Safe migration programme officer jobs in charing cross, greater london

SLRA is a well-established local migrant support organisation working with and for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants who are at risk or in crisis because of immigration issues. We provide specialist immigration advice as well as a broad range of practical, social and therapeutic support services. We also campaign for a fairer immigration system, involving local people with lived experience in influencing local and national policy and practice.   

We are looking for a new CEO to lead our dedicated team and continue to develop SLRA’s outstanding services and impact. We are looking for a determined and inspirational leader. You may be an experienced CEO or have the skills and determination needed to step up into the role. Our current CEO has led SLRA’s growth and development over the last eleven years and we are proud of our highly regarded and successful, local organisation. As we look to our new strategic period, we are looking for a new CEO who will ensure the continued exceptional impact of our work with local migrant individuals and communities and who will continue to develop our campaigning and policy influencing work at a time when the hostility of the external environment and government policies is more challenging than ever. If you think you might be the right person for this role, feel that you could bring the best out in those you lead and have the capability to define SLRA’s direction over the coming years, then we would love to hear from you.

Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday per year (with 3 additional days when the office is closed at Christmas) plus bank holidays. 
• Additional long service annual leave days up to a maximum of an additional 5 days per year. 
• Flexible and family friendly working arrangements.
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution. 
• Commitment to staff learning and development.
• Cyclescheme and travelcard loans. 

For all roles, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the hostile immigration system. We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources on their website which may help in preparing your job application. 

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the legal charity ATLEU (Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit), in a vital operational leadership role.  This is a role for someone with extensive operational management experience, ideally within the charity, non-profit sector and in human rights work. You will be a strategic thinker with excellent organisational skills and able to manage multiple priorities effectively. You will bring your skills and experience to a dedicated team that punches well above its weight and is passionate about transforming individual lives and bringing about long term change. 

The Head of Operations will provide leadership in all operational matters, supporting the organisation's mission and long-term objectives, supporting ATLEU’s growth, resilience, and sustainability as well as building a flexible and supportive environment that enables the ATLEU team to do the challenging work that they do.

This role is line managed by and works closely with the Chief Executive. You will be a member of ATLEU’s Senior Management team and work closely with and supervise the work of the People & Inclusion Manager (recently started in post), the Operations & Projects Coordinator and the Billing Coordinator. The Operations team is a small team that works collaboratively to ensure all areas are covered at all times. As such, you will be willing to chip in and take on tasks of other team members if urgent matters arise or when providing holiday cover. 

We are looking for a positive, detail-oriented, creative thinker and problem solver who will build on our reputation for innovation and excellence. You will have a track record of achievement in this field and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with strong financial and business acumen. You will have experience of and confidence in overseeing a wide remit of cross cutting functions including finance, human resources, office management, information technology and governance and compliance. This role will suit someone who enjoys working with people, is comfortable with autonomy and who thrives in a role where no two days are the same.

About ATLEU

Our vision is a just world where no one is enslaved or exploited. 

Our mission is to secure safety, rights and justice for survivors of human trafficking by using and challenging the law.

Our strategic priorities are: 

1. To provide a model of high quality holistic legal support to survivors of human trafficking and exploitation
2. To tackle systemic injustice through strategic litigation and pursuing policy change
3. To build survivor leadership and influence within ATLEU and across the sector
4. To strengthen the capacity of advice, frontline and community organisations to meet the needs of survivors
5. To invest in and support our people to ensure we are effective and sustainable

Our values are integral to who we are, what we do and how we do it.

• There is always another way

We are persistent, resourceful and creative in our approach.  We do the hard work to make justice accessible.  We don’t give up in the fight for fairness and freedom.

• We make the time. We listen. We hear

We take the time to really listen to our clients and colleagues. We want to restore autonomy and agency from where it was stolen.  We give advice, not tell you what to do. If you fight, we fight.  Our clients’ needs come first.

• Knowledge is for sharing.

We lead the way in our knowledge and expertise of reforming the law. The strength of our team comes from our willingness to collaborate and share.  We put our work before pride and always ask for help. Power of our knowledge comes through sharing it with others to secure justice and reform the law. 

