Head of Operations

An excellent opportunity to join a dynamic team at the heart of cutting-edge marine conservation.  This is a role which will optimise Blue Marine’s ability to deliver conservation, work with partners, reduce the charity’s risk and support the finance and fundraising operations.

Blue Marine Foundation seeks to protect and restore life in the ocean, aiming to see at least 30 per cent of the world’s oceans protected by 2030.  We are a London-based NGO, with around 50 projects in 25 countries around the world.

Following a phase of sustained growth, Blue Marine is seeking a Head of Operations.  This new team member will support the Director of Finance, Operations and Governance to manage a broad scope of operational functions, particularly focused on contracts and agreements, data management, risk management, systems and security.  The role will involve collaborating with colleagues from across the organisation to drive system and process improvements.  (Note that HR is not within the scope of this role.)

We value diversity and are committed to equality and creating an inclusive culture. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and will support you to reach your full potential. 

Role and Responsibilities: 

Reporting to the Director of Finance, Operations and Governance, you will:

• Write organisational policies and lead the policy workflow process on Sharepoint, driving policies through the amendment, approval and employee attestation phases.
• Manage the relationship with Blue Marine’s external IT Support consultancy, including communicating changes to cyber security and leading asset management processes.
• Support the finance, fundraising and project delivery teams with funding/partnership contracts, agreements and MoU templates, including writing and reviewing routine agreements.
• Assist with the restructure of data architecture across Sharepoint and provide appropriate support and training for colleagues across the organisation, including future new starters.
• Support the implementation of new software and technologies across the organisation, potentially including Microsoft Copilot AI.
• Advise the executive team on data management and GDPR.
• Assess and manage operational risk, including maintaining the organisational risk register but also in the wider promotion of a responsible risk culture.
• Support the finance and fundraising teams with due diligence queries from donors.
• Assess suitability and manage renewals of insurance cover.
• Maintain records and statutory registers and assist with the facilitation of good governance.
• Line management of the Office Manager, taking responsibility for ensuring the office is fit for purpose and driving the office management committee in maintaining high standards of office tidiness and aesthetics.
• Other ad-hoc duties as required.

Personal specification

The ideal candidate will be, above all else, an excellent professional communicator, comfortable with both writing formal documents and managing operational change within the organisation.  You do not need to have legal experience but will nevertheless have a proven ability to produce formal but readable agreements and policy documentation.  You do not need to have a technical IT background but will nevertheless be comfortable discussing best practice and data management within the Microsoft Office 365 cloud environment and use your experience to support colleagues to get the best from the technology available to them.  You will be a champion of Blue Marine’s working environment, taking an active role in the office culture and driving staff engagement of operational systems through giving presentations and one-on-one support to colleagues.   You will uphold Blue Marine’s values and always embody this behaviour internally and externally.  Blue Marine is committed to supporting staff with extensive training and will support the successful candidate in developing skills required for the role.

Skills and Experience

• Essential: Excellent written communications skills with a proven ability to document formal matters in a readable manner.
• Essential: Excellent verbal communications skills with a proven ability to communicate technical matters in an understandable way.
• Essential: Experience with writing and reviewing policies or contracts or formal agreements.
• Essential: Technical knowledge or highly skilled user of Microsoft O365, including sharepoint.
• Highly desirable: Experience working with multiple stakeholders to tight deadlines.
• Highly desirable: Management-level experience in driving organisational change.
• Highly desirable: Experience with data management and cloud storage architecture.
• Highly desirable: GDPR experience as a data controller or similar.
• Highly desirable: Experience in risk management and risk mitigation.
• Highly desirable: Skilled communicator in promoting positive office culture.

Qualities

• Enthusiasm for the conservation of the environment, climate and oceans.
• Self-motivated, able to work on own initiative and with a hands-on approach.
• Able to prioritise and deal effectively with a busy workload in a dynamic environment.
• Comfortable working to tight deadlines with multiple stakeholders.
• Honest and discreet when dealing with personal and confidential information.
• Able to learn quickly and adapt to developing processes and systems.
• Embody Blue Marine’s core values of being:

          - Brave, innovative and pioneering,

          - Compassionate, supportive and responsible

          - Empowering

          - Equitable

          - Respectful

          - Collaborative

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week.  Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm but flexible working is encouraged.

Location: Somerset House, London. Flexible and remote working is possible, although regular presence in the office will be expected.

Benefits: A generous benefits package is offered, including an optional subsidy of £2,000 per year which is currently available to employees attending the London office at least two days per week.