Vacancy – OPERATIONS MANAGER

Posted on by Communications

Are you passionate about supporting land, agroecological and biodynamic farming, sustainable country-side activity, education, nature and healthy food production? Then the Biodynamic Land Trust may be for you.

We are looking for a new an Operations Manager to take the organisation into its next phase and continue to implement its vision to protect and secure land for biodynamic community-connected farming.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION

  • Operational management and administration
  • Land project maintenance and development
  • Business, cooperative and charity management
  • Finance management and record-keeping
  • Governance coordination
  • Membership administration and relations

DUTIES

Administration

  • Implement the business plan as agreed with the board
  • Act as the central point of contact for telephone, email and postal inquiries
  • Explore and respond to inquiries and proposals
  • Manage good professional relationships with accountant, solicitor, land agents, architect and tenants.
  • Ensure that the organisation meets its legal agreements
  • Oversee contracts – establish, maintain and record, for example office sharing agreement, banking, insurance
  • Manage any external consultants such as fundraisers, communication specialists, book keepers,
  • Administer employment contracts, T&Cs, pensions, records including allocations of hours as agreed by the Board

Membership

  • Maintain member database and legal register including managing data protection
  • Develop and maintain membership relationships
  • Maintain and develop cooperation and joint action with national organisations such as the Biodynamic Association, the Biodynamic Agricultural College, Soil Association Land Trust, Real Farming Trust ,Ecological Land Trust
  • Develop partnerships with local organisations such as Stroud Valleys Project, Down to Earth, Stroud Community Agriculture

Land projects and farm business

  • Establish and maintain tenancies, T&Cs and tenant relationships
  • Co-ordinate agreements and contracts with Natural England and the Rural Payments Agency
  • Carry through agreed acquisition projects and share offers

Communications, marketing and fundraising

  • Work with board members to represent the organisation to the media
  • Manage the development of any promotional material and its distribution
  • Send out regular newsletters to members, friends and supporters
  • Regularly update the website
  • Meet the needs of the fundraising strategy and carry out grant applications as agreed with the board

Financial management

  • Budget planning, preparation and management
  • Report quarterly on all aspects of financial management and monitoring
  • Ensure the annual audit is completed correctly
  • Liaise with bookkeeper to make sure HMRC documentation is up to date including VAT and Gift Aid submissions.
  • Liaise with bookkeeper to manage bank accounts, payments and maintain relationship with bank

Governance

  • Prepare and manage arrangement for Board and General meetings
  • Provide suitable information and context to enable informed Board decision making
  • Compile and distribute annual report including audited accounts
  • Manage statutory reporting to members and the Financial Conduct Authority
  • Review, renew and propose policies with the Board as appropriate

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

  • Experience of office management and accounting systems
  • Experience of managing contracts and sub contracts
  • Experience of project planning
  • Evidence of successful collaborative working
  • Experience of working in the charity sector

Skills

  • Excellent communications skills, both verbally and in writing
  • Strong interpersonal skills especially in influencing and negotiating
  • Well organised and capable of meeting deadlines
  • Strong skills in finance and budget management
  • High level of accuracy and attention to detail
  • Computer literate

Knowledge

  • Some knowledge of the biodynamic movement its aims and objectives
  • Some knowledge of the issues facing farming, food production and the natural environment generally

Personal Qualities

  • Self-motivated and well organised
  • Resourceful and able to think clearly

DETAILS

Hours negotiable between 15-20 hours a week

Salary based on £26.600 FTE

Contact gabriel@biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk

Application deadline 22nd February (however if you have just heard and are interested it is still time to contact us). Post starts April.

Published by

Communications