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Director of Operations

LEF

Reporting to Chief Executive

London/Hybrid 2 days per week in the office, ideally Tuesdays and Thursdays (off Tottenham Court Road, WC1E 7EB)

6-month FTC

Salary £70,000 - £95,000 depending on experience (pro rata for part time)

Full time, 35 hours per week (part time considered) with flexible working

Excellent benefits including 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time and for FTC) pension, private healthcare, employee assistance programme

Are you a strategic and values-led leader with significant senior experience leading core support functions, including HR, IT, organisational infrastructure, and contract and supplier management, and available for an interim contract starting in January?

Charity People are delighted to be supporting LEF, an independent foundation supporting communities across the UK to use the law to create a more just and equal society, to recruit an Interim Director of Operations.

LEF was established as the Legal Education Foundation in 2012. Over the years, the organisation has grown into providing broad support for organisations in relation to law and social justice, and, in 2025, they became LEF with a focus on the potential of the law to strengthen the power of communities to create a more just and equal society.

LEF is entering a bold new strategic phase, following a transformative rebrand and renewed focus on the power of communities to use and shape the law to achieve social justice. With financial assets exceeding £280 million, LEF is uniquely positioned to build bridges between the law and communities facing injustice, to tackle the root causes of inequality.

The Director of Operations is a member of the Senior Management Team. The overall purpose of the role is to work with colleagues across the organisation to develop and oversee effective and efficient administrative, IT, finance and operational policies, systems and services to support delivery of the foundation's strategy, while ensuring that these policies, systems and support services uphold the foundation's culture and values.

The Director of Operations also plays a key role in shaping and sustaining an inclusive, collaborative and values-driven organisational culture, ensuring that systems, processes and ways of working promote staff wellbeing, equity and learning across the organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provide organisational leadership across core operational functions and contribute to SMT and Board decision-making to ensure effective, compliant and future-focused operations.
• Human Resources: Oversee HR strategy, policies and processes to create an inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace.
• Digital, IT, Facilities & Infrastructure: Ensure robust, secure and efficient digital, IT, facilities and infrastructure systems that enable staff to work effectively across all locations.
• Finance: Lead and support the finance function to maintain strong financial planning, control, compliance and investment oversight.
• Governance: Maintain effective governance structures, ensure regulatory compliance and provide clear, timely information to the Board and committees.

Who we're looking for:

We're seeking a strategic and values-led leader with

• Senior experience leading core support functions, including HR, IT, organisational infrastructure, and contract and supplier management.
• Strong strategic and operational leadership skills, with the ability to translate organisational strategy into effective systems, processes and delivery.
• Experience overseeing organisational risk, compliance, data protection and safeguarding frameworks, or the ability to develop these confidently.
• Proven ability to engage constructively and authoritatively with the Board of Trustees and its committees, providing clear information, insight and challenge.
• Excellent organisational, planning and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Experience leading and developing staff teams, demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and a collaborative, empowering leadership style.
• Deep understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with experience building diverse teams and fostering inclusive, trust-based cultures.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with sound financial literacy and the ability to interpret and communicate data and organisational information.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write and speak clearly, persuasively and with authority.
• Eligible to work in the UK.
• Commitment to the Foundation's vision, mission and values, and to working in ways that advance social justice.

Senior experience in the foundation or wider voluntary sector, ideally with insight into the needs of social justice organisations and voluntary sector infrastructure is desirable.

LEF is based near Goodge Street tube station (WC1E 7EB). You will need to be willing to attend the office at least twice a week, as well as be able to attend meetings and events across London. This is an interim role for 6 months. LEF will be recruiting for the permanent position early next year and the successful candidate will be open to apply. Candidates will need full right to work in the UK, and the role is subject to satisfactory references. The ideal start date for the candidate will be mid/late-January so you will need to be immediately available or able to start in January.

How to apply

The application process is CV and answers to three questions to form your Supporting Statement. For more information and for the full Job Pack, please share your CV via the link below. The closing date is 9am on Thursday 18 December. Interviews will take place on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 January.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Make a Real Difference to Local Families

Home-Start Barnet, Brent and Harrow is a dynamic local charity supporting families with young children through challenging times. Our volunteers and staff offer emotional and practical support to help parents build confidence, strengthen relationships and give their children the best start in life.

We’re looking for a Family Engagement Coordinator to join our School Readiness project in Grahame Park, Barnet. You’ll be part of a friendly team at Home-Start Barnet, working closely with colleagues and partners at Barnet Mencap to support families who are just starting their journey with the education system.

In this role, you’ll help us reach families who may be facing extra challenges or need more personalised support. You’ll spend time building strong, trusting relationships with local primary schools and become a familiar, welcoming presence within their school communities. Your work will help ensure that parents feel informed, supported and ready to help their children thrive as they start school.

The common thread throughout the project is the engagement of families and the parent volunteers, who widen the supportive “community” around the families, and connect the school to the home, and the partners to each other. Approximately 70% of this role will be based in local schools in Grahame Park.

As our Family Engagement Coordinator, you will:

• Build strong relationships with primary schools in Grahame Park, in Barnet.
• Promote Home-Start’s services through school and community events.
• Support communication between schools, families and partner agencies.
• Share updates through newsletters, WhatsApp, email and community channels.
• Signpost families to local services and activities that support wellbeing.
• Receive referrals and assess family needs.
• Deliver school-readiness workshops and parenting groups.
• Liaise with schools, health and community services

About You

We’re looking for someone compassionate, proactive and highly organised, with a genuine passion for supporting families.

You will have:

• Experience working or volunteering in schools, nurseries, family support or similar settings.
• Parenting experience or experience caring for young children.
• Understanding of early years development and primary school systems.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities.
• The ability to engage with families facing complex challenges.
• Experience of delivering workshops or groups.
• Understanding of neurodiversity and SEND support.
• Knowledge of legislation relating to children and families.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative team environment
• Opportunities for training and professional development
• A role where you can directly improve the lives of children and families
• Term-time only working arrangements can be considered

Note: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 due to the nature of our work.

Join us as our Senior Legal Aid Advisor. We will always stand by people standing up to an unjust immigration system. We provide a safe haven for people to rebuild their lives and our Senior Legal Aid Advisor role is a key part of that. Sitting in the immigration team, you will work on our Legal Aid contract alongside a team of Immigration Advisors working on a mix of grant funded projects for migrants unable to afford private representation. You will work within a supportive environment, reporting to our Immigration Manager, and be able to develop your areas of expertise. We’re a small and collaborative team so you will have the opportunity to work closely with other members of the organisation. 

Main Roles

• Manage a full caseload of complex immigration matters funded by legal aid, including asylum, human rights, and deportation cases.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations (IAAS, SRA, LAA).
• Complete funding applications, manage provider submissions, track time, prepare and submit legal aid bills and ensure compliance with LAA obligations.
• Provide ad hoc supervision, mentoring or training to members of the immigration team working on related immigration matters.

Please download our application pack to find about more about the Senior Legal Aid Advisor Role.