Job Description

How to Apply:

See full details in final section.

If you are interested in applying for this job, please apply via Charity Jobs. The closing deadline is 30th November.

About the Sheila McKechnie Foundation

SMK is here for people working to make lasting change, whether in their community, across society, or for our planet. We support change-makers by sharing the latest thinking and advice. We connect the campaign community to grow in solidarity, share ideas, and find common cause. And we act as a powerful champion for the right to campaign.

SMK runs programmes for individuals and groups, offering support, advice, and a place to share knowledge on the key areas of effective campaigning. From strategy, tactics, and targets to evaluating successful campaigns, we equip campaigners with the tools and confidence to drive high-impact change.

Each year, we work directly with up to 300 organisations and well over 1000 people. They are tackling a wide range of social issues across human rights, environment, health, housing, young people, and community.

Whether improving disabled access on local transport, tackling financial inequality, or promoting solutions to global conflict, our mission is to help campaigners succeed through:

Workshops and Training Programmes that develop new tactics, strategic approaches, and campaign skills. Bespoke Consultancy to support organisations and groups in delivering effective, impactful campaigns. Celebrating and Promoting Campaigning through our Annual Awards, which highlight the achievements and impact of campaigners from across the UK.
Through this work, SMK continues to strengthen the role of changemakers, ensuring they have the expertise and confidence to make their voices heard and their campaigns effective.

About the role

As Operations and Systems Manager, you will ensure SMK's operations are well managed and that the team have the technology, systems and policies needed to run smoothly. You will take the initiative and hold responsibility for managing projects to improve systems and working practices and provide the administrative and training support needed to enable staff to implement these.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will work across the SMK staff team of six, the board members, suppliers and occasionally our training associates maintaining great working relationships and clear lines of communication.

In this internally facing role, you will play a key part in shaping the culture at SMK and in creating an environment in which the staff team can work productively and in line with our values.

Job description

Governance

Organise SMK's board meetings, sub committees and strategy days, ensuring all necessary paperwork, including the CEO and Staff Report, is prepared and circulated on time. Take clear and concise minutes at board meetings and ensure agreed actions are followed up. Support the CEO and Board in ensuring complete and timely reporting to regulators such as HMRC, the Charity Commission, and Companies House. Keep up-to-date information on Trustees and Patrons including monitoring the conflicts of interest register. Support the induction process for new Trustees and manage any Board development requirements.
Human Resources

Ensure all current and ex staff records are up to date and stored appropriately including contracts and job descriptions. Support line managers by ensuring that recruitment, induction, employee development and performance management are carried out in line with SMK policies and procedures. Regularly review and update HR policies such as the SMK handbook, in collaboration with our external HR support, and be a point of contact for the team to raise any queries or concerns. Support the management team on the working practices review project and help research, implement any new systems, processes or procedures required. Manage the Breathe HR system for all types of leave. Monitor team's absences and be a point of contact for team wellbeing. Oversee the organisation of the annual Team Away days and any other team strategic planning days.
Compliance and Risk

Ensure SMK operates in line with legal and regulatory requirements Work with SMK's CEO to ensure policies and procedures are reviewed on a regular basis. Ensure SMK is compliant with health and safety practices, GDPR, and stays up to date with changing regulation. Ensure SMK's insurance is up-to-date and covers the correct requirements. Maintain awareness of risks and changes in the external environment that may affect SMK, managing a risk register to capture the risks and actions to be taken to mitigate them. Support staff across the organisation to complete risk assessments where necessary and take responsibility for signing these off in line with our policies.
Office Admin

Be the first point of contact with the office landlord. Look after the photocopier, stationary and other office requirements. Be responsible for incoming / outgoing post (when in the office). Book meeting rooms and desks for team members on Mondays.
IT and Information Management

Manage the relationship with SMK's IT service providers. Support the team with IT requirements. Implement the IT Security policy and regularly review and update, providing/signposting staff training where necessary. Take a broad overview of systems within SMK, reviewing them and ensuring that they are fit for purpose, including the CRM. Lead on ensuring SMK's digital and offline files are up to date, organised, and stored correctly on SharePoint.
Finance

Support CEO in liaising with external finance supplier, with day-to-day bookkeeping and account management Collect and file monthly Credit Card receipts and invoices and share with finance. Ensure finance policy and procedures are up to date and answer finance-related queries from the team as required. Complete and manage client supplier forms. Track the progress of the annual audit and coordinate with the appointed auditors and external accountant.

