Relate operations manager east jobs in Bristol
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Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy levels amongst people in the criminal justice system?
We’ve made substantial progress in recent years, with improvements and expansions to our delivery model and significant growth in our staff team. In Spring 2026, we will launch our refreshed organisational strategy, which will shape our work over the next three years and beyond. To support this growth, we are recruiting for a full time National Director of Operations to lead our delivery across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and emerging community settings, with an ambition to reach Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in scaling our impact and strengthening our presence across the criminal justice system and beyond.
As National Director of Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for our learning programmes in prisons and community settings. You will ensure high‑quality, consistent and accessible delivery, overseeing a team of six Regional Managers and a wider workforce of around 65 staff, volunteers and over 2,000 peer mentors trained each year.
Working closely with senior colleagues, partner organisations and national bodies such as HMPPS, you will drive programme excellence, innovation and partnership working. You will also play a key role in new business development, operational strategy, contractual delivery and ensuring we can reliably demonstrate the impact of our work.
The role requires an experienced operational leader with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for people facing disadvantage. You will bring:
- Senior leadership experience in a complex, multi‑site environment.
- A track record of delivering large-scale programmes and leading distributed teams.
- Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving and relationship‑building skills.
- Experience working with statutory bodies or large public-sector partners (e.g. HMPPS).
- Excellent judgement, communication skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
- Understanding of the criminal justice system, safeguarding, or alternative education environments (desirable).
- A collaborative, inclusive leadership style aligned with Shannon Trust’s values.
We want to hear from applicants who are as committed to the cause as we are.
This is a home-based role but will require travel around the UK including overnight stays. This role is 5 days per week (35 hours) with working days/hours to be mutually agreed in line with business needs.
Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.
We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. This role does require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.
Interviews, which will be held online, are planned for the w/c 18th May.
All applications must include a CV and covering letter of no more than 2 pages which outlines your suitability for the role and how you meet the person specification.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for an inspiring Support Services Manager to lead our supported housing schemes, ensuring high‑quality, person‑centred support for women and children across our services.
If you are passionate about transforming lives, improving service quality and leading dedicated teams — we’d love to hear from you.
About the Role
As Support Services Manager, you will:
Lead and develop high‑quality support services
- Provide operational leadership across supported housing schemes
- Ensure trauma‑informed, person‑centred support plans and risk assessments
- Monitor KPIs, contractual compliance and service performance
- Drive service improvement and co‑production with clients
Manage, motivate and develop staff
- Line manage Support Workers and Volunteers
- Ensure supervision, training and performance management
- Support recruitment and staff development across the region
- Build a strong, motivated and skilled team
Champion safeguarding & risk management
- Act as a safeguarding champion across supported housing
- Ensure robust risk assessments, incident reporting and GDPR‑compliant records
- Support staff to maintain the highest safeguarding standards
Ensure housing & compliance excellence
- Work closely with Estates teams to maintain safe, compliant accommodation
- Support quality improvements across physical properties and service delivery
Build impactful partnerships
- Liaise with local authorities, commissioners, health partners and referral agencies
- Represent Life at case conferences, multi‑agency meetings and contract reviews
- Identify and respond to new referral opportunities
Drive quality, governance & reporting
- Produce performance reports and maintain audit readiness
- Support strategic growth and contribute to the department’s business plan
- Promote Life Charity within local communities and public forums
Manage budgets & resources
- Monitor expenditure and support resource planning
- Support with funding bids and service redesign
- Work with finance teams to ensure clients receive appropriate financial support
We’d love to hear from you if you have:
Essential experience & skills
- Experience managing or delivering support and/or care services
- Understanding of supported housing and estates management
- Strong knowledge of support planning, risk assessment and safeguarding
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage at all levels
- Strong organisational, leadership and problem‑solving abilities
- Ability to work independently, handle pressure and prioritise workloads
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Full UK driving licence
Desirable
- Relevant housing qualification (e.g., CIH Level 4)
- Experience working in a charity environment
- Experience in troubleshooting or service improvement roles
- Good strategic awareness
About Life:
Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish.
Our services include:
- Supported housing and community support
- Counselling and skilled listening
- Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies
Our values :
All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values:
- Humanity – All people are special and equal
- Solidarity – We’re with you and for you
- Community – We’re better together
- Charity – Doing good for one another
- Common good – Building a better world
Information about the role:
For further information, please see the attached job description.
Salary: £34,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week over 5 days
Location: Home Based with Extensive Travel across the Midlands and South East England
Benefits:
At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:
- Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours)
- Birthday Leave (applicable after 1 years service)
- Additional annual leave for long term service
- Company Pension Scheme
- Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge
Safeguarding and Equality:
Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking a dynamic Head of Housing Support to lead our national Housing Support Services, ensuring clients receive exceptional, trauma‑informed care in safe, compliant and high‑quality homes. This is a pivotal role that influences service delivery, operational performance, and the long‑term vision for Life’s housing provision.
As Head of Housing Support, you will:
Lead & Inspire
- Provide strategic leadership for Housing Support Services across the UK.
- Manage and motivate Support Services Managers and Tenancy Sustainment Officers to deliver outstanding client‑focused support.
- Embed a culture of collaboration, high performance and trauma‑informed practice.
Drive Operational Excellence
- Oversee the implementation of the Housing Strategy, ensuring the safety, compliance and quality of all homes.
- Work closely with the Estates Team to maintain high housing standards and meet regulatory obligations.
- Oversee tenancy management, rent setting, arrears management and income recovery.
Shape the Future
- Influence policy, develop best‑practice procedures and contribute to organisational strategy.
- Build strong partnerships with local authorities, housing developers and external stakeholders.
- Represent Life at networking events and act as an ambassador for the charity.
Lead with Purpose
- Champion safeguarding, ensuring training, oversight and adherence to all safeguarding policies.
- Produce reports and KPIs for the Board, Senior Leadership Team and Operational Leadership Team.
- Support the financial sustainability of the Housing department, including budget management and cost‑saving initiatives.
About You
We’re looking for someone who is:
- A values‑driven leader committed to Life’s mission and vision.
- Experienced at senior management level within supported housing (multi‑million‑pound scale desirable).
- Skilled at leading high‑performing teams and developing individuals.
- A confident communicator with excellent relationship‑building and presentation skills.
- Knowledgeable in tenancy support, housing compliance, safeguarding and quality service delivery.
- Highly organised, strategic, creative and able to work under pressure.
- Passionate about trauma‑informed practice and delivering outstanding client outcomes.
Relevant housing or management qualifications (such as CIH Level 4) are desirable but not essential with strong experience.
About Life:
Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish.
Our services include
- Supported housing and community support
- Counselling and skilled listening
- Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies
Our values
All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values:
- Humanity – All people are special and equal
- Solidarity – We’re with you and for you
- Community – We’re better together
- Charity – Doing good for one another
- Common good – Building a better world
Information about the role:
For further information, please see the attached job description.
Please note, driving licence and own vehicle are required.
Salary: £45,655 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week, 5 days per week
Location: Home Based with Extensive Travel across Midlands and South East
Benefits
At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:
- Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours)
- Birthday Leave (applicable after 1 years service)
- Extra annual leave for long term service
- Company Pension Scheme
- Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge
Safeguarding and Equality
Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.