Senior admissions officer jobs
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
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We are the support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK. We work hard to inspire and support the development of Men's Sheds.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Position title: Communications Manager
Reports to: Director of Operations
Direct reports: None currently
Key stakeholders: UKMSA staff, members and volunteers, Board of Trustees, Sheds and Shedders, the public
Location: Remote (with occasional UK travel)
Salary: Level 4 – £35,000-£45,000
The Communications Manager plays a vital role in shaping how UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) communicates, both internally and externally, and with the community at its heart. Operating with a high degree of autonomy and professional expertise, the postholder leads the development and delivery of communication strategies that connect, inform, and inspire.
This is not just a messaging role. Rather, it’s about building trust, clarity, and connection across UKMSA communities. Internally, the Communications Manager helps staff feel informed, included, and united across a remote-working environment. The post holder will coordinate internal communications, shape the tone and culture of how information flows, and ensure the brand is consistently and professionally represented.
With volunteers, especially UKMSA’s Ambassadors, the Communications Manager plays a key part in ensuring people feel heard, valued, and kept in the loop, especially during moments of change or challenge. They will work closely with the Head of Volunteering and the wider team to keep the voices and experiences of Shedders, Sheds and Shed Networks at the centre of UKMSA’s communications.
Externally, the postholder curates and amplifies the stories, impact, and energy of the Shedding movement. They manage the website and social media channels, support the CEO and Chair in their digital visibility, and respond to external enquiries with professionalism and purpose.
This is a mission-driven role that sits at the heart of how UKMSA connects with the world. It requires emotional intelligence, editorial judgement, and a deep appreciation for the unique volunteer-led spirit of the movement. The postholder will be confident working across staff, volunteers, trustees, and media, joining the dots, finding the story, and ensuring communications always reflect UKMSA’s values and community.
Key responsibilities:
1. Internal communications
· Develop and deliver internal communication approaches that ensure staff across a remote-working environment are kept informed, connected, and engaged.
· Coordinate and facilitate regular team meetings, updates, and communications, including all-staff briefings, newsletters, and shared messaging.
· Work with the CEO and senior team to plan in-person staff meetings, designing the content, format and approach so the sessions align with staff and organisational requirements.
· Design and implement mechanisms that foster internal cohesion and trust, drawing on ideas and good practice for remote working teams.
· Work closely with the senior team to ensure that important updates - strategic, operational, or cultural - are communicated in a timely, consistent, and accessible way.
· Uphold and promote a consistent tone of voice across all internal messaging, ensuring that staff understand and reflect UKMSA’s values and identity in how they communicate.
· Working with the Operations Officer, support the creation and internal rollout of branded materials and ensure consistency in logo use, templates, formatting, and professional standards across the organisation.
2. Community and organisational communications
· Act as a key link between staff, trustees, volunteers (particularly Ambassadors), and other internal stakeholders to ensure information is shared clearly, consistently, and inclusively.
· Collaborate with the Head of Volunteering to ensure that UKMSA’s volunteers are kept informed and involved, particularly during organisational updates, change, or key moments.
· Help embed a culture of openness and two-way communication, ensuring volunteers and trustees feel heard, recognised, and informed, and that their contributions are visible and valued.
· Coordinate messaging across staff and teams so that different groups across UKMSA receive the right information, in the right way, at the right time.
· Support senior leaders in maintaining effective communication with the Board of Trustees, including updates, briefings, and key documents.
3. External communications
· Manage and maintain the UKMSA website and social media channels, working with our external web designer to ensure content is accurate, up to date, and aligned with the organisation’s values and tone.
· Source, shape, and share stories from Shedders, volunteers, and communities to celebrate and amplify the impact of the Shedding movement.
· Lead on the production of UKMSA’s regular newsletter Shoulder2Shoulder, Review and develop the newsletter on a regular basis, in collaboration with staff and volunteers.
· Collaborate with staff and volunteers to collect and develop case studies and lived experience content and ensure these are shared meaningfully and respectfully.
