Chief Operating Officer or Senior Operations Manager
- Recruiter
- Acorn Early Years Foundation
- Location
-
Milton Keynes
South East EnglandUnited Kingdom
- Salary
- Competitive
- Posted
- 17 May 2022
- Closes
- 06 Jun 2022
- Job Title
- Director
- Category
- Executive and Director
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
Acorn Early Years is a charitable social enterprise providing childcare and early education, operating day nurseries, forest schools, out–of–school clubs, and specialist early years catering and training services. We are an agile organisation that is growing rapidly, despite the challenges facing the sector, with just over 400 employees and an expected turnover of approximately GBP10m this year. We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer or experienced Operations Manager to work directly with the CEO, board of trustees, and Senior Leadership Team to provide operational leadership.
As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will be responsible for implementing the operational strategy, overseeing day–to–day operational excellence, and further developing Acorn's social impact and the achievement of our charitable objects. We are seeking someone with management experience of growth, and of developing systems and processes to ensure operational efficiency. In a rapidly changing sector, we need resourcefulness, adaptability, and excellent communication skills. We pride ourselves on having an ethic of care across the organisation, and strong ethical values, and are fortunate to have a strong team of dedicated, highly skilled and professional team members, both in our central support office and across the sites.
You will report directly to the CEO, and will oversee operations, including IT, and service development, ensuring that Acorn have the appropriate up to date tools and technologies. You will work closely with departmental leads, and will ensure charitable compliance, monitor performance metrics, and provide the board of trustees with management information. You will also lead the sustainability strategy and ensure that this is embedded across the organisation.
We are looking for a team player with excellent project management skills, experience of business development and systems knowledge, but also someone with a passion for social impact and ethical practices, including environmental sustainability. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join Acorn at this period of our growth and development.
Expectations of the role
To provide strong leadership and management whilst overseeing the day–to–day operations of Acorn's central support team
To develop strong, trusting relationships with the CEO, senior leadership team, and colleagues across the organisation, and support the CEO by providing excellent operational leadership
To ensure operational processes remain efficient and effective, and are suitable to support future growth
To ensure performance and impact is effectively monitored, and improvements are identified and sustained
To ensure good governance is practiced, and all operations remain compliant with relevant legislation
Role and Responsibilities
Collaborate with the CEO, ensuring the organisation's strategy and budget are drafted and adhered to
Coordinate the effective analysis of internal operations, and use evidence to inform improvements
Project manage the opening of new provisions and services
Develop and oversee the implementation of new or reviewed processes
Review, update and implement policies and procedures, ensuring sufficient controls are in place
Oversee the effective communication of all operational policies procedures and documentation
Collaborate with the Facilities Manager to ensure the effective implementation of an IT strategy that will enable long–term sustainable growth and quality improvements
Collaborate with the CEO, to oversee the preparation of high quality business plans, annual reports, grant applications, business development applications, or any other formal documentation
Fulfil all statutory duties and responsibilities of the Data Protection Officer, including ensuring the organisation is compliant with data protection legislation, updating data protection processes as required, actioning data protection requests, making any statutory notifications, and responding to any data protection queries in a timely manner
Maintain regular and effective communication with the CEO, and communicate with the board of trustees as required
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
Management and operational experience
Budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting experience
Project management experience
Change management experience
Management of IT development and systems
Business Development
Effective and supportive line management
Process improvement
Desirable
Experience managing quality assurance or internal audit processes or systems
Working in a charity/not for profit organisation
Working in the early years sector
Working as a Data Protection Officer
Skills and attributes
Leadership and management
Highly organised, with an attention to detail
Ability to work effectively in a team environment
Ability to think and act strategically
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in witing
Excellent relationship building and interpersonal skills
Flexible to changing priorities
As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will be responsible for implementing the operational strategy, overseeing day–to–day operational excellence, and further developing Acorn's social impact and the achievement of our charitable objects. We are seeking someone with management experience of growth, and of developing systems and processes to ensure operational efficiency. In a rapidly changing sector, we need resourcefulness, adaptability, and excellent communication skills. We pride ourselves on having an ethic of care across the organisation, and strong ethical values, and are fortunate to have a strong team of dedicated, highly skilled and professional team members, both in our central support office and across the sites.
You will report directly to the CEO, and will oversee operations, including IT, and service development, ensuring that Acorn have the appropriate up to date tools and technologies. You will work closely with departmental leads, and will ensure charitable compliance, monitor performance metrics, and provide the board of trustees with management information. You will also lead the sustainability strategy and ensure that this is embedded across the organisation.
We are looking for a team player with excellent project management skills, experience of business development and systems knowledge, but also someone with a passion for social impact and ethical practices, including environmental sustainability. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join Acorn at this period of our growth and development.
Expectations of the role
To provide strong leadership and management whilst overseeing the day–to–day operations of Acorn's central support team
To develop strong, trusting relationships with the CEO, senior leadership team, and colleagues across the organisation, and support the CEO by providing excellent operational leadership
To ensure operational processes remain efficient and effective, and are suitable to support future growth
To ensure performance and impact is effectively monitored, and improvements are identified and sustained
To ensure good governance is practiced, and all operations remain compliant with relevant legislation
Role and Responsibilities
Collaborate with the CEO, ensuring the organisation's strategy and budget are drafted and adhered to
Coordinate the effective analysis of internal operations, and use evidence to inform improvements
Project manage the opening of new provisions and services
Develop and oversee the implementation of new or reviewed processes
Review, update and implement policies and procedures, ensuring sufficient controls are in place
Oversee the effective communication of all operational policies procedures and documentation
Collaborate with the Facilities Manager to ensure the effective implementation of an IT strategy that will enable long–term sustainable growth and quality improvements
Collaborate with the CEO, to oversee the preparation of high quality business plans, annual reports, grant applications, business development applications, or any other formal documentation
Fulfil all statutory duties and responsibilities of the Data Protection Officer, including ensuring the organisation is compliant with data protection legislation, updating data protection processes as required, actioning data protection requests, making any statutory notifications, and responding to any data protection queries in a timely manner
Maintain regular and effective communication with the CEO, and communicate with the board of trustees as required
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
Management and operational experience
Budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting experience
Project management experience
Change management experience
Management of IT development and systems
Business Development
Effective and supportive line management
Process improvement
Desirable
Experience managing quality assurance or internal audit processes or systems
Working in a charity/not for profit organisation
Working in the early years sector
Working as a Data Protection Officer
Skills and attributes
Leadership and management
Highly organised, with an attention to detail
Ability to work effectively in a team environment
Ability to think and act strategically
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in witing
Excellent relationship building and interpersonal skills
Flexible to changing priorities
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