Head of Operations

Join our team as Head of Operations.  We’re looking for a highly organised and proactive operator with a knack for streamlining processes and thrives working in a nonprofit organisation. You’ll be the cornerstone of the Bureau’s business operations, keeping everything running smoothly, getting stuck into a wide variety of tasks, and tackling challenges head-on. You will manage current processes as well as progressing improvements.

You’ll have a team-orientated mindset with the willingness to take on tasks sometimes outside of defined responsibilities to support shared goals and drive the organisation forward. If you are excited by the prospect of working for a mission-driven organisation that produces world-class journalism with the power to spark real-world change, then this role is for you!

About the Bureau

The Bureau is the UK’s largest independent non-profit investigative journalism organisation. In the last year, our investigations were published in over 100 countries across local, national, international platforms; print, broadcast and digital. Our four global teams work with reporters around the world on priority cross-border issues – environment, health, corruption and big tech. In addition, our UK-focused Bureau Local team uses an innovative community-led approach to cover issues like insecure work, migrant rights and family courts, amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. Founded in 2010, we’ve grown from a small group of journalists to a diverse team delivering hard-hitting investigations that have prompted inquiries, sparked legal challenges and informed policy change in the UK and across the world.

Role and Responsibilities: 

This is a 12-month maternity cover contract, during this time you will be responsible for the following:

Operational delivery

• Implementing and monitoring day-to-day operational systems and processes to ensure we make progress and meet our goals, identify obstacles and find solutions

• Management of all office functions including office space, utilities, entry systems, resources

• Management of all tech including computers, cyber security, software, comms channels

• Support operations of all major editorial needs (including risk assessments, data security, and safeguarding)

• Maintain and develop organisational policies, procedures, and guidelines

• Coordinating board, trustee, and committee meetings - ensuring meeting discussions are recorded and key actions captured. Reporting to the board as and when required.

Finance

You will be working alongside the Bureau’s Finance Manager to:

• Produce financial reports for Board members, trustees, finance committee, and financial reports for other staff members when appropriate

• Support the finance manager with preparing annual accounts for our annual independent audits and ensure that they are approved

• Monitor and review organisational income and expenditure, implement cost-saving measures where appropriate

• Undertake other appropriate finance duties as required and as agreed with the CEO and Finance Manager 

HR 

You will work closely with the HR manager to:

• Ensure the organisation maintains and implements robust HR systems and records by implementing best practices and ensuring staff adhere to policies

• Provide ad hoc administrative and logistical support for recruitment, contracting, and other appropriate HR functions

• Prepare HR related reports for the senior management team and board members 

• You will run the Bureau’s fellowship programme, develop the curriculum and act as the point-person for Fellows as they navigate their time at the Bureau 

• Work closely with the HR manager and Ops and admin assistant to organise staff training, away days and wellbeing activities

• Ad hoc review of employment trends and themes

• Conducting staff feedback through surveys and annual reviews

Team management and collaboration 

• You will line manage the HR Manager and the Operations Assistant 

• You will support the Director of Development and Fundraising Managers with ad hoc fundraising administration and activities

Office management

• Lead day-to-day office management and administration to ensure smooth running of our office including health and safety and liaising with the building manager and landlord.

• Manage and process purchasing of business critical resources, insurance, IT support, equipment, office services, licences etc

• Liaise with external suppliers and contractors

• Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, including, statutory compliance, Data Protection, Health & Safety

General

• Working with the CEO on implementation of the organisational strategy

• Undertake other appropriate duties as required and as agreed with the CEO

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in operations for start-ups, nonprofits and/or fast-paced environments where adaptability is key

• Strong ​​interpersonal and communication skills in both written and spoken English

• Good financial management knowledge and experience within nonprofits, grant funding and financial controls

• A proactive problem-solver who identifies inefficiencies and takes initiative to implement improvements

• Experience implementing or maintaining cybersecurity measures and compliance documentation

• Basic knowledge of HR processes including recruitment, contracting

• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills

• Good IT skills, with ability to use and manage processes for standard packages

• Discretion with ability to navigate sensitive organisational information and personnel matters

• Proactive, self starter who is able to work independently and collaboratively as part of a small team

• Able to prioritise, organise own workload and meet deadlines

• Commitment to upholding the Bureau’s values

We envisage this as a full-time role. Primarily a hybrid working role, working from our London office. 
 

Salary: £50-55k depending on experience

Contract: 12-month contract (Maternity cover)

Location: London (hybrid working) 

Reporting to: CEO

Start date: The successful candidate would need to start by week commencing 17th March to allow a period of handover. 

Benefits - what we offer

• 25 days annual leave

• Nine-day fortnight

• Additional gifted leave during Christmas festive break

• Hybrid working 

• Flexible working arrangements

• EAP - Employee assistance programme

• Enhanced sick pay 

• Learning and development opportunities 

• Cycle to work scheme

How to apply

The Bureau is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a welcoming, diverse, inclusive and adaptable environment where people are encouraged and supported to achieve their best. We welcome applications from those belonging to groups traditionally under-represented in the media. You don’t need to tick every box in this ad – we are committed to hiring people with potential. If you feel like you lack some specific experience but have the necessary drive and passion, please don’t be deterred from applying or getting in touch with any questions.

Potential candidates should send a CV and cover letter to the email on our jobs page.

If you need support with your application, such as reasonable adjustments, or want to ask any questions about the job before submitting an application, please also reach out to the same email.

You will need to have the right to live and work in the UK.

The deadline for application is Sunday 2nd February 2025 and we aim to schedule interviews week commencing 10th February 2025.

Please also fill out our anonymous equality monitoring form attached, so we can better track who we are reaching.

Our values

Just: We are committed to pursuing what is right. We act with integrity and fairness to bring injustice to light.

Honest: We deal plainly and truthfully with each other and what we uncover. We reveal the truth even when it is uncomfortable.

Courageous: We aim to break new ground. We are ambitious, tenacious and innovative.

Inclusive: We seek to build equity. We embrace diversity, different experiences and perspectives.

Collaborative: We believe people are stronger when they work together. We take a collective approach to how we tackle problems, share skills and enable change.o