Director of Operations

The Magpie Project
We are looking for an experienced, capable, calm, communicative Director of Operations to take responsibility for translating our vision, mission and values in to day-to-day operations.
About us

The Magpie Project is a fast-growing, Newham-based charity working to create a better world for mums with under fives who are at risk of homelessness, and subject to the hostile immigration environment. Our Visionisoneofpowerful mums building a world of equity, opportunity and kindness in which all our children thrive. We do this by providing mums and minis together with emotional and social support and the essentials they need at all stages of their journeys towards secure status, suitable homes and good health, we work through, trust, love, endurance, hope, and joy. We deliver services under one roof, where play is centred, information flows, and the whole person matters. We concentrate on building relationships of trust and community where each Magpie Mums and minis voice is heard.

Overview

Since our establishment in 2017 many funders, community members, professional partners not to mention mums and minis – have bought in to our vision and seen our project grow to a staff team that hovers around the 15, and a turnover well above £500k. Our success means that we are now looking to recruit to a new and vital role of director of operations. This critical role will work alongside the CEO to make sure that our ideas and ambitions are matched by sure-footed implementation, safe structures, and workable policies.

You will ensure efficiency, compliance, clarity, reporting and calm in the running of our fast-moving, multi-faceted grassroots charity. You will be the unwavering back-stop behind the exciting innovation, and the busy front-line. Your organisational skills and operational expertise will create and maintain a structure which is safe, sustainable, efficient and transparent – while being agile enough to allow our volunteers and staff to pivot when necessary in order to meet the ever-evolving needs of our mums and minis.

This leadership role includes line management of project leads, staff and volunteer recruitment, reporting and budget management, HR responsibilities the development of policies and procedures, as well as occasionally deputising for the CEO

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Work within the charity s mission, vision and values, and strategic plan to ensure and oversee the smooth running of all day to day activities of the charity.
  • Work to create, maintain and deepen our culturally competent, anti-racist, decolonised, psychologically-safe environment for all mums and minis, staff, volunteers and visitors.
  • Ensure that as a charity we are always ambitious but operating within our means in remain fully accountable for every penny and hour that we spend.
• Centre Management
  • Provide strategic oversight and support for project leads in their delivery of projects and programmes at the centre, ensuring alignment with charity objectives.
  • Provide line-management support to Play, Resources, Kitchen, Finance and Fundraising leads.
• • Foster a collaborative environment in which shared decision making is embedded, where all staff members and volunteers feel valued and where projects are well-integrated into the charity s overall operations.

• Staff & Volunteer Recruitment
  • Lead on all recruitment to attract skilled staff and committed volunteers.
  • Create, update, and implement onboarding, training, and retention strategies.
  • Promote diversity and inclusion in hiring practices.
  • Work to further enable our community first recruitment policy.
  • Work to create a staff handbook and a volunteer handbook to aid with onboarding and induction.
• HR Oversight
  • Work with external HR support provider to oversee employment contracts, benefits, for all staff, and support and supervision for staff that you manage.
  • Work with HR to review and create fair, compliant and benchmarked employment contracts for all staff.
  • Oversee and record holiday, sick, maternity and bereavement leave in line with charity policies.
  • Ensure compliance with all employment laws and best practice.
  • Work with our Finance Director to ensure smooth running of payroll, SSP and other contractual arrangements that are compliant and transparent.
• Policies & Procedures
  • Develop and implement policies to ensure clarity, fairness, compliance, consistency and efficiency.
  • Regularly review and update policies in line with best practices and legal requirements to a timetable in agreement with the board of trustees.
  • Keep abreast of governance regulations and report to the CEO and on Trustee Board on GDPR, financial, safeguarding, and risk assessment policies.
• Financial & Resource Management
  • Oversee and assist the Finance manager in creating annual and multi-year budgets,monthly management accounts, financial planning, resource allocation, reporting to funders and trustees to ensure transparency and sustainability throughout the charity.
  • Implementing strategies to delegate budget-holding to project leads, and to ensure operational efficiency at all times.
• Facilities & IT Management

o Ensure smooth operations across physical assets and digital infrastructure.

o Oversee health and safety compliance within the charity s building and off-site delivery.

o Manage external providers of HR, Salesforce and H&S functions.

o Liaise with co-tenants and freeholder as well on all building matters.

• Board Liaison

o Prepare for, attend and play a leadership role in quarterly Finance and Risk meetings as well as attending termly Board meetings

o Prepare Board meeting papers on operational and financial matters

o Oversee, maintain and ensure adherence to a schedule of delegated authority across the organisation

Skills & Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in charity operations, non-profit management, early years setting, or a related field.
• Management qualification a bonus but not essential.
• Strong HR expertise, including staff recruitment, salary benchmarking, and compliance.
• Experience in line management of project leads, with a track record of strategic oversight and performance development.
• Ability to develop and implement policies and operational procedures effectively.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, management accounts, and resource allocation.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Teams, Xero accounting software, Payroll protocols, Salesforce or other CRM systems.

Person Specification

• We are looking for a leader with a proven track record as Director of Operations, COO or Operations Manager in a similar sized organisation. .
• In this role, you will be able to gain the trust of the team by balancing kindness, care and compassion with competence and decisiveness gained from your years of prior experience in similar work. Above all, you will bring integrity and commitment to this role, in service of the mums and minis who make up our community.
• You will be confident in taking the lead on all your works streams while remaining in constant daily, even hourly – communication and collaboration with staff, CEO, Finance, and Fundraising leads.
• You will unflinchingly interrogate our systems, policies and practices, while be extremely gentle with our people creating psychological safety not only for all of our mums and minis, but also our staff and volunteers.
• Your attitude will be pragmatic and can do as you carve a realistic path between confidence and caution when planning projects and delivery.
• You will understand that structure creates safety, but too much could be stifling you will be emotionally and socially aware enoughto walk this line.
• You will have experience of in line-managing project leads, with a track record of strategic oversight and performance development
• You will be able to develop and implement policies and operational procedures and report on them to the board

  Reporting Structure

Reports directly to the CEO, and – on occasion – the board of Trustees, working closely with Finance and Fundraising leads, Project managers, and external HR and H&S provider.

Application process

Please send us your CV with a three-minute or less video explaining to us:

1. What makes you our perfect director of operations

2. What you would look to put in place do in your first 100 days

3. What your favourite colleague would say about you

You will not be judged on your production values a talking head to camera on a shakey phone is fine.

Closing date for applications Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Please be available for interview week commencing July 7th.

Applicants will be asked to two interviews, one with a practical skills test, and then invited to spend a paid day at the project as part of the appointment process.