Operations Assistant

DEPARTMENT:            Operations

REPORTS TO:              Chief Operating Officer

PURPOSE: To provide varied support to the Chief Operating Officer. The role involves tasks within HR and Operations including tasks such as minuting team meetings, organising in-person meetings, assisting the COO with financial record keeping and minuting quarterly board meetings. This is a key role in a fast developing and exciting organisation, with passionate people committed to protecting freedom of speech.

LOCATION:  Home based with the ability to travel to London for monthly team meetings and quarterly Board meetings. Costs covered by the FSU.

Applicants should send a CV and Cover Letter

Who are we?

The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass-membership public interest body. We stand up for the speech rights of our 25,000 members and campaign for free speech more widely. Our in-house legal counsel, working with our casework team, coordinates legal representation for members in difficulty. Our research arm publishes briefings on where free speech needs to be better protected. Our events arm organises events and stages public debates. The FSU has sister organisations in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Switzerland with more to come.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties will include (but are not limited to):

·      Assisting the COO with ad-hoc tasks to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.

·      Acting as administrator for Outlook365, SharePoint, leave (WhosOff), and other HR and/or operational systems.

·      Minute taking for in-person and online meetings.

·      Planning staff events – booking meeting rooms, lunches for monthly meetings, travel and accommodation for all staff members.

·      Assisting with financial management, e.g. checking receipts and processing expense forms, filing invoices, using QuickBooks to reconcile invoices, keeping track of departmental spending.

·      Filing documentation.

·      Ensuring the SharePoint filing system remains organised and accessible.  

·      Managing the recruitment of new staff (posting job adverts, liaising with candidates, arranging interviews and sharing applications with the relevant managers).

·      On-boarding new staff and managing HR tasks, e.g. annual leave, expenses, setting up accounts.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential: Work experience

Work experience in an admin role.

IT Proficient: Outlook 365, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Word, Teams.

Proof reading, editing or minute taking.

Financial record keeping

Use initiative and take a pro-active approach.

Extremely well organised, calm, discreet and comfortable working with strong personalities.

Communicator – excellent standard of literacy and written communication skills.

Agreeable and discreet – good interpersonal skills with people at all levels.

Homeworking – has premises, equipment and systems to enable productive working from home.

Desirable

Experience in a similar supporting role.

Experience using QuickBooks or similar software.

Experience working remotely.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Benefits

·      Employer pension contribution of eight per cent.

·      Full access to our learning and development programme.

·      20 paid holidays per calendar year plus public holidays.

·      Bupa Healthcare

Probationary Period

This post is subject to the requirements of a one-month probationary scheme for new staff only.

Review of this Job Description

This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation. To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.

The FSU is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage or Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, or Sex.