Operations Director

Are you an experienced professional ready to take on a transformative role in our Christian charity and contribute to our vision for a more just and compassionate community?

Whether your background is in the Private, Public or Third Sector, if you are drawn to the pursuit of our collective mission to eradicate poverty in all its forms then please read on!

About Off the Fence

Off The Fence (OTF), a pioneering Christian charity founded over 25 years ago, is actively seeking a highly skilled, committed Christian and dynamic Chief Operations Officer (COO) to join our leadership team. The COO will collaborate closely with our recently appointed CEO, playing a pivotal role in steering the organisation, through its next phase of growth. This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic leader to elevate the operational facets of our organisation and contribute to our mission of eradicating social and spiritual poverty in Brighton & Hove.

Established with a Christian vision, OTF has continued to grow into a talented team of c30 dedicated staff members supported by a large group of dedicated volunteers. Our impactful work spans initiatives supporting the homeless, aiding women in crisis, and engaging with schools. OTF enjoys an outstanding reputation among our clients, diverse stakeholders, including the City Council, funders, local churches and patrons.

Off The Fence today

Currently we support a large proportion of people experiencing homelessness in Brighton and Hove’s; women in crisis via our dedicated women’s centre and creating and running programmes which reach 19,000 schoolchildren in our city.

Our Vision

Building on our existing activities the charity will be expanding its remit to tackle the causes of homelessness including long-term housing provision, addiction, and mental health.

OTF is about to build further on its 26 year history of facilitating social change in Brighton & Hove – with the ambition of inspiring national debate and contributing to policy in order to help eradicate poverty in our country.

Job Overview

Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will serve as the second-in-command, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the charity and a key contributor to strategic development. The successful candidate will bring a hands-on approach, ensuring optimum staffing levels, refining processes, and maintaining a high standard of service delivery. As a key member of the Executive team, the COO will contribute to defining and implementing the financial and operational strategy, aligning with OTF's Mission Statement, Christian ethos, Vision, and Values.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership:

• Collaborate with the CEO to develop and implement the corporate strategy, ensuring alignment with short and long-term objectives.

• Lead strategy development in all organisational operations to achieve the charity's goals.

• To assist CEO with the Christian leadership of the staff and volunteer team.

2. Policy and Procedure Development:

• Develop and implement policies and procedures to facilitate effective management control and ensure the achievement of Christian ministry objectives.

3. Financial Oversight:

• Work with the Head of Finance to develop and control operational budgets, ensuring the organisation's financial viability.

• Contribute to the development of a robust, long-term financial strategy aligned with the overall organisational strategy.

4. Compliance and Legal Requirements:

• Ensure all organisational operations comply with legal requirements and meet agreed operational standards.

• Stay abreast of latest developments to maintain the organisation's competitive position.

5. Board Support and Governance:

• Prepare and distribute board papers, organise and support Board meetings, and contribute to governance and compliance efforts.

6. Communications and Marketing:

• Collaborate with the CEO and Executive team to deliver comprehensive communications strategies, including media relations, internal communications, and digital marketing.

• Oversee the management of the website, blog, and social media presence.

7. People and Talent Management:

• Develop an umbrella strategy for human resources, including pay and reward, succession planning, and performance review.

• Oversee staff contractual requirements, ensuring accurate personnel records and adherence to staffing policies.

8. Property and Resource Management:

• Lead the property strategy aligned with the five-year plan, ensuring effective maintenance and maximising income opportunities.

• Oversee the day-to-day running of OTF's offices, buildings, and facilities.

Qualifications and Experience:

• To be a committed Christian.

• At least five years of leadership experience in an operational capacity at management / SMT level.

• Demonstrable experience in leading people, financial management, and strategy.

• Proven ability to work across departments, levels, and with external partners.

• Excellent communication, organisational, and administrative skills.

• Strategic thinking with the ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels.

• Knowledge of business software and tools, including accounting programs.

• Ability to apply business knowledge in the Christian and broader charity sector.

• C-level interaction and recruitment experience.

• Occupational requirement to be a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.

Application Process:

Please send your CV and a covering letter by the closing date of 16th February. We will contact long-listed applicants to arrange an initial video / phone introduction. Thereafter, those selected will be invited to an informal video call with our CEO. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend interview at our HQ with our CEO and representatives from the Board. On the same day there will be the opportunity to meet staff and some of our volunteers