About you

Having worked in a similar role, you'll display a proven ability to create, implement or update systems that will increase the organisation's operational efficiency.

You are organised and methodical, with an excellent eye for detail and an understanding of bigger picture joined-up systems. You are able to manage and prioritise a busy and diverse workload, with support from your line manager. You're responsive, approachable, and will have a solid overall understanding of how organisations work at every level.

You are able to operate in a small interdependent team in the heart of the campaigning community where relationships based on trust, diversity, and inclusion are key.

Person Specification

We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. We welcome applications from people in underrepresented groups. To ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes, where needed we will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates.

Experience

*We're interested in experience that's both job-related or gained through other areas of your life

Essential

A minimum of 2 years' experience in a similar role, ideally within the charity sector. Extremely organised, with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail demonstrated by excellent record keeping and information management skills. Excellent written, interpersonal and communication skills Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage your own workload effectively, maintain flexibility and take the initiative when required. Good financial literacy, with a working knowledge of budgets and finance systems. Experience of supporting charity Boards and working with trustees, preparing papers, accurate minute taking, overseeing action logs and responding to enquiries. And a working knowledge of charity governance requirements and reporting. Experience of leading recruitment processes including creating job packs, promotion, shortlisting and communications to applicants throughout the cycle. Experience of drafting, reviewing and implementing organisational HR policy and procedures (HR expertise is provided by an external provider) and working with HR systems (we use Breathe HR) Basic training in risk management with experience of writing and implementing risk assessments. Good understanding of organisational health and safety requirements, including safeguarding and the knowledge and confidence of how to seek further advice and information when required. Experience of negotiating with and supervising third-party suppliers and contracts. Excellent IT skills with ability to use Microsoft Office to a high level and support others to do so. Experience of general administrative support including logistics, travel and events. Experience in CRM database management, preferably Salesforce, and a proven ability to handle and analyse data, and produce reports. A commitment to the SMK's objectives
Desirable

Background and/or interest in campaigning and social change Experience of accountancy software, preferably Quickbooks Experience of working in a small hybrid organisation

How to apply:

If you're interested in the role, please apply via Charity Jobs.

You will be asked to submit a CV and a cover letter. Your covering letter should be no more than two-pages (at a minimum font size of 11pt), and should address the following:

Why you want the job How you meet the requirements of the role, as set out in the job description and person specification
Please note that generic application cover letters do not allow us to properly assess an application and will result in the application being screened out. Before shortlisting, personal and educational identifiers (e.g. name, age, places of study etc) will be removed.

SMK is committed to equality and providing a diverse and inclusive workplace. We particularly welcome applications from those who are significantly underrepresented in our sector, including disabled people and individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

Applications close: Sunday 30 November 2025, 11pm Candidates successfully shortlisted will be notified by Tuesday 2 December, if you do not hear back from us by that date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful this time. Interviews: Tuesday 8 December 2025 in person This post is currently being covered by freelance interim support and ideally the candidate would start from mid-January 2026.
If you have any questions about the role or process, please email roisin.lawrence@smk.org.uk We are happy to discuss any accommodations or adjustments needed to support your application or participation in the interview process. Please let us know how we can assist.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 33,000.00-35,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 15 per week

Benefits:

Flexitime Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Greater London EC1V9HU

Application deadline: 30/11/2025
Expected start date: 12/01/2026