The posting
Safe Childhoods is an international initiative dedicated to mobilising more—and more effective—philanthropic funding to prevent and respond to childhood sexual violence. We work with leading philanthropists, foundations and partners around the world to raise awareness, connect donors with trusted experts and organisations, and unlock larger, longer-term and more strategic investments. Our mission is to transform how philanthropy addresses childhood sexual violence, making prevention and effective responses a global priority.
Safe Childhoods is hosted by Purposeful Ventures, a UK charity that partners with social entrepreneurs and philanthropists to build and grow organisations that improve the lives of children and young people. Purposeful Ventures is committed to creating a fairer society in which every young person can thrive. The Operations Manager will be employed by Purposeful Ventures.
The Operations Manager will ensure that Safe Childhoods runs smoothly as a small, growing and internationally connected initiative. The role will bring structure and coordination across planning, governance, finance, contracting, team processes and internal systems, enabling the Executive Director and wider team to stay focused on strategy and delivery.
You will manage core operating processes including planning cycles, internal reporting, budgets, contracts, consultant management and donor reporting requirements. You will coordinate across workstreams so that decisions, deadlines and follow-up actions are clear and well managed, and will support governance through the preparation of meeting papers, minutes, decision logs and follow-up. This role will also work closely with Purposeful Ventures, our host, or operational partners on finance, HR, contracting, compliance and risk management. The role may also provide executive support to the Executive Director, helping to manage priorities, prepare for important meetings and troubleshoot operational issues.
We are looking for a practical, discreet and calm operator with excellent organisation and strong judgement. You will be comfortable working across a broad range of operational areas without needing to be a technical specialist in each one. This role offers the opportunity to build fit-for-purpose systems and ways of working for a growing initiative without creating unnecessary process.
Please download the full job description on the Purposeful Ventures website.
Job Description
Purpose
This role is central in ensuring Safe Childhoods runs smoothly and coherently by managing and strengthening its core operating systems, planning, governance, finance and contracting processes, team coordination and internal follow-through.
Responsibilities and duties
Planning and core operations
- Manage Safe Childhoods’ core operating systems, including planning cycles, team processes, internal reporting, budgets, contracts, consultant management and donor reporting requirements.
- Coordinate across workstreams so that key decisions, deadlines, dependencies and follow-up actions are clear and well managed.
- Develop fit-for-purpose processes that bring structure and reliability without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Governance and organisational coordination
- Support advisory or board processes, including preparation of papers, minutes, decision logs and follow-up actions.
- Ensure governance decisions and actions are recorded and progressed appropriately.
- Support clear information flow and coordination across the Safe Childhoods team.
Fiscal host and operational partnerships
- Work closely with Purposeful Ventures, our host, and operational partners on finance, HR, contracting, compliance and risk management.
- Be the point of contact and relationship holder for any systems and processes we share with Purposeful Ventures as part of our hosted relationship.
- Coordinate operational requirements and help ensure issues are identified, escalated and resolved in a timely way.
Executive support and problem-solving
- Support the Executive Director to manage priorities and prepare for important meetings.
- Troubleshoot operational issues and help ensure the organisation is working in a joined-up way.
- Provide executive-assistant support to the Executive Director where required as part of the wider operations remit.
The job description is subject to change and the postholder may be required to undertake tasks not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the job description.
Who we are looking for
Essential
Key requirements
- Passionate about creating a fairer society where all children and young people thrive.
- Demonstrable track record of taking ownership of commitments and working hard to succeed.
- Strong operational judgement and excellent organisation, with the ability to bring structure without creating unnecessary process.
- Comfortable working across finance, governance, HR, contracts and team coordination, even without being a technical specialist in every area.
- Practical, discreet and calm under pressure, with the ability to work closely with senior stakeholders.
- Able to manage multiple moving parts, identify priorities and ensure actions are followed through.
- Right to work in the UK.
Knowledge
- Working knowledge of the core operational requirements of a small organisation, including planning, governance, budgets, contracting, HR, compliance and risk management.
- Understanding of good governance and internal coordination practices, including clear records of decisions, actions and accountability.
Experience
- Demonstrable experience managing or coordinating operational systems and processes across multiple areas of an organisation.
- Experience supporting governance meetings, planning cycles, budgets, contracts or organisational reporting.
- Experience working closely with senior leaders and coordinating priorities and follow-up.
- Experience in a small charity, foundation, hosted initiative, start-up, fiscally sponsored project or international NGO would be helpful.
Skills and competencies
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, detail orientated and systematic, with the ability to inject pace and ensure delivery of multiple moving parts.
- Ability to be pragmatic and agile, using good judgement to identify the most effective actions.
- A tenacious problem solver, focused on finding practical and effective solutions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, senior stakeholders and operational partners.
- Commitment to implementing and improving systems and processes.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion.
Desirable
- Experience working in a small charity, foundation, hosted initiative, start-up, fiscally sponsored project or international NGO.
