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Position title: Operations Officer

Reports to: Director of Operations

Direct reports: None at present. Operations Assistant in the future, subject to funding.

Key stakeholders: Director of Operations, Finance Manager, Communications Manager, Membership Manager, Director of Income and Investment, UKMSA team, volunteers

Location: Remote (with occasional UK travel)

Salary: Level 3 – £30,000-£35,000

The Operations Officer is a vital enabler within UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA), supporting the Director of Operations and wider team to ensure that internal systems, communications, and events run smoothly and effectively. Operating as a competent professional with minimal supervision, the postholder brings a practical, solutions-focused mindset to help our staff and volunteers navigate UKMSA with confidence and ease.

Acting as both a systems fixer and first point of contact, the Operations Officer handles incoming queries, whether by phone, email, or other channels, making sure they reach the right person quickly and are followed up appropriately. They take ownership of the “how”, for example, ensuring platforms like SharePoint are clear and usable, templates and resources are easy to find, and everyday processes feel intuitive and joined-up.

They also play a key role in supporting the delivery of UKMSA events, helping to coordinate logistics, manage information, and ensure all activities are well-organised, inclusive and aligned with UKMSA’s values. Proactive in spotting friction points across systems and operations, they resolve them constructively and collaboratively, always aiming to make things easier for others.

This role will suit someone who is calm under pressure, friendly, and unflappable; someone who brings patience and clarity when others feel frustrated, and who sees their job as enabling others to succeed. A natural organiser with a service mindset, the Operations Officer keeps things moving, keeps people informed, and brings a steady hand to the fast-paced, values-led environment of UKMSA.

Key responsibilities:

1. Support to the Director of Operations

· Provide flexible and proactive administrative support to the Director of Operations across a range of operational functions.

· Maintain and update Breathe and all HR records and internal trackers, ensuring information is accurate, current, and securely stored.

· Assist with project coordination, document preparation, supplier management, and other operational tasks as delegated.

· Ensure tasks are completed in a timely and organised manner, helping the Director manage priorities and maintain momentum.

2. Systems and process support

· Help the entirely remote staff and volunteers navigate UKMSA’s systems and tools (for example, platforms like SharePoint) with clarity and confidence.

· Work with other UKMSA staff to make systems more straight-forward. For example, work with the Finance Manager to help volunteers find easier ways to claim expenses.  

· Act as a practical, approachable source of support for system-related queries, ensuring others can easily find what they need to do their job. Adapt systems considering their experiences.

· Identify pain points in internal processes and work constructively with others to improve them, streamlining structures, simplifying workflows, and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes.

· Maintain and update shared systems and spaces to ensure they are accessible, user-friendly, and fit for purpose.

3. First point of contact

· Receive, triage and manage incoming phone calls, emails, and letters to UKMSA, ensuring they are passed on promptly and appropriately to the right member of staff or volunteer.

· Maintain clear systems for logging, redirecting, and following up on incoming queries to support accountability and responsiveness.

· Identify and suggest ways to make it easier for people, both inside and outside the organisation, to get the information or help they need efficiently. For example, work with the Membership Manager and Head of Volunteering to develop a bank of frequently used resources and materials.

4. Events co-ordination

· Support the Director of Operations, colleague and external consultants in the planning and delivery of UKMSA events including conferences, online webinars, training sessions, and member gatherings.

· Liaise with venues, suppliers, speakers, and internal colleagues to ensure smooth and timely event logistics.

· Manage practical event delivery tasks such as attendee registration, materials preparation, evaluation collection, and post-event communications.

· Contribute to the creation of inclusive, safe, well-organised events that reflect UKMSA’s values and create value for members, volunteers, and partners.

Key expertise required:

· Strong administrative and organisational skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy across a range of operational and logistical duties.

· Experience supporting senior leaders or operational functions, ideally in a charity, membership organisation or similarly values-led environment.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence and professionalism to liaise effectively with staff, volunteers, suppliers, and members of the public.

· Proficiency with digital systems and platforms, including file storage systems (e.g. SharePoint or Google Drive), spreadsheets, document templates, and basic CRM or event tools.

· Experience supporting events coordination, including handling logistics, communicating with participants, and ensuring smooth delivery.

· A practical and solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to spot inefficiencies or confusion in systems or processes and work constructively to improve them.

· Ability to work independently, using initiative to solve problems and manage priorities, while also being a supportive and collaborative team member.

· A calm, friendly and patient approach, especially when supporting colleagues or volunteers who are frustrated or unfamiliar with systems or processes.

· Understanding of confidentiality and data protection principles, with experience handling sensitive information responsibly and professionally.

· Experience working with volunteers, and a respectful, enabling approach that recognises the contribution and centrality of volunteers within the Shedding movement and wider charity.

· Commitment to UKMSA’s mission and values, with an appreciation for the volunteer-led nature of the Shedding movement and the culture it reflects.

What success looks like:

· People across the organisation feel supported, informed, and able to get things done. Staff and volunteers know who to go to for help, and when they do, the experience is clear, calm, and constructive.

· Systems and processes feel intuitive and smooth. The bumps have been ironed out, key resources are easy to find, and internal tools support rather than frustrate.

· Enquiries and issues are handled efficiently and appropriately. Whether it’s a public query or a board member request, it reaches the right person quickly and nothing falls through the cracks.

· Events are well organised, well attended, and well received. From logistics to follow-up, the Operations Officer plays a dependable role in making UKMSA events run smoothly and reflect the organisation’s values.

· The Director of Operations is well supported and can delegate confidently, stay focused on strategic work, and trust that operational details are being managed with care and follow-through.

· Colleagues describe the Operations Officer as calm, responsive and dependable. They are appreciated for being steady under pressure, friendly when others are stressed, and always looking for ways to make things easier.

· The role continues to evolve. As systems improve and the organisation changes, so does the shape of the role, with the postholder identifying new ways to add value and solve problems.

This job is not:

· This is not a strategic or senior leadership role. While the Operations Officer supports cross-organisational functions and works closely with senior staff, they are not responsible for setting strategy or making high-level decisions.

· This is not a purely administrative role. Although administration is an important part of the job, the role goes beyond task-based support, requiring initiative, systems thinking, and confident engagement with people across the organisation.

· This is not a technical IT role, though the postholder should be confident using digital systems and helping others navigate them.

· This is not a passive or isolated role. The Operations Officer is expected to proactively work closely with colleagues, volunteers, board members, and external contacts, often representing the operational “face” of the organisation and playing a key role in how things function day to day.

· This is not a static or routine-only role. As systems improve and the organisation evolves, the challenges and priorities will shift especially if the postholder is effective at smoothing processes and solving problems. The role requires adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to respond to what’s needed.

Closing date: 1200hrs 9th October 2025
Interview : 24th October 2025