Head of Operations

Contract: Full-time 

Contract type: Fixed-term employment (1 year), with the option to move to a permanent role by mutual agreement, subject to successful performance and organisational fit.

Salary: £70,000–£90,000, depending on experience 

Pension: 5% employer contribution 

Reports to: Co-chief Executive

Direct report(s): 1x employee, plus oversight of several contractors including outsourced compliance and accounting functions 

Start date: As soon as possible

About the role

The Head of Operations is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Centre for British Progress. Working closely with our Co-chief Executives, you will own our finance, HR, and operations functions; line manage the Operations Associate; oversee our outsourced compliance provider and our external accountants. You will also work with the Head of Partnerships and Fundraising to secure funding and manage relevant contracts. This is a senior, broad-ranging role. You will be hands-on, but also setting the systems and strategy that allow a fast-growing think tank to scale.

The Centre for British Progress is a non-partisan think tank researching and producing concrete ideas for an era of British growth and progress. We produce rigorous research, design implementation-ready policy ideas and engage with relevant stakeholders to make the case for reforms that can deliver meaningful progress for Britain. We are a fast-growing organisation with an ambitious agenda, and we are looking for exceptional people to help build it.

What you’ll do

Core Operations

• Set and execute the operations strategy, with input from the Co-chief Executives
• Line manage the Operations Associate, oversee our outsourced compliance function, and support with board meeting preparation and action items as needed
• Oversee office administration
• Draft the organisation’s legal agreements and process approved contracts
• Work with our contractors to maintain the website

Delivery Operations

• Oversee and deliver the organisation’s events programme end-to-end, including arranging dinners, breakfasts, drinks receptions and conferences. This will involve liaising with a range of suppliers including venues, caterers, entertainment and photographers.
• Oversee our publications process and delivery from end-to-end, including project management to ensure reports and articles are produced to agreed deadlines and the promotion and dissemination of our content online and to our mailing list.

Finance

• Manage the organisation’s finances (in collaboration with our contracted accountancy provider)
• Conduct funder due diligence 
• Track budget variance and flag material changes
• Manage contracts with funders

People and HR

• Manage the delivery of our in-house HR function end-to-end
• Manage employment processes, including contract negotiations
• Manage onboarding and offboarding for new hires and leavers
• Manage HR systems and periodically review and update our policies in the Organisation Handbook
• Work with the Co-chief Executives to establish desired culture, team development, and team activities
• Manage and track OKRs and KPIs across the organisation

Partnerships and fundraising

• Work with the Head of Partnerships and Fundraising on delivery, including due diligence, contracting, and operational follow-through

About you

Essential

• Significant operations experience, ideally in a small or fast-growing organisation
• A track record of line management and building effective teams
• Strong finance experience: budget ownership, working with accountants or bookkeepers, and confidence with management accounts
• HR experience across the employee lifecycle – hiring, onboarding, performance, and employee relations
• Sound commercial judgement on contracts, suppliers, and outsourced relationships
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficient with productivity tools and project management software
• High agency, proactive, and a problem-solver
• Experience with using AI tools such as ChatGPT and/or Claude

Desirable

• Experience in think tanks, charities, or other policy-oriented organisations
• Experience managing outsourced functions (compliance, accounting, or legal)
• Familiarity with UK charity governance and regulatory obligations
• Experience in IT and project management

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.