Job Title: Operations Manager 

Responsible to: Director 

Responsible for: Line manages one to three staff members and some freelance suppliers 

Type of contract: 12 months fixed term, with possibility of extension 

Hours: Four days which equates to 32 hours a week (0.8 full time equivalent) 

Salary: £34,720 per annum pro rata (band ranges £34,720 to £45,690)  

Location: Hybrid role requires a minimum of 1.5 days a week to be worked from the Wakefield hub office 

About the Role

The Operations Manager role is to:  

• Improve and maintain our operational management systems, processes and practices, ensuring we remain legally compliant. 
• Ensure all our operations are carried out in an appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective way. 
• Manage our hub base at WX in Wakefield, maintaining a space that’s highly accessible as a place to work, rest, meet, store and share. 

The duties of this role are: 

Lead on the operations function of Unlimited – 70%   Operations 

• Manage development, updating and storage of relevant policies, processes and procedures. 
• Manage the organisation's assets and equipment. 
• Manage data compliance and ensure retention log is updated. 
• Undertake office management including health and safety for our hub base at WX in Wakefield. 

Systems 

• Ensure functionality of our Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, CRM, and other IT systems (phones, Zoom, etc.). 
• Oversee security and GDPR compliance organisation wide. 
• Seek out and manage relevant upgrades as and when required to ensure future functionality. 

HR  

• Support compliance with HR processes by our line managers and others in relation to our staff team and board, updating and maintaining policies, registers, procedures, our Employment Hero platform and so on. 
• Work with line managers, the Operations Officer, and Operations Administrator to support recruitment and the onboarding/offboarding of staff members. 

Project management 

• Effectively manage the timeline for all designated operational systems work, in consultation with the Director, the senior management team and the wider operations team.  
• Managing any assigned budgets, ensuring the necessary information for financial management is arranged, liaising with Finance to ensure payments are made on time, and communication processes are effective. 

Line management – 10%  

• Line management of Operations Officer and Operations Administrator, monitoring their progress and activity, holding an overview of their project areas, and supporting their professional development and wellbeing.  
• Managing relevant freelance support and suppliers as needed.  

Member of the operations team - 10%  

• Work proactively as a member of the operations team, working closely with the Director, to establish, develop, and maintain Unlimited’s structures and systems.  
• Provide support for key projects and relationships as designated. 

Other duties – 10% 

• Attend staff, programme, and project meetings as well as Away Days as required. 
• Adhere to Unlimited’s values and our policies and procedures; contributing to their development to make them more accessible and inclusive. 
• Champion intersectionality and diversity in all its forms. 
• Represent Unlimited as required at external events. 
• Work collaboratively and support other staff in their areas of work when required. 
• Any other duties that may from time be required by the Director or senior management team. 

This job description is a guide to the nature of the work assumed to be required of this position. It’s neither wholly comprehensive nor restrictive and will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure its accuracy and validity. 

For any questions regarding the information above, please contact us by emailing recruitment@weareunlimited.org.uk or call/text 07506 679968. 

What are we looking for? 

This is the person specification for this role. We expect the person delivering this role to meet all the essential requirements and have some of the desirable ones too. 

Essential 

• At least three years of operations management experience, working with multiple priorities. 
• Interest in IT, experience with Office 365 and SharePoint, and in utilising CRM systems within organisations. 
• Experience ensuring GDPR compliance.  
• Team player, with experience in managing systems for hybrid team working.  
• Proven ability to work with organisational partners and colleagues with care and diplomacy. 
• Experience of managing budgets. 
• Self-motivated, able to use initiative, with exemplary organisational skills, strong attention to detail and ability to work to deadlines. 
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and experience of supporting and line managing others. 
• Living within commutable distance of Wakefield; able to commit to a minimum of 1.5 days on site in Wakefield per week. 

Desirable 

• Commitment to supporting Unlimited and its staff through your professional practice, knowledge and experience.  
• Experience of working within the arts/cultural sector in the UK and/or overseas.  
• Experience with supporting HR functions, managing digital systems, managing policy development systems, maintaining physical office spaces and systems. 
• Experience of working with budgets of £100k plus.  
• Experience of working with disabled-led teams, and/or experience of working with a team with varied access requirements.  
• Enthusiastic about Unlimited’s vision.  
• Knowledge of UK wide culture sector, its barriers and structures.  
• Experience of remote working. 
• Adds to the diversity of our current team. 

Recruitment timeline  

Deadline for applications: Friday 7 August 2026, midday  

All applicants contacted by: Wednesday 12 August 2026  

Interviews: Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026 (There may also be a second round of interviews, date tbc)

Suggested start date: from September 2026