Location
Down Syndrome Cheshire Hub, Cheshire (with travel as required)
Reports To
CEO
Employment Type
Full time 35 hours per week, will include evenings and weekends
About Us
Down Syndrome Cheshire is a dynamic and dedicated charity focused on empowering individuals with Down syndrome and their families by providing vital support, resources, and advocacy. We work to ensure that individuals with Down syndrome can access services that promote independence, inclusion, and fulfilling lives. As part of our continued growth and commitment to creating positive change, we are now seeking a strategic, results‑driven Head of Operations to help us expand our network and effectively deliver our array of services for families across Cheshire.
Role Overview
The Head of Operations is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for the effective delivery, coordination, and development of DSC’s operational services. This role ensures that each department operates efficiently, meets strategic priorities, complies with safeguarding and charity regulations, and delivers high‑quality outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The postholder supports and deputises for the CEO as required, providing organisational leadership, staff management, operational insight, and strategic oversight.
Key Responsibilities
Organisational Leadership & Strategy
* Work closely with the CEO to translate DSC’s strategy into clear operational plans.
* Lead on organisational planning cycles, ensuring goals, KPIs, impact measures, and reporting structures are embedded across all departments.
* Deputise for the CEO when required, including representing DSC at external meetings, events, and stakeholder engagements.
* Provide operational insight and recommendations to support funding bids, planning, growth, and organisational sustainability.
Departmental Oversight & Service Delivery
* Oversee the effective running of all DSC operational departments, including: Education; Employability & Life Skills; Health and Social Care; Income Generation & Partnerships.
* Ensuring each department meets its KPIs, grant conditions, and quality standards.
* Monitoring performance trends, evaluating impact, and driving continuous improvement.
* Ensuring all operational decisions align with DSC’s values, strategy, and safeguarding expectations.
Income Generation & Sustainability
* Work closely with the CEO, Funding & Partnerships, and service leads to ensure operational delivery supports income generation and sustainability goals.
* Support departments (e.g., Education, Employability, Family Support) to explore and develop traded services, contracts, and commissioning opportunities with local authorities, schools, and other partners.
* Help shape operational models that are financially sustainable, including pricing structures, capacity planning, and service design.
* Ensure that impact data, case studies, and outcomes are captured and available to support funding applications, commissioning bids, and corporate partnerships.
* Contribute to reducing reliance on grant funding by aligning operational practice with new income streams and partnership opportunities.
Staff Leadership & Performance Management
* Line manage all department managers and coordinators, ensuring consistent supervision, appraisal, and professional development.
* Build a strong leadership culture across DSC, promoting accountability, problem‑solving, and innovation.
* Support managers in workforce planning, caseload management, and staff wellbeing.
* Ensure professional standards and DSC values are consistently upheld across all teams.
Safeguarding & Compliance
* Ensure safeguarding is embedded across all operational areas, working closely with the DSL and Deputy DSL team.
* Ensure staff follow policies, procedures, and training requirements consistent with DSC’s safeguarding framework.
* Oversee compliance with charity regulations, health and safety procedures, and organisational policies.
* Maintain high standards of GDPR and data security across all departments.
* Lead the development and implementation of an organisational impact framework.
* Ensure all departments capture high‑quality monitoring and evaluation data.
* Support teams to produce evidence‑driven reports for the CEO, Trustees, funders, and stakeholders.
* Identify service gaps, risks, and opportunities for new initiatives.
Finance, Budgeting & Resource Management
* Work with the CEO and HR & Finance Manager to oversee operational budgets.
* Support managers to manage department budgets effectively and responsibly.
* Identify opportunities for cost‑efficiency, improved systems, and sustainable resource allocation.
* Contribute operational insight into 3‑year financial forecasting and organisational planning.
Partnerships, Community Engagement & Representation
* Strengthen relationships with local authorities, schools, NHS partners, universities, community groups, and businesses.
* Represent DSC at external events, panels, and meetings to raise the charity’s profile.
* Support the development of partnership opportunities that enhance service delivery, employability, education, family support, and income generation.
* Promote inclusive practice, awareness, and understanding of Down syndrome across the region.
Risk Management & Quality Assurance
* Maintain an operational risk register and elevate emerging risks to the CEO and Trustees.
* Implement systems that ensure safe, consistent, and high‑quality service delivery.
* Lead incident reviews, complaints responses, and policy implementation in partnership with the CEO and HR & Finance Manager.
Supporting the CEO & Governance
* Provide strategic and operational briefings to the CEO to support decision‑making.
* Prepare papers, departmental updates, and operational reporting for the Board of Trustees.
* Support governance structures, including Safeguarding, Finance, Education, and Operations sub‑groups.
* Act as a senior representative of the organisation when required.
Additional Responsibilities
* Support the design and delivery of organisational change, improvement projects, and new service development.
* Lead and embed a culture of continuous improvement and values‑led practice.
* Undertake other duties relevant to the role and seniority as required by the CEO.
Person Specification
Education and Experience
* Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience in operations, management, business administration, education, health, charity leadership or a related field.
* Significant experience in an operational leadership or senior service management role, ideally within a charity, education, health, or community setting.
* Demonstrable experience overseeing multiple services, programmes, or departments, including line management of managers or coordinators.
* Experience developing and implementing organisational strategies, operational plans, or service improvements.
* Proven experience managing or overseeing operational budgets, financial monitoring, forecasting, and resource planning.
* Experience working within regulatory frameworks including safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety, and employment law.
* Experience producing written reports for senior leadership, boards, funders, or regulatory bodies.
* Experience working with trustees, governance groups, or non‑executive boards (desirable).
* Experience working with people with learning disabilities or vulnerable groups (desirable).
Skills and Abilities
* Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, support, and develop managers and teams.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work confidently with staff, families, senior leaders, trustees, and external partners.
* Highly organised, with strong planning and project management skills.
* Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make evidence‑based decisions.
* Skilled at managing risk, problem‑solving, and improving operational systems and processes.
* Ability to build productive and positive relationships across teams and external stakeholders.
* Competent IT user including Microsoft 365 and cloud‑based systems; able to adapt to new systems quickly.
* Confident in representing the organisation externally, with strong presentation skills (desirable).
Other Requirements
* Commitment to Down Syndrome Cheshire’s values of inclusion, respect, empowerment, and compassion.
* Proactive, solution‑focused, and able to remain calm and resilient under pressure.
* Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends to support key meetings or events.
* Ability to travel across Cheshire as required.
* Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Why Join Us
As Head of Operations at Down Syndrome Cheshire, you will play a central role in shaping and strengthening the organisation’s impact. This role offers the opportunity to lead multiple operational teams, support the CEO, and ensure high‑quality services for children, young people, and adults with Down syndrome.
You will join a passionate, values‑driven organisation committed to changing perceptions, creating opportunities, and empowering individuals and families across Cheshire. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operational leader who wants to make a meaningful, lasting difference.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role to finance@dscheshire.org.uk.
Closing Date
Please submit your application by Friday 16th January 5pm.
Interview Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview during the week of Monday 26th January. This will include a task and presentation, which will be shared in advance.
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