Job Description

The organisation:

Stripey Stork is a registered charity (1161613) who transform the lives of families in need through the simple act of recycling. We collect new and pre-loved items for babies and children - equipment, clothes, furniture, and toys - and distribute them to

families in need across Surrey, Croydon and surrounding areas. The families Stripey Stork help are facing a range of challenges including homelessness, unemployment, low wages/high living costs and domestic violence.

Stripey Stork believe that every child deserves the

same start

and that by sharing the items our families have outgrown we can support a circular economy in a focused and meaningful way.

Our vision is that

every child in Surrey and Croydon

has access to the essential things they need to develop and meet their potential.

Our mission is to

alleviate the impacts of childhood poverty

by providing a practical way for families to help each other with kindness and purpose.

Stripey Stork is one of the largest and most established baby banks in the UK. In 2024, we responded to over 11,000 requests from families in Surrey and Croydon, and we aim to scale our operations to support 20,000 requests annually by 2026.

Who we help:

"Having a safe space for Comfort to sleep means the world to us. She sleeps so well in her warm cot and snuggly pyjamas, with her mobile lullaby sending her to sleep every night. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, I will never forget the help you have given us."

The role:

We are seeking an enthusiastic, proactive, and hands-on Operations Team Leader to drive the smooth running of our three operational sites and support our day-to-day service delivery.

This new role reflects our growing scale and ambition. You'll manage people, processes and space to ensure that every aspect of site management - including incoming donations and checking processes, stock deliveries, site safety, maintenance, and storage - runs efficiently and effectively. Communication will be one of your key strengths, ensuring that colleagues and volunteers are supported to deliver the service our partners, and the families they support, rely on.

You'll support the Head of Service, campaign/project activity, volunteer and referral teams to make sure our service delivery work is well-coordinated and aligned with our organisational goals. You'll be a visible and proactive presence on site, leading by example and keeping our spaces welcoming, productive and safe for everyone who visits.

The newly-formed Operations Team will sit within the Service Delivery Team and is pivotal to the successful delivery of the Stripey Stork service.

Key responsibilities:

Manage day-to-day operations across all sites, ensuring a safe, efficient, and welcoming environment for staff, volunteers, and visitors. Manage and maintain our assets - buildings, vehicles and contents - safely. Take overall responsibility for managing incoming stock and donations - ensuring effective sorting, storing and tracking - with the Donations Coordinator. Supporting the fundraising team with accurate record-keeping of new (in-kind) donated goods. Take overall responsibility for site safety, maintenance, and compliance (including fire safety, security and health and safety) - with the Facilities Coordinator. Optimise workspace and storage areas to maintain efficient workflows and accommodate volunteers, donations, projects and events. Manage and maintain our assets - buildings, vehicles and contents - safely. Ensure systems and processes are used consistently within Service Delivery, including data management and GDPR compliance. Ensure the organisation has the necessary policies and insurances in place to support staff, volunteers and safe working spaces. Ensure that our high standards of safety and quality in items we pass on are upheld across all our sites, making sure that every referral 'feels like a gift, and not a handout'. Liaise with landlords, partners, neighbours and contractors to ensure facilities are managed effectively and align with workflow needs. Provide leadership and guidance to the Operations Team, line managing the Facilities Coordinator and Donations Coordinator, and fostering a positive, inclusive, and efficient working culture. Work closely with the Team Leaders in Volunteering, Referrals, and Projects to make sure all aspects of our service are delivered efficiently, collaboratively and to the same consistently high standards. Contribute to staff recruitment, induction, training and development. Promote and support collaboration across the wider organisation, working closely with marketing and fundraising colleagues to achieve organisational goals. Deputise for the Head of Service when required. Use data and feedback to inform planning, reporting and decision-making. Review operational processes and procedures regularly to ensure efficiency and respond to fluctuations in demand (referrals) and supply (donations). Support the Head of Service with longer term operational planning and implementing agreed priorities. Support innovation by suggesting and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency and impact. Contribute to the development and delivery of Stripey Stork's strategic and operational plans. Ensure policies are implemented and that staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities. Ensure compliance with all statutory, health and safety, and GDPR requirements.

About You

We're looking for someone who:

Shares our belief that every child deserves the same start in life and is motivated by purpose-driven work. Has experience managing operations, facilities, or logistics in a busy, people-centred environment. Is a confident, visible team leader who inspires and supports others to do their best work. Is organised, practical, and solutions-focused - comfortable juggling multiple priorities and adapting to new challenges. Is comfortable in a warehouse environment, and with physical lifting, carrying and space management. This is an active, physical role involving frequent lifting and movement of donated items, such as bags of clothes and unassembled cots, in line with manual handling guidance and personal assessments. Ensures that personal attitude and approach is consistent with promoting positive behaviours and the values of the organisation. Has excellent communication skills across all channels. Is comfortable creating, amending and staying close to best practice in the necessary operational policies required to support the organisation. Is tech-savvy and confident planning, using data and systems to track, report and improve performance. Is proactive and collaborative - able to build strong relationships across teams and with external partners. Has some experience with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), and Excel. Has a full UK driving licence (driving of company vehicle may be required).

Our Values in Action

At Stripey Stork we:

Treat everyone with kindness and respect. Work collaboratively and express our gratitude for the support we receive. Value volunteers as an essential part of our team. Strive for efficiency so that every donation goes further. Keep families at the heart of everything we do.

Salary and hours of work:

We are offering an FTE salary for the role of 28,438.

35 hours per week. Note that some weekend and evening work may be required to support additional donation/volunteer shifts.

The role holder will be enrolled in the pension scheme (NEST).

Role reports to:

Head of Service

Line management responsibilities:

Donations Coordinator (22 hours)

Facilities Coordinator (10 hours)

Location:

The role is based at 51a Albert Road North, Reigate, RH2 9EL and Raven House, 29 Linkfield Lane, Redhill, RH1 1SS with occasional meetings with stakeholders across the Surrey area.

On occasions the role holder will be asked to represent the organisation at events in the local area.

Flexible working:

We recognise the benefits of flexibility and support a hybrid approach where appropriate. However, this is a hands-on, visible role, and on-site presence is key to success. The Operations Team Leader is expected to spend most of their working hours onsite at our Reigate and Redhill sites, with flexibility for occasional home-based tasks.

Contract:

Permanent contract with a three-month probationary period.

To apply:

Please submit your CV and a cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining:

Why you are interested in this role and Stripey Stork.

Your relevant operational/facilities management experience and key achievements.

How your skills align with the needs of this role.

Send these to recruitment@stripeystork.org.uk by 12pm on Monday 12th January.

APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A COVER LETER WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

To arrange a tour of our warehouse prior to making an application please email info@stripeystork.org.uk

At Stripey Stork, we are committed to building an inclusive team culture that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We value different perspectives and experiences and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those who are underrepresented in the charity sector or have lived experience of the challenges facing the families we support.

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. We will make all reasonable adjustments to support applicants throughout the process, including ensuring that interview questions are shared in advance. If you require any adjustments, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 28,438.00 per year

Benefits:

On-site parking
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 14/01/2026