· Support the Membership Manager and Director of Income and Investments to ensure any promotional activity for external partners is aligned with UKMSA’s communications strategy, delivers clear value, and is proportionate.
· Support Director of Income and Investments to shape and deliver marketing campaigns and communications aimed at generating income and supporter engagement
· Support the CEO and Chair in their digital communications - drafting content, advising on tone and timing, and increasing the visibility of their leadership voices, in the service of UKMSA.
· Respond to media and external communications queries, draft press releases where appropriate, and act as the first point of contact for general communications enquiries.
· Monitor UKMSA’s external presence and ensure consistency in messaging, tone and branding, across platforms and partners.
Key expertise required:
· Professional communications experience, with a strong track record in planning and delivering internal and external communications in a mission-led or purpose-driven organisation.
· Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to tailor tone, structure, and content for different audiences: from staff and volunteers to trustees, partners, and the wider public.
· Confidence leading internal communications across a remote or distributed team, including experience developing engaging formats, regular updates, and a shared organisational voice.
· Experience working with or alongside volunteers, trustees, or community stakeholders, and a strong appreciation for the importance of inclusive, two-way communication.
· Brand and tone-of-voice awareness, with the ability to maintain consistency and quality across channels, platforms, and contributors.
· Digital confidence, with experience managing websites (e.g. WordPress), social media channels, and email communications tools (e.g. Mailchimp), and using them strategically to reach different audiences.
· Storytelling and content development skills, with the ability to source, sensitively shape, and amplify stories that reflect lived experience and community impact.
· Strong organisational and planning skills, able to manage multiple priorities, coordinate with colleagues across teams, and deliver work to deadline with attention to detail.
· Collaborative mindset, with the confidence to influence tone, content, and strategy while also being hands-on in delivery and responsive to others’ needs and input.
· Judgement and discretion, with experience handling sensitive information, managing risk in communications, and supporting senior leaders with professional external representation.
· Genuine connection to UKMSA’s mission, with a respectful, values-led approach that centres the role of volunteers and champions the voice of the Shedding movement.
What success looks like:
· Staff feel informed, connected, and part of a shared organisational culture, even while working remotely. Internal updates are timely, engaging, and reflect a consistent tone that supports clarity, trust, and inclusion.
· Volunteers and trustees feel included and valued; they know what’s happening, understand UKMSA’s direction, and feel that communication is a two-way conversation, not a broadcast.
· The organisation’s public-facing communications are professional, values-led, and consistent. Social media, the website, and external content reflect the tone, mission, and energy of the Shedding movement.
· The CEO and Chair have visible, coherent digital profiles, supported with high-quality content and strategic messaging that reflects the voice and values of UKMSA.
· Good news stories from Shedders and communities are regularly shared, boosting the visibility of the movement and building pride and momentum across the network.
· Communications activity is intentional and well-prioritised. There is a clear rhythm to communications, and reactive work is handled without pulling focus from core messaging and strategy.
· The Communications Manager is seen as a trusted and thoughtful voice, able to advise colleagues, manage sensitive messaging, and champion quality and consistency in how UKMSA speaks.
· Volunteers remain central, not just as recipients of messages, but as contributors to and shapers of UKMSA’s communication story.
This job is not:
· This is not a campaigning or advocacy role. The Communications Manager will not be responsible for policy development, public affairs, political engagement, or influencing strategy.
· This is not a research or insight role. While storytelling and community voice are central to this role, the postholder will not be responsible for conducting research, writing reports (although the post-holder will support staff to get their reports right), or managing evaluation processes.
· This is not a marketing or income generation role. Although the postholder will support the visibility and professionalism of UKMSA’s public-facing presence, they will not lead fundraising, product marketing, or commercial campaigns. They will work with the Membership Manager and Director of Income and Investment if this is required.
· This is not a senior strategic leadership role. While the postholder contributes to strategy within their area and works closely with senior colleagues, they are not expected to set or lead cross-organisational strategy.
