The successful applicant will become part of a dynamic charity that is continuously learning and evolving, building on over two decades of leading work to tackle prejudice and inspire community cohesion. You will join a small, nurturing, and committed team based in Bradford, working with schools and communities across the country to make a difference. There is scope for the successful candidate to shape their role alongside the Directors, with flexible working options considered for the right candidate.
The Linking Network inspires and equips schools to support children and young people in building meaningful connections across differences. We work with 25 Local Authority Areas to deliver a local Schools Linking Programme, reaching 26,000 children, 850 classes in over 500 schools in England. We also work directly with 100 schools in Bradford, delivering Intergenerational Linking, reaching around 2,200 pupils, 110 classes, and 1,000 older people in the district. For more information, please visit our website.
‘My mum’s never going to believe I’ve got a new friend who is 100!’ — Primary Intergenerational Linking pupil
Purpose
The Operations Manager, employed by The Linking Network (TLN) in Bradford, will work collaboratively within a small team and a network of stakeholders to inspire community cohesion through schools across the UK. This role offers an opportunity to help shape organisational operations, ensuring they are smooth, efficient, and compliant. Responsibilities include managing daily operations and finances, providing administrative support to the team, Board of Trustees, and partners, and enabling strategic planning and execution.
This role carries substantial responsibility within a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will be versatile, dependable, proactive, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. We value thoughtfulness, collaboration, creativity, and excellence, with an emphasis on practical thinking, flexibility, and initiative.
The role focuses on three key areas:
1. Supporting our team and network
2. Managing our general operations
3. Managing our finances
The detailed responsibilities are subject to change as the organisation evolves, with training and support provided based on experience.
Key responsibilities
Supporting our team and network
* Contribute to planning and reporting to support community cohesion initiatives
* Assist Directors with diary management and meeting preparations
* Provide administrative support such as booking meetings, travel, and maintaining files
* Develop internal processes and support team meetings with agendas and actions
* Support planning and delivery of stakeholder meetings and events
* Help develop presentations and communication materials
* Support local areas with training, materials, and follow-up actions
* Organise records for local areas to monitor collective work
Managing our general operations
* Foster an inclusive, values-driven culture
* Support recruitment, induction, and HR records management
* Coordinate IT systems and support with external providers
* Maintain and update the website and online resources
* Manage office resources and supplies
* Support Board meetings, including organising and minute-taking
* Implement and update policies such as Safeguarding, Health & Safety, and GDPR
* Ensure insurance, DBS, and safeguarding training records are current
Managing our finances
* Monitor expenditure against budgets and ensure proper use of funds
* Manage payroll, expenses, and financial records
* Administer grants, contracts, and payments to local areas
* Prepare management accounts, statutory reports, budgets, and funding applications
* Develop reports for funders and stakeholders
* Ensure timely invoicing and reporting to funders
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