Employment Information
 

Job Title:Head of Operations

Job Term:Permanent

Hours:Full time / part-time (minimum of 28 hours up to 35 hours per week). Flexible working options available

Salary:£47,000 to £52,000 p.a. pro rata (depending on experience)

Pension:7% employer pension contribution

Leave:33 days pro rata (including public holidays) pro rata with an additional 1 day per year up to a maximum of 38 days (including public holidays) pro rata

Reports to:  CEO

Line Management: Up to 5 staff members

Probation:6 month probation period

Location:Central London, near London Bridge and with occasional travel to Sheffield 

Objectives of the post

To lead and ensure the smooth operational running of ATLEU, with particular focus on finance, people, information technology and governance and compliance. 

To manage ATLEU’s team of operations staff including human resources, operations and projects,  finance and external bookkeepers. 

To work closely with the Chief Executive to develop systems for implementing and monitoring ATLEU’s strategic plan. 

Main Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Strategy

• Participate in strategic and business planning processes and play a leading role, working with the CEO and trustees to develop the strategic plan, ensuring all team members understand it and their role in it. 
• Serve as a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) contributing to the strategic direction and day to day management of the organisation. 
• Develop and lead monitoring and evaluation processes for all activities associated with our strategy, including setting and reviewing annual business plan priorities and targets, communicating progress and highlighting potential areas for development and increased focus. Be a champion for embedding learning into the culture of the organisation and collaborate with consultants and staff to ensure there are effective monitoring learning and evaluation frameworks in place across ATLEU’s projects and services. 
• Lead and manage ATLEU’s operations staff, including ATLEU’s Operations and Projects Coordinator, People and Inclusion Manager and Billing Coordinator. 
• Lead the development and maintenance of organisational policies, procedures, and systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• To work closely with the Director of Saltworks to support the operational running of ATLEU’s  trading subsidiary Saltworks, through developing the financial and operational infrastructure and management of the organisation.

2. Finance 

• Lead ATLEU’s financial planning, management and reporting processes. 
• Direct, manage and document ATLEU’s financial policies, systems and controls, ensuring that financial systems are effective and up to date. 
• Scrutinise monthly financial data and produce financial reports for the CEO and trustees, including quarterly cashflows
• Prepare ATLEU’s annual operating budgets and financial reports for funders and oversee project budgets. 
• Ensure the year-end financial accounts and audit process is completed satisfactorily and delivered on time, ensuring all financial data and other data needed is provided.
• Ensure that accurate records and accounts of monies claimed are held on all cases  and liaise with the Head of Legal Practice to ensure compliance with the Solicitors Accounts Rules.
• Oversee ATLEU’s bookkeeping and legal aid billing and reporting and ensure all monies, including grant monies and training invoices are claimed and paid promptly. 
• Maintain oversight of bookkeepers and auditors, taking responsibility for managing relationships with them
• Manage ATLEU’s banking arrangements, ensuring that they are effective, secure and fit for purpose.

3. Office and Operations

• Work with the Senior Management and Operations teams to ensure that all colleagues have the operational support needed to do their jobs effectively; 
• Liaise with building management for both offices, manage any rent negotiations and any future office moves 

• Lead on the annual insurance renewal process, provide the required data and lead discussions with brokers to ensure good value for money on all policies;
• Support the Operations and Projects Coordinator to ensure that both ATLEU offices provide a safe and welcoming environment for ATLEU staff, clients and other visitors and that they comply with all appropriate legislation and regulations;
• Work with the Operations & Project Coordinator to maintain the Office Manual and associated policies and ensure that they are up to date and reviewed as appropriate and monitor compliance with those policies. 
• Oversee day-to-day operations including premises, equipment, IT systems, ordering supplies, procurement and workflow and archive management and ensure that processes are in place to restore functionality as required. 
• To ensure the most effective use of resources and identify areas for cost reduction or cost avoidance along with process and functional improvement, including developing ATLEU’s IT infrastructure to reduce reliance on paper files. 

4. Human Resources

• The Head of Operations plays a pivotal role in mentoring and supporting the People and Inclusion Manager across all HR-related matters, including staff wellbeing and EDI activities. 
• In the absence of the People & Inclusion Manager or when facing conflicting deadlines, the Head of Operations is expected to actively participate in all HR tasks.
• Support the People & Inclusion Manager with day-to-day HR tasks, processes and systems, responding to queries and problem solving when needed;
• Provide guidance to the Senior Management Team with regular updates on HR related issues as needed;
• Support the People and Inclusion Manager to review, develop and roll out HR policies and provide training to staff where required, ensuring they are legislatively sound, fit with our values and align with our strategic goals. 
• Oversee the coordination of the organisation’s volunteer programme, and explore ways to maximise the value both ATLEU and volunteers gain from the programme. 
• Model positive, fair and open people leadership and support other managers in their supervisory capacity.

