Bradford District and Craven Mind
Head of Business Operations
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Role Background
Bradford District and Craven Mind has experienced significant organisational growth in recent years, with expanded services, increased staffing, more complex operational requirements and a broader range of internal and external reporting responsibilities. As the organisation has grown, its management structures have also evolved to ensure appropriate leadership, oversight and accountability across key functions.
The Head of Business Operations is a new role designed to strengthen the organisation’s corporate infrastructure and provide dedicated leadership across core business support functions. The role will help ensure that systems, processes, governance arrangements and operational support services keep pace with organisational growth and continue to support safe, effective and sustainable delivery.
Role Purpose
Responsible for leading and continuously improving the charity's core business support functions, ensuring the organisation has the people, systems, processes and infrastructure required to operate safely, efficiently and effectively.
Working closely with the Director of Corporate Services, the postholder will oversee operational support services including organisational governance, health and safety, information technology and digital systems, information governance, risk management, procurement, estates and facilities management, business support services and the coordination of cross-organisational projects that improve systems, processes and ways of working.
The role will ensure organisational policies, procedures and controls remain current, effective and compliant with legal, regulatory and contractual requirements. It will also coordinate the timely completion of statutory, regulatory and funder reporting requirements, providing assurance to trustees and senior leadership that the charity is well-managed and able to focus on achieving its mission and delivering high-quality mental health services.
Role Outcomes
Organisational Governance
- Oversee the development, review and implementation of organisational policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
- Provide clear governance, compliance and assurance reporting to senior leadership and trustees.
- Coordinate external reviews and audits, ensuring findings are translated into clear action plans and tracked to completion.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Provide strategic oversight of workplace health, safety and wellbeing, ensuring legal and regulatory responsibilities are met.
- Support the team to maintain safe, compliant and accessible premises and working environments.
- Ensure health and safety risks, systems, reporting arrangements and improvement actions are regularly reviewed and escalated where required.
Information Technology and Digital Systems
- Lead the management and development of secure, reliable and effective IT and digital systems.
- Oversee relationships with external IT and digital providers, including cybersecurity, disaster recovery and business continuity arrangements.
- Identify and support digital improvements that increase efficiency, accessibility and effective ways of working.
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Information Governance and Data Protection
- Lead the organisation’s information governance framework, ensuring compliance with data protection legislation and best practice.
- Oversee information management, retention, security processes and incident response arrangements.
- Work with teams to ensure information is managed securely, effectively and appropriately across the organisation.
Risk Management and Assurance
- Maintain corporate risk management arrangements, including strategic risk registers, reporting and assurance processes.
- Support managers to identify, assess, mitigate and escalate risks effectively.
- Support the development and testing of business continuity and incident management plans.
Procurement and Contract Management
- Develop and maintain effective procurement, supplier management and contract management arrangements.
- Support managers to source goods and services effectively and manage supplier performance.
- Identify opportunities for efficiency, savings and social value through effective procurement and contract oversight.
Estates and Facilities Management
- Oversee the management of premises, facilities, leases, insurances and related compliance requirements.
- Support the team to ensure buildings are safe, compliant, accessible and fit for purpose