Operations Director - Community Action Redbridge

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Are you the strategic and collaborative leader who can innovate with and enable our newly formed central operations team to speed our reach and community impact while strengthening our resilience?

About us

Community Action Redbridge is a local infrastructure charity dedicated to building a fairer Redbridge where everyone and every community has an equal opportunity to thrive.

Our work helps the development of strong and resilient communities where people lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice and to tackling the root causes of inequality. We're passionate about shifting power, amplifying community voices and working collaboratively to create social change. We do this by:

• Strengthening and championing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector with tools and support to grow and thrive.
• Supporting local people to drive change in their own communities, through social action, volunteering and active participation.
• Bringing people and organisations from the VCSE sector, public services, and local businesses together to collaborate on shared ambitions for Redbridge.

Following a review of our strategy and resources in 2025 we have strengthened our resilience and our programme impact. We are now seeking Operations Director to bring our operations teams together and ensure their professional skills and knowledge can add value and impact to our mission delivery and team culture.

About the role

The role calls for a forward-thinking and accomplished Operations Director to drive efficiency, effectiveness, and to embed a culture of shared leadership, continuous learning, and improvement.

Your strategic leadership and operational brief will span central functions of;

Finance Human Resources Digital

Communications Risk Compliance

A pivotal role at the heart of our organisation, you will ensure that our operations run smoothly and effectively, aligning systems and processes with our strategic goals and ensuring we comply with relevant legislation and regulations.

You will play an integral role with the CEO, Board of Trustees, partners, and colleagues bringing our vision to life, driving forward our strategic priorities, and fostering a working culture where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

Personal style is key, you will be a natural collaborator and a strong communicator, able to build trusted relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders alike.

You will lead our team of committed professionals and manage relationships with our outsourced specialists ensuring the support provided supports our capacity to change, and grow and deliver impact for our communities.

What you will bring

• Significant experience in a senior operations or leadership role working across multiple disciplines

• Experience in several of the operational areas listed, with a proven ability to apply best practise solutions and to quickly pick up new skills

• Able to lead multiple operational functions, to prioritise, make best use of resources, and ensure they are aligned with our mission and strategic priorities. Experience managing outsourced functions, an advantage.

• Rigorous problem solver and accomplished in data-driven decision-making, evidence and insight based to drive innovation, and operational excellence.

• Track record of embedding organisational change and able to inspire, influence, and bring others on the journey

• Proven ability to identify improvements in organisational systems and processes, with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and impact

• Excellent organisational, prioritising and time management skills

• Fluency with digital systems including Microsoft 365

• Excellent communication, influencing and engagement skills

• Strategic and inclusive leadership skills able to build teams and develop culture

• A 'can do' proactive approach, able to work creatively and with impact in resource limited environments

• Resilience, change readiness, self-awareness and a commitment to learning for yourself and your team

We offer

• A competitive salary (reviewed in May each year)
• 28 hours per week (can be over 4 or 5 days)
• Flexible working with 3 days per week in the office
• 22.5 days leave (plus statutory holidays)
• Workplace pension
• Access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Community Action Redbridge in the recruitment of this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter both in Word doc format.

Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover:

• Your interest in the Operations Director role and Community Action Redbridge

• Having read the information pack, the relevant experience and skills you would bring to this role (paid work, study, community/voluntary work etc)

You are welcome to send your cover letter in writing, or as a video or audio clip, alongside your CV. Any video or audio submissions should be emailed to bryan@eastsidepeople.org.

If you would like a call to discuss any of the roles in more detail, please email Bryan McPaul to arrange a convenient time at bryan@eastsidepeople.org Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If you have a disability or require reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact us so we can support you appropriately.

The closing date for applications is Fri April 24th, 2026. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after by Teams and shortlisted candidates will have an interview with Community Action Redbridge at their offices on May 6th, 7th or 12th, 2026.

Community Action Redbridge believes in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.

Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.