5. Governance and Compliance 

• Work with the Chief Executive to continue to strengthen the governance of the charity, ensuring that all aspects of governance adhere to best practices and meet regulatory requirements.

• Ensure that ATLEU complies with the requirements of all relevant regulatory bodies including the Charity Commission and Companies House and ensuring ATLEU is compliant with all compliance relevant to a not for profit legal firm e.g the Legal Aid Agency, Solicitor’s Regulation Authority, Specialist Quality Mark, Immigration Advice Authority and CILEX.

• Manage the Board, AGM and committee meeting calendar, ensuring well-structured agendas and facilitating effective decision-making processes with clear records of these meetings and management of actions arising.
• Develop and implement governance policies and procedures that align with regulatory requirements and organisational needs.
• Ensure the SMT, Board and other parts of the governance receives comprehensive, timely, and accurate information to support informed decision-making.
• Stay abreast of relevant legislation and governance best practices, implementing changes as necessary. 
• Develop and maintain effective systems and frameworks for compliance, risk management, and operational efficiency.

6. Information Technology / Data Protection and Cyber Security

• Support the Operations and Projects Coordinator in ensuring IT systems function appropriately and securely and new systems are developed to improve efficiencies for caseworkers and for audit and research. 
• Work with the Head of Legal Practice and Operations and Projects Coordinator on the continued development of and improvements to our legal aid case management system.
• Ensure ATLEU has robust IT and cyber security policies and procedures in place, and oversee their implementation across the organisation.
• Develop and maintain the organisation’s IT and business continuity plan and update it annually.
• Oversee ATLEU’s day-to-day relationships with external IT support, ensuring IT systems function effectively and providing or facilitating staff support;
• Collaborate with external IT support on projects to enhance and modernise ATLEU’s systems, ensuring they remain up-to-date and secure;

• Take overall responsibility for the data protection obligations of the organisation. Oversee the implementation of up-to-date and compliant data protection policies including data retention and destruction, home and remote working, emails and the internet, and ensure that sensitive and financial information is securely stored and confidentiality and privacy is maintained. 
• Keep abreast of changes and updates to Data Protection legislation and ensure that staff receive regular training on Data Protection and Cyber Security.

7. Other

• Lead by example demonstrating ATLEU’s values, taking a business partner, proactive approach to working across the organisation.
• To support and adhere to ATLEU’s equal opportunities policy and to always act in an ethical manner that upholds the good reputation of ATLEU.
• To travel to ATLEU’s Sheffield offices as required. 
• From time to time to attend other meetings, including out of hours, when necessary.
• To undertake additional duties as may become necessary.
  
   

Please refer to the attachment below for further information and the full person specification.

 

How to Apply

To apply, please provide a copy of your CV, a covering letter, and an Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form via CharityJobs. The deadline for applications is at 23:00 on Sunday 30 November 2025. Applications received after this time will not be considered. 

Please ensure that the cover letter: 

• sets out why you wish to work for ATLEU
• addresses the criteria contained in the Person Specification
• demonstrates your competency for the role

Please ensure that we have a contact telephone number or email address so that we are able to contact you easily and in confidence.

Candidates shortlisted for interview will be advised by close of business on Friday 5 December 2025. If you do not hear from us by this time, it unfortunately means that you have not been shortlisted for an interview. We regret that we do not have capacity to provide feedback to applicants who are not invited for an interview. 

Interviews will be held on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 December. 

Candidates may be asked back for a second-round interview.

 

Inclusion at ATLEU

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our teams, and leads to better outcomes for everyone. Each individual is valued for their unique perspectives, cultures, and circumstances, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment where all employees feel supported, empowered, and able to thrive.

We actively encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We particularly welcome applicants from groups underrepresented in our sector, including individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and those with lived experience of migration or trafficking. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process or in the role — we are happy to discuss how we can best support you.