Job Description

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The Director of Operations is a delivery-focused leadership position responsible for ensuring AudioActive runs like clockwork. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on creating order from complexity, enjoys the satisfaction of well-oiled systems, and takes pride in operational excellence. You'll be the backbone that ensures everything functions seamlessly, allowing our creative teams to focus on their transformative work with young people.

As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), integrity and discretion in handling sensitive information will be paramount. Our ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, ready to contribute to the growth of our organisation. Enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and a passion for our mission are qualities we highly value. If you are a proactive starter-finisher with these attributes and a commitment to making a difference, we invite you to join our team.

We're proud to have a diverse staff team and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. To stay relevant, accessible, and representative of the communities we serve, we actively encourage applications from:

People of colour

People who identify as female, non-binary or gender variant

People with lived experience of disability, marginalisation or neurodiversity

People from the LGBTQIA+ community

AudioActive is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive, values-led organisation.

THE ROLE

The Director of Operations at AudioActive is a senior leadership position focused on ensuring the organisation runs with operational excellence. This delivery-focused role serves as the backbone of the organisation, creating order from complexity and implementing systematic processes that allow creative teams to focus on their transformative work with young people.

The position requires someone who thrives on operational precision, takes pride in well-functioning systems, and can maintain seamless operations across AudioActive's centres.

Management responsibilities include leadership of operational staff, HR and administrative functions, and governance compliance. Key areas include developing and maintaining operational systems, ensuring regulatory compliance (including GDPR, health and safety, and charity commission requirements), and serving as the organisation's Environment Lead. The Director will also oversee IT infrastructure and implement quality management systems.

This position demands exceptional attention to detail, process optimisation expertise, and systems thinking capabilities. The ideal candidate will have senior-level operations and HR experience, strong financial management skills, and health and safety training.

RESPONSIBILITIES

LEADERSHIP

Contribute to ongoing development of the business and strategic plans

Lead implementation of operational plans and decisions.

Deputise for CEO when required

Support learning and development of direct reports

Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships

Identify operational development opportunities for the organisation

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Lead organisational governance and operational functions

Develop and maintain operational systems and solutions. Responsibility for building and asset management

Ensure compliance with statutory requirements

Oversee GDPR, insurance, and health and safety protocols. Implement and maintain quality management systems

Oversee IT infrastructure and digital systems

Manage the Trustee Meeting organisation, document generation, trustee communication and administration

Explore ways to make operations and facilities more environmentally sustainable as Environment Lead

Ensure environmental considerations are factored into organisational decision making.

SYSTEMS EXCELLENCE & PROCESS MANAGEMENT

Design, implement and continuously refine operational workflows and procedures

Establish and maintain comprehensive process documentation and standard operating procedures

Conduct regular systems audits to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements

Working with the Business Analyst, oversee the creation and maintenance of operational dashboards and performance metrics

Develop fail-safe procedures and contingency planning across all operational areas

HUMAN RESOURCES

Design, implement and continuously refine operational workflows and procedures

Establish and maintain comprehensive process documentation and standard operating procedures

Conduct regular systems audits to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements

Working with the Business Analyst, oversee the creation and maintenance of operational dashboards and performance metrics

Develop fail-safe procedures and contingency planning across all operational areas

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

Collaborate with Finance team on operational budgets

Oversee procurement and purchasing processes

Manage contracts and supplier relationships

Ensure financial controls and procedures are maintained. Support budget monitoring and forecasting processes

Feeding into annual budgeting and financial reporting for Operations

REPORTING AND GOVERNANCE

Produce operational reports for funders and stakeholders

Oversee monitoring and evaluation systems

Ensure regulatory compliance across all operational areas

Collaborate with CEO on maintaining compliance with Charity Commission requirements

Set clear operational KPIs and regularly monitor performance against targets

Maintain and update risk registers and proactive mitigation strategies

Prepare and present quarterly operational reports to Board of Trustees

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure AudioActive's Safer Recruitment procedures are followed

Maintain confidentiality and support for staff and young people

Ensure staff and volunteers who whistle blow are given support and afforded protection, if necessary, under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

Experience at senior management level in Operations and HR ? Financial management and budget oversight skills