· This is not a purely reactive or administrative role. The Communications Manager is expected to take initiative, bring ideas, and shape how UKMSA communicates - internally and externally - in proactive and creative ways.
Closing date:-9th October 1200hrs
Interview: 22nd October
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We are the support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK. We work hard to inspire and support the development of Men's Sheds.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Location: Much Hadham, Hertfordshire
Salary: £104,000 per annum
Contract: Full time | Permanent
Inspire potential. Champion change. Shape the future.
For more than 120 years, St Elizabeth’s has been supporting children and adults with complex needs to live life to the full. Today, we are one of the few UK charities to provide a truly integrated offer — with education, residential care, therapies, and health services all co-located on one specialist campus.
Our 60-acre site in Much Hadham includes a school, FE college, seven Ofsted-registered children’s homes, adult supported living, and a CQC-registered health agency. Together, we support around 180 children and young people, many with severe epilepsy, learning disabilities, autism and associated conditions, providing not just care, but opportunity, aspiration, and community.
We are entering an exciting new chapter of development and growth. To achieve our ambitions, we are now seeking a visionary Director of Children’s Services to join our Executive Team.
The Role
This is a pivotal role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, with accountability for the strategic leadership and operational excellence of our children’s residential care and health services.
You will:
- Provide strategic leadership across seven Ofsted-registered children’s homes, ensuring they consistently deliver safe, high-quality and person-centred care.
- Lead our CQC-registered Health Agency (nursing, therapies, psychology and clinical services), driving integration and innovation to improve outcomes for children.
- Shape and deliver the long-term vision for children’s services, aligned with our organisational strategy and values.
- Ensure regulatory excellence, building strong, transparent relationships with Ofsted, CQC, commissioners and external partners.
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead at Executive level, embedding a culture of vigilance, safety, and empowerment across all children’s services.
- Oversee the admissions pipeline, working closely with local authorities and families to ensure St Elizabeth’s continues to meet demand and future need.
- Drive service improvement and transformation, informed by best practice, evidence, and the voices of children, families and staff.
- Inspire, support and develop a multi-disciplinary workforce of over 200 colleagues, ensuring they are equipped, motivated and valued.
About You
You will bring a track record of senior leadership in children’s residential care, health, or social care services, with a strong grasp of regulatory frameworks and quality improvement. Specifically, you will have:
- Significant leadership experience in Ofsted-regulated children’s provision, with demonstrable impact on outcomes and quality.
- A deep understanding of safeguarding legislation and experience of acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- The ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams across care, health, and therapies, and to work in partnership with education colleagues.
- Strong skills in strategic planning, service design, and transformation, with evidence of successful innovation.
- Exceptional communication skills, enabling you to inspire teams, build trust with families, and influence commissioners and regulators.
Desirable:
- Experience of CQC-regulated health or therapy services.
- Familiarity with commissioning, contracting, and funding models.
- A professional qualification in social care, health, education or related discipline.
Above all, you will share our belief in the potential of every child, and will embody our values of being Aspirational, Joyful, Collaborative and Compassionate.
What We Offer
- Salary: £104,000 per annum plus £5,000 welcome bonus (T&Cs apply)
- Annual leave: 30 days plus service-related increases
- Healthcare: Bupa private medical cover
- Pension: Generous contributory scheme
- Wellbeing: Employee assistance, free parking, subsidised meals, and a beautiful countryside campus
- Development: A culture that invests in leadership, professional growth, and continuous learning
- The opportunity to shape one of the UK’s most distinctive models of integrated education, care and health provision
This is an on-site role based in Much Hadham. Due to our rural location, a driving licence and access to transport are essential.
Apply Now
This is more than a job — it’s a chance to shape lives, influence practice nationally, and leave a lasting legacy.
If you are ready to lead with vision, compassion, and impact, we would love to hear from you. For a confidential conversation, please contact us.
Lead with vision. Transform with care. Join St Elizabeth’s and help children live life to the full.
#INDMGR
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