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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!
We are looking for Senior Operations Contracts Lead - Criminal Justice Services (Caversham and Portsmouth)
Salary: £38,000 - £48,000
Location: Based across multiple locations with the flexibility to work from home up to two days each week. The key locations for this role are Caversham and Portsmouth. The expectation is that a minimum of three days per week are spent in face-to-face, in-person contact (e.g. in Women’s Centres, Estates or external visits), and one of these days being a monthly visit to Head Office (the purpose being for interaction with colleagues and Central functions). Visits also required to HMP Peterborough and HMP Bronzefield.
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.
About us
Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.
We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.
Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
About the role:
As an experienced senior manager with a proven track record of leadership in providing services to women in contact with the criminal justice system and working with partners and funders, you will manage criminal justice projects, work to develop and expand our services and partnerships and manage criminal justice managers and other staff as required.
You will work with the management team to ensure, manage and oversee that the services work within the budget, are complaint with financial regulations, policies and procedures, and meet funding and Advance requirements.
About You:
To be successful as the Senior Operations Contracts Lead you will need the below experience and skills:
A thorough understanding of and knowledge of the issues relating to women in the criminal justice system
-
A sound knowledge of safeguarding adult and children principles, child abuse, child protection issues and safeguarding
-
A good knowledge and understanding of organisational systems and frameworks, line management and project management
-
Significant experience, likely to have been gained over several years, of strategic planning and operational management at a service manager level, and developing and delivering services at senior service management level
-
Significant experience of working with women and/or service users with a complex range of needs, particularly within the criminal justice system, in custody and/or community.
-
Experience of developing relationships with funders/commissioners and achieving required outcomes
-
Experience of implementing quality assurance frameworks, monitoring, evaluating and measuring impact
-
Strong influencing skills, enthusiasm, self-confidence, excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills , and a can do proactive solution focussed approach
-
Strong negotiating skills and the ability to build strong and effective relationships and partnerships, dealing with ambiguity and resolving conflict effectively, achieving the right outcomes for the organisation, collaborating and networking
-
Able to think, act and plan strategically to develop practical and creative solutions to the management of existing and new services and complex problems that may arise while maintaining high levels of diplomacy and professionalism
How to apply:
Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.
-
Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 4th February 2026
-
Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis
*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:
-
A 35-hour working week
-
An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
-
Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
-
Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
-
Pension scheme
-
Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
-
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
-
Employee eye-care scheme
-
Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
-
Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
-
Organisation wide away days
-
One-week paid carers’ s leave
-
Career development pathways
**************************************************************
Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.
Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.
Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.
Our vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, equal, violence-free lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!
We are looking for Senior Operations Contracts Lead
Salary: £38,000 - £48,000
Location: Based across multiple locations with the flexibility to work from home up to two days each week. The three key locations for this role are Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The expectation is that a minimum of three days per week are spent in face-to-face, in-person contact (e.g. in Women’s Centres, Estates or external visits), and one of these days being a monthly visit to Head Office (the purpose being for interaction with colleagues and Central functions). Visits also required to HMP Peterborough and HMP Bronzefield.
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.
About us
Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.
We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.
Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
About the role:
As an experienced senior manager with a proven track record of leadership in providing services to women in contact with the criminal justice system and working with partners and funders, you will manage criminal justice projects, work to develop and expand our services and partnerships and manage criminal justice managers and other staff as required.
You will work with the management team to ensure, manage and oversee that the services work within the budget, are complaint with financial regulations, policies and procedures, and meet funding and Advance requirements.
About You:
To be successful as the Senior Operations Contracts Lead you will need the below experience and skills:
A thorough understanding of and knowledge of the issues relating to women in the criminal justice system
-
A sound knowledge of safeguarding adult and children principles, child abuse, child protection issues and safeguarding
-
A good knowledge and understanding of organisational systems and frameworks, line management and project management
-
Significant experience, likely to have been gained over several years, of strategic planning and operational management at a service manager level, and developing and delivering services at senior service management level
-
Significant experience of working with women and/or service users with a complex range of needs, particularly within the criminal justice system, in custody and/or community.
-
Experience of developing relationships with funders/commissioners and achieving required outcomes
-
Experience of implementing quality assurance frameworks, monitoring, evaluating and measuring impact
-
Strong influencing skills, enthusiasm, self-confidence, excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills , and a can do proactive solution focussed approach
-
Strong negotiating skills and the ability to build strong and effective relationships and partnerships, dealing with ambiguity and resolving conflict effectively, achieving the right outcomes for the organisation, collaborating and networking
-
Able to think, act and plan strategically to develop practical and creative solutions to the management of existing and new services and complex problems that may arise while maintaining high levels of diplomacy and professionalism
How to apply:
Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.
-
Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 4th February 2026
-
Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis
*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:
-
A 35-hour working week
-
An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
-
Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
-
Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
-
Pension scheme
-
Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
-
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
-
Employee eye-care scheme
-
Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
-
Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
-
Organisation wide away days
-
One-week paid carers’ s leave
-
Career development pathways
**************************************************************
Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.
Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.
Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.
Our vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, equal, violence-free lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are currently looking for a Senior Service Manager to oversee safe houses based in the Swindon area. This role is a chance to combine your leadership skills, compliance excellence and compassion.
In the role you will:
- Lead and Inspire: Manage and motivate a dedicated team, ensuring they receive high quality supervision, training, and support.
- Champion Safety & Quality: Take ownership of Health & Safety compliance, safeguarding standards, and quality assurance measures including CQC and internal audits.
- Drive Operational Excellence: Oversee budgets, payroll, and service delivery with a focus on efficiency and high standards.
- Empower Survivors: Ensure service users receive the care and advocacy they need to rebuild their lives.
What we are looking for:
- Proven experience in team management and compliance within a care or support setting.
- Strong knowledge of Health & Safety, safeguarding, and quality frameworks.
- Excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills.
- Experience in modern slavery support is desirable, but not essential as training will be provided.
About Us
Medaille Trust is one of the leading providers of support to survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK. We are working to provide refuge and freedom for survivors and fighting to see slavery in all its forms become a thing of the past. The need for this work has never been higher, there are more than 50 million estimated victims of modern slavery worldwide, and over 120,000 potential victims in the UK.
We operate ten safe houses and five outreach hubs, staffed round the clock by specialist staff, working with more than 600 men, women and dependent children each year. We work to raise awareness in the UK and to provide preventive work in source countries. Our Pursue work helps survivors to engage with police and within the legal system to seek justice and to secure convictions against their perpetrators.
Interview Date: TBC
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we reserve the right to interview/ appoint before the closing date. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged.
This role is a subject to satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service checks.
The ability to drive with a valid licence with use of own vehicle insured for business purposes is essential.
Medaille Trust's mission is to provide refuge & freedom from modern slavery. One of UK's leading providers of support for survivors of modern slavery.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.