Knowledge of health and safety, GDPR and regulatory compliance

Training in current Health and Safety practices

Demonstrable track record of delivering complex operational projects on time and within budget

Experience implementing and managing systematic quality assurance frameworks

Proven ability to design and optimise operational processes for maximum efficiency

Experience with process mapping, documentation, and continuous improvement methodologies

DESIRABLE

Charity sector operational management experience

Experience of facilities and asset management

IT systems management experience

Understanding of charity sector governance and compliance requirements

Proven knowledge of safeguarding practices

KEY SKILLS

Excellent leadership, management and team development capabilities

Ability to take personal accountability and work independently with minimal supervision.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities

Advanced IT skills (G Suite & MS Office)

High levels of confidentiality and professional discretion

Exceptional attention to detail

Methodical approach to problem-solving with ability to break complex challenges into manageable components

Process optimisation expertise - ability to see inefficiencies and design elegant solutions

Systems thinking - ability to understand how different operational elements interconnect

Documentation excellence - ability to create clear, comprehensive procedures and guidelines

Project management skills

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Commitment - to AudioActive's mission and values

Integrity - Strong ethical standards and integrity

Enjoy bringing order to complexity - find satisfaction in organising chaotic situations

Detail-oriented - take pride in getting things exactly right

Calm under pressure - maintain composure and clear thinking in challenging situations

Reliable - others depend on you because you consistently deliver

WORKING AT AUDIOACTIVE

ACCOUNTABILITY AND WOKING RELATIONSHIPS

Responsible to: CEO

Working with: Senior Management Team and operational colleagues

Responsible for:

Operations staff

Business Analyst

HR and administrative staff

SALARY, WORKING HOURS AND EMPLOYMENT TERM

Salary: 44k - 46k FTE dependent on experience. Pro rata to 0.6FT

Contract Term: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2028 (with the expectation to continue subject to funding)

Part Time: 22.5 hrs/wk

Workdays: Flexible to be agreed with CEO

Whilst there is the potential for this to be a hybrid role the majority of activity will be at our centres across Brighton, Worthing and Crawley, you will be required to travel around our area of operation and attend meetings and events. You will also be required to work occasional evenings and weekends.

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

The holiday entitlement is 36 days per annum including bank holidays (Pro-Rata). Part-time staff are entitled to a pro-rata of the 36 days based on their working week. This allocation includes the period between 27th and 31st December when we are closed.

PENSION SCHEME

All eligible members of staff will be automatically enrolled in accordance with the legislation, to the Staff Pension Scheme. Contributions are currently 8% of basic salary, of which 5% is payable by the member of staff concerned and an additional 3% provided by AudioActive. Staff will be supplied with further details upon commencement. The pension scheme may be subject to change, and staff members may opt not to take part in the Scheme.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

All employees receive a contribution of up to 200 per year (pro rata) to support them to maintain a passion for music and an up to-date awareness of music, particularly where relevant to young people that we work with. Expenditure is flexible (to be agreed with the CEO) and can include music streaming or magazine subscriptions, gig, festival or conference tickets etc.

SAFEGUARDING & SAFER RECRUITMENT

Any offer of employment will be made subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and, where relevant, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with our Safer Recruitment Policy.

AudioActive operates within robust safeguarding standards and procedures. We are fully committed to creating a safe environment for the children, young people, and communities we work with. As such, we carry out comprehensive checks on all potential new staff to deter individuals with harmful intentions and reduce the likelihood of unsafe practice.

All staff who work directly with children, young people, or have access to confidential information will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check.

In line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, applicants are required to disclose any unspent criminal convictions. Certain roles, particularly those involving work with children and vulnerable people, are exempt from the Act and may require disclosure of all convictions, including those that are spent. This will be clearly outlined in the recruitment materials for such roles.

RECRUITMENT

We are committed to ensuring that any disclosure is handled in a confidential and proportionate manner, and we recognise that a criminal record will not necessarily bar someone from working

with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances and the background of the offence(s)

If you have any concerns or questions about this process, we encourage you to contact us for an informal conversation before applying.

We operate within an anti-slavery and human trafficking policy

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 44,000.00-46,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 22.5 per week

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 11/08/2025
Reference ID: Director of Operations