Job title: Operations Manager
Hours: 40 hours per week, with options for flexible working.
Occasional weekend and evening working required.
Salary range: Up to £30k dependent on experience
Location: Deen City Farm, Merton, SW19 2RR
About the organisation:
Based in the London Borough of Merton, Deen City Farm is a popular community run charity and visitor attraction. Located on a 5 acre site at the edge of the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park, the charity consists of a working farm, riding school, gardens and a training café. Welcoming over 60,000 visitors a year, we provide outdoor education and training opportunitiesfor local people, irrespective of their age, background or abilities.
Job Purpose:
Reporting to the board of trustees, the Operations Manager has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the Farm. Providing strategic direction and managing a team of staff and volunteers to ensure that the charitydelivers in line with its mission.
A key priority for this role will be to work closely with the board and management team to develop and deliver innovative business, fundraising and communication strategies, and work to ensure the long term sustainability of the farm. A positive attitude, ability to identify imaginative and productive ways of utilising the farm’s many assets, and the drive to deliver on those plans will be essential as the farm moves towards one of the most challenging and potentially exciting periods in its history.
Key relationships:
Line Manager:Chair of Trustees.
Direct reports:Livestock Manager, Riding School Manager, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Visitor Services Manager, Finance Administrator, Fundraiser.
External Contacts:Visitors, Public, Schools and education providers, carers and support workers, local authorities, serviceproviders and contractors, The National Trust, funding bodies, community and charity groups, corporate partners, media outlets, local councillors and MPs.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Strategic leadership
  • Responsible for the overall direction and management of the affairs of the organisation on a day to day basis on behalf of the trustees.
  • Providing leadership and strategic direction to staff, volunteers and supporters of Deen City Farm in pursuit of the charity’s aims.
  • Leading the planning function across the organisation and ensuring effective processes, linked to strategy, business plans and financial considerations
Staff & volunteer management
  • Managing the farm’s HR functions, ensuring appropriate performance and people management, including training and development to support a high performing and motivated workforce
  • Line managing5-6 direct reports, with overall responsibility for up to 20 staff.
  • Responsible for ensuring, both directly and through the staff, that appropriate recruitment, training, first aid, and insurance policies are in place for volunteers, and that best practices are adopted to ensure their effective recruitment and retention. Equally importantly is to build good working relationships with volunteers in all areas of the Farm’s work.
Networking & marketing
  • Maintaining effective networks with all principal supporters and stakeholders. This will require an ambassadorial role on behalf of the Farm, attending meeting and events, and speaking on platforms to interested groups.
  • Managing relationships and promoting the farm’s interests with key voluntary, community and statutory partners.
  • Developing marketing and promotional materials for Farm events, activities and services.
  • Overseeing and developing IT, database and website functions, including e-commerce, web applications and social media.
Finance & Administration
  • Devising budgets and managing finance systems and procedures to ensure the organisation’s financial stability and development.
  • Achieving financial targets and securing related operating budgets and project funds. Ensuring that approved plans are implemented on time whilst providing value for money.
  • Working with trustees to ensure that all administrative matters are dealt with in a timely manner, e.g. annual returns, independent accounting inspections.
  • Responding to escalated customer complaints and enquiries.
Reporting
  • Monitoring, measuring and reporting on all operational issues, business plans and strategies within agreed formats and timescales.
  • Providing timely and appropriate reports and updates to the board of trustees.
  • Ensuring effective and timely monitoring and reporting to funders, including Local authorities.
Fundraising & income generation
  • Realising existing and new opportunities for income generation, ensuring the optimum use of all assets and exploring external funding opportunities.
  • Writing and securing bids for project funding, including drafting and presenting effective business cases.
  • Leading on the development and delivery of effective communication, marketing and income generation strategies and activities.
Operational &site management
  • Ensuring the smooth day-to-day operational management of the organisation, its staff, volunteers, animals and buildings.
  • Responsible for all service contracts and licences on site, including management of the grounds and gardens, and control of the use of all indoor and outdoor space.
  • Developing the organisation’s approach to introducing energy and cost saving green technologies
  • Coordinating a high-quality, customer focussed and constant service provision in all department areas
  • Making sure that the day to day operation of the charity adheres to all relevant legislation.
Risk management& safeguarding
  • Acting as Health and Safety Officer for the organisation, ensuring that all staff and volunteers follow and adhere to appropriate H&S regulations, that appropriate training and equipment is provided where required, and that Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work are carried out and followed. In addition ensuring that proper First Aid training and provision is in place for the whole organisation.
  • Ensuring that the Farm’s policies and procedures are up to date and reviewed in response to changing legislation and best practice requirements
  • Developingand implementing of effective contingency planning and risk management systems.
  • Developing and managing safeguarding and child protection policies, training and procedures. Ensuring that up to date DBS certificates are secured for staff and volunteers as required.

Person Specification

Essential / Desirable
Education, Training & Work Qualifications /
  • Degree or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous training and personal development
/
  • Animal, horticultural or Equine Science qualification
  • Business Management qualification
  • CIPD qualification
  • First Aid qualification
  • Clean driving licence

Relevant Experience /
  • Senior staff and operations management in a complex environment and achieving positive results
  • Experience of strategy implementation to achieve operational effectiveness and leading organisational and cultural change initiatives
  • Evidence of successful financial management (£500k), fundraising and innovative income generation.
  • Delivering successful projects and/or programmes
  • Skilled networker with a track record of positive relationships at a senior level
/
  • Demonstrable record of overall business leadership and achievement of specialist service delivery at senior management level in a complex environment involving service provision to the public
  • Experience of voluntary sector working
  • Experience of introducing new services within a multi-disciplined structure
  • Experience of working closely and effectively with a board of trustees or non-executive directors
  • Experience of working with children and adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
  • Experience of visitor attraction management.

Skills, abilities & knowledge /
  • Ability to generate income and fundraise
  • Forward thinking, positive, action orientated and result focussed
  • Effective in leading, managing and developing staff and performance
  • Highly skilled written and verbal communicator with the ability to make complex information understandable for audiences at all levels
  • High degree of literacy & numeracy
  • Skilled and experienced influencer and negotiator, able to represent the organisation at all levels
  • Proven creative, innovative and pragmatic problem solving skills and abilities
  • Excellent organisational skills, able to prioritise and fulfil tasks within deadlines
  • A strong customer service ethos with a commitment to collaborating with others
/
  • Awareness of charity governance
  • Proficient in the use of QuickBooks with experience of charity accounting
  • Physically fit and able to work outdoors when required.
  • Good practical skills i.e. able to carry out a variety of basic maintenance tasks using arange of tools and equipment

Personal qualities /
  • Inspirational and inclusive leader who delivers high quality results and empowers and motivates others at all levels, internally and externally, to facilitate change
  • Persuasive, passionate and eloquent communicator, whose personal values and ethics are closely aligned with those of Deen City Farm
  • Fast learner and good listener, who contributes positively and effectively to any team, and whose drive and determination is focused on delivering services to vulnerable communities
  • Dynamic, persuasive, charismatic with the ability to adopt a coaching approach in working with others
  • Strategic and visionary thinker and innovator with integrity, resilience and creativity
  • The ability to instil confidence and trust in others and act with tact and diplomacy

Additional information:

  • The probationary period for this role is three months.
  • After successful completion of the probationary period, the notice period required is three months.
  • Successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.

How to Apply:

Pleasecomplete and return an application form and covering letter by email to

The closing date for applications is 3pm on Friday May 20th.

First round interviews will take place at the Farm on Saturday May 28th, with second round interviews scheduled for Saturday June 4th.

1