Operations Manager

About African Rainbow Family

African Rainbow Family (ARF) is a UK-based, lived-experience-led grassroots organisation working with and for LGBTIQ+ refugees and people seeking asylum of African heritage and the Global Majority.

ARF was founded in 2014 in response to the criminalisation and persecution of LGBTIQ+ people across parts of Africa and the Commonwealth. The organisation provides advocacy, peer support, advice, training and counselling, while campaigning locally, nationally and internationally to challenge injustice and promote equality and human rights.

ARF operates from its head office in Manchester and has centres in Leeds, Birmingham, London and Swansea.

About the Role

The Operations Manager role is a new and senior position within African Rainbow Family and will play a key role in supporting the organisation s strategic and operational development.

The postholder will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the organisation, managing staff and volunteers, ensuring effective service delivery and leading on income generation and funding applications.

The role works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Trustees, staff, volunteers and external stakeholders to ensure ARF operates effectively, sustainably and in line with its values and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The postholder will be responsible for:

• Managing the day-to-day operations of African Rainbow Family, ensuring efficient and effective organisational delivery

• Line managing staff and volunteers, including recruitment, induction, supervision and performance management

• Overseeing service delivery across all ARF centres to ensure consistency, quality and compliance with funder requirements

• Managing organisational budgets and monitoring expenditure against agreed targets

• Leading on income generation, including researching funding opportunities and writing grant and funding applications

• Developing, reviewing and implementing organisational policies, procedures and systems

• Ensuring compliance with governance, safeguarding, health and safety and regulatory requirements

• Building and maintaining relationships with funders, partners, commissioners and key stakeholders

• Supporting strategic planning and reporting to the CEO and Board of Trustees

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum of two years experience in an operations, project or organisational management role

• Proven experience of managing staff and volunteers

• Experience of managing budgets and financial reporting

• Demonstrable experience of researching and writing successful grant or funding applications

• Knowledge of charity governance, compliance and operational processes

• Strong organisational, communication and leadership skills

• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities

Desirable

• Experience working within the charity or voluntary sector

• Experience working with LGBTIQ+ refugees or people seeking asylum

• Knowledge of asylum, immigration or human rights policy

• Experience using databases or CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce)

• Experience in advocacy, campaigning or media work

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave including Bank Holidays

• NEST pension scheme

• Flexible working arrangements

• Birthday leave and two wellbeing (duvet) days per year

• Cost-of-living support

• Paid sick leave after six months service

• Training, development and progression opportunities

• Salary review and employee reward scheme

• Free on-site parking

• Accredited Living Wage Employer

Equality, Diversity and Safeguarding

African Rainbow Family is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of the asylum system, LGBTIQ+ people and individuals from Black and Global Majority backgrounds.

This role is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement and is therefore open only to applicants who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. ARF is committed to safeguarding and to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.