Operations Manager

We're looking for someone a little bit special - someone who believes in the deep potential of children who are not thriving elsewhere in life and who has the experience, passion, energy and the drive to go the extra mile on these young people’s behalf.

The position is an exciting dual role:

1. Operations Manager (70% of workload)

You'll become a key cog at the heart of Free to Be's management team, taking lead responsibility for the systems, logistics, and operational infrastructure that make our residential projects and daily work tick. Holding lead operational oversight across health and safety, site venues, transport, data systems, and compliance, you'll ensure everything runs safely, seamlessly, and effectively for the children we support. With one direct report - the Operations & SupportCoordinator - you'll lead on day-to-day execution, streamline processes as we grow, and act as chief 'doer' and problem-solver for 'all things operations'. Alongside our Services, Volunteering & People, and Fundraising & Communications Managers, you'll be a core management team member holding shared responsibility for the day-to-day running of an impactful and growing children's mental health and adventure charity, working closely with our inspiring and supportive CEO to build robust foundations for Free to Be's future growth and development.

1. Residential Project Lead Coordinator (30% of role)

Our residentials are fun, immersive, tiring (in all the right ways), impactful and inspiring. A core aspect of all Free to Be Kids staff's roles is leading circa 8-10 of our residential projects across each year - working on the ground with the children, leading the volunteers & staff team on project, and helping make the projects special, safe, and transformative for vulnerable young people, many of whom have damaged confidence, low self-worth, or other social-emotional needs.

Attendance at approximately 8-10 five-six night residential projects per year outside London is a core component of this role. As a manager, you'd likely attend 8-10 residentials in year 1 to build familiarity with both the projects and our volunteer base, with this dropping to c.8 per year thereafter.

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On offer to the right candidate:

Salary: Circa £38,000 - £40,000, dependent on experience.

Hours: Fulltime: 37.5 hours per week.

Leave: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and up to 13 additional pre-set discretionary reward days in September and during the Christmas period. A substantial perk of the role is potential to take up to 4 consecutive weeks off to travel each September.

Other benefits: 4% employer pension contribution paid on full base salary, rising by 1% per year of service, up to a maximum of 7%; hybrid working; office with great transport links; flexible working (outside core hours); employee reward scheme; tight-knit, fun, vibrant, cohesive staff team with great morale.

Based: Hybrid – our small office in Waterloo, London. Hybrid working is well established with the majority of the team splitting time around 50:50 between the office and home.

To start: Ideally 25th January 2027

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Who we're looking for:

Our next Operations Manager hero. You'll be fun, flexible, energised, experienced in work with young people with additional needs, and looking to join an organisation you can believe in and who in return will believe and invest in you.

Resourceful, organised, resilient and efficient, you’ll have a real affinity for operational problem-solving and supporting others—whether staff, volunteers, or children themselves. We're looking for a change maker with a love of detail, fast-paced solution-making, and a real drive to make things happen safely and seamlessly. Operations management experience - setting up, running, and reviewing systems and processes - is key, as is the capacity to stay calm under pressure and lead by example. While prior residential experience is a bonus, ultimately we're looking for the right organisational fit: a fast, detailed thinker who believes in what we do and wants to step up to join a management team working hard to deliver it.

You’ll have the flexibility to work away from home on (up to) 10 five to six day residential projects per year. Ideally, you’ll also have experience of leading projects for children – whether residential or non-residential - for example as a teacher, or running groups in other settings. Experience of working on or leading residentials projects themselves is not required but may be an advantage.

We are a small, vibrant, 'can do', friendly staff team of 10, supported by a committed volunteer base of around 300.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from those who can help us represent the lived experiences of our children through their own lived experience or background.

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To apply:

See full Job Description & Person Specification on our website - www.freetobekids.org.uk

Send a copy of your CV or up to date LinkedIn profile, as well as a covering letter and introductory short video to employment@freetobekids.org.uk by the closing date of 10pm, Sunday 22nd November 2026

Covering letters should be approximately 1 side of A4 and address the question of: ‘Why this role, why now’ , as well as ‘what strengths, experience and skills you would bring into the role’ . We also ask for a short (1-3 minutes) informal video introducing yourself and touching on the person specification. We have found this helps bring the strongest applications to life, and filters out AI driven applications.

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Selection Process and Timeline:

Selection will be via two stage interview. As there is only a short turnaround from application closure on 22nd November to 1st stage interviews 30th November and 1st December, we will assess applications and offer interview slots throughout the window. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you need to wait till the closing date to submit.

1st stage interviews: 30th November and 1st December (virtual)

2nd stage final interviews: 7th and 9th December. In-person at our London Waterloo office.

Please hold interview dates as alternate dates are unlikely to be available.

The role requires an Enhanced DBS check and existing right to work in the UK.

If you have any questions about the role, contact us via our website and we’d be happy to arrange an informal chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £38,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme

Application question(s):

• We're based from our London (Waterloo) office with all staff working 2-3 days from the office each week, this forming a key part of our tight knit team culture and togetherness. Can you confirm you are able and keen to work 2-3 days based from the office per week?
• This is a dual role with a CORE part of the role involving leading on the ground and from the front, 8-10 of our immersive 6 day long residentials per year. This is a substantial commitment which we reward well via generous leave, sector leading pay, and an incredible team culture of togetherness and belonging. However we find some candidates underestimate the scale of this commitment. Can you confirm your capacity and keenness to spend this amount of time away from home leading residentials each year?

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE1 7BE