Operations Manager - Care & Supported Housing
Hertfordshire - £43,446 per annum - Permanent/Full Time (37.5 hours per week)
Make a Difference Every Day
Are you passionate about empowering young people to thrive? At Hightown Housing Association, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to live independently, safely, and with dignity. We are seeking a dedicated Operations Manager to lead our Young People services and Separated Migrant Children (SMC) schemes across Hertfordshire.
This is a unique opportunity to shape services that support young people facing complex challenges - whether transitioning out of care, experiencing homelessness, or needing tailored support to build life skills and resilience.
What You Will Lead On
High-quality, strengths-based support that promotes independence, safety, and personal growth.
Compliance with key legalisation and frameworks including Ofsted Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, Children Act 1989 & 2004, Care Act 2014.
Service development and transformation to meet evolving needs and commissioning priorities.
Recruitment, supervision, and development of passionate, trauma-informed staff teams.
Strategic partnerships with commissioners, social workers, and external agencies.
Performance monitoring, audits, and continuous improvement.
Registering as the Ofsted Registered Service Manager for your area
What You Will Bring
Proven leadership in young people’s services, care, or supported housing.
Strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and risk management.
Experience managing complex services and driving operational excellence.
A collaborative, compassionate approach to team and service development.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Why Hightown?
Be part of a values-driven organisation that puts people first.
Lead services that truly change lives.
Enjoy a supportive culture of learning, reflection, and innovation.
Competitive salary and benefits package.
Opportunities to shape the future of care and supported housing.
Make a Real Impact
This is more than a management role - it’s a chance to shape services that change lives. You will work closely with commissioners, social workers, and external partners to ensure our Young People and SMC services are responsive, compassionate, and effective.
The Benefits:
£43,446 per annum for a 37.5-hour week
33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), rising to 35 with service
Monthly attendance bonus and annual performance bonus
Workplace pension and life assurance (3x salary)
Refer-a-friend scheme (£130 bonus)
Ongoing professional development and supportIf you share our values, we would love you to work for us.
Please note due to the nature of the services we run and the need to respond to business requirements, you may be required to work with different cohorts and/or within different geographical patch areas during your employment. The organisation reserves the right to make such changes in order to meet operational and service delivery needs.
Please note that we will be shortlisting and interviewing candidates on an ongoing basis and therefore we may close the vacancy early. Interested applicants are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure they are considered.
Hightown is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Successful candidates will need to have a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service, together with any other relevant recruitment