Operations Development Manager

Contract Type: Permanent Role Type: Employment Hours: Full time Application deadline: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 - 12:00 Based: Newcastle Salary: £36,000 Per Annum Salary Type: Fixed Salary Location: Tyne and Wear Role description: Manager For over 30 years, Kids Kabin has been inspiring children and young people to discover what they're capable of. Working in neighbourhoods across Newcastle, Middlesbrough and East Durham, we take practical, creative workshops directly into communities where opportunities can be limited. Through woodwork, pottery, cookery, bike maintenance and countless other hands‑on experiences, young people build confidence, develop skills and discover their potential. Every year, almost 2,000 children and young people take part in our programmes, supported by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and partners. We're now entering a new chapter in our development. It’s an exciting time for us as we look to recruit to this new post. We are looking for the perfect candidate to work alongside our Chief Officer and the wider team to strengthen the organisation behind our delivery programmes. We want someone to join our team to ensure Kids Kabin has the systems, people, culture and infrastructure needed to continue growing our impact for years to come. This is a newly created leadership role with a genuine opportunity to shape how the organisation develops. About The Role This isn't a traditional operations or development role. We're looking for someone who enjoys making organisations stronger. The postholder will lead the development of the systems, processes and ways of working that allow brilliant frontline practice to flourish. From quality assurance and organisational learning to HR, volunteer development, compliance and impact measurement, you'll ensure the charity is well equipped to deliver exceptional experiences for children and young people. Working closely with the Chief Officer, you'll help turn strategy into action by identifying opportunities for improvement, building organisational capability and creating an environment where staff and volunteers can do their very best work. You’ll Lead On Developing organisational systems that support sustainable growth. Embedding quality, learning and continuous improvement across the charity. Strengthening monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting. Supporting and developing staff, volunteers and organisational culture. Leading operational compliance, including safeguarding, health & safety, data and risk management. Improving organisational effectiveness through better systems, policies and processes. Supporting financial planning, budget monitoring and organisational sustainability. Building partnerships that strengthen learning and collaboration. Above all, you'll help ensure that every improvement behind the scenes creates better outcomes for the children and communities we serve. About You You may already be an Operations Manager, Charity Manager, Programme Manager, Deputy Manager or Organisational Development professional looking for your next challenge. You’ll enjoy both thinking strategically and working practically. You're someone who naturally spots opportunities to improve the way organisations work and brings people with you to make change happen. You’ll Bring Experience of leading operational or organisational development within the voluntary, community or public sector. A track record of improving systems, processes and organisational effectiveness. Experience supporting staff, volunteers and organisational learning. Strong knowledge of governance, safeguarding, compliance and risk management. Confidence using data and insight to improve services and demonstrate impact. Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills. A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to support, influence and inspire others. Most importantly, you'll share our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to develop confidence, creativity and practical skills, regardless of their background. Why join Kids Kabin? Kids Kabin is a small charity with big impact and massive future potential. You'll have the opportunity to influence the whole organisation and your ideas will help shape the future of the charity. You’ll join a passionate, supportive team who care deeply about the communities we work alongside and believe in the power of creativity, practical learning and trusted relationships to transform young lives. If you're excited by the idea of building a stronger organisation so that more children and young people can thrive, we'd love to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East)