our world-class arts programme and the Barbican Renewal project, which will transform our iconic building for future generations. The Development department will be at the heart of this ambition, securing the partnerships, philanthropy and long-term support that will shape the Barbican’s future.

About the Role 

The Development Operations team enables all philanthropic income across the Barbican. As we prepare for a major comprehensive campaign and significant growth in activity, The Development Manager, Operations is central to strengthening the systems and infrastructure that support our fundraising.
You will lead a team spanning CRM, prospect research, events operations and audience giving, ensuring the department has the systems, insight and financial rigour to deliver sustainable income growth at scale.

In this role, you will:

•    Lead and improve the systems, policies and processes that support fundraising, embedding best practice and driving efficiency.
•    Oversee Development finances, including income tracking, forecasting and budgeting, working closely with Finance to ensure accuracy and insight.
•    Act as strategic lead for our CRM (Spektrix) and data environment, overseeing reporting, gift processing, data integrity and compliance (GDPR, Gift Aid).
•    Support the administration of the Barbican Centre Trust, ensuring statutory compliance and high-quality support to Trustees and senior stakeholders.
•    Manage and develop a high-performing Operations team, setting clear priorities during a period of growth and change.

We’re looking for someone who brings:

•    Significant experience in fundraising or charity operations (arts sector experience desirable).
•    Strong financial management skills, including budgeting and forecasting.
•    Deep CRM expertise (ideally Spektrix) and advanced Excel skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable insight.
•    A solid understanding of charity regulation, Gift Aid and GDPR.
•    Excellent communication skills, with confidence preparing reports and papers for senior leaders and Trustees.
•    A collaborative, solutions-focused mindset and the resilience to thrive in a fast-paced environment

How to apply

To apply click on the 'Apply Online' button. Applications without a completed form will not be reviewed.

Deadline for applications is 23:59, Wednesday 25th March 2026.  The advert may close ahead of this date if a sufficient number of applications is reached - apply early to avoid missing out.

Please note that we are unable to accept late applications. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback on your application.

The City of London Corporation want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do. The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation – and is committed to regularly benchmarking and reviewing pay against external sectors.

As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of staff within the Barbican we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from groups that are currently underrepresented, including people from the Global Majority* and D/deaf and disabled people. We want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. Please contact us if you require reasonable adjustments as part of the application process.

*Global Majority is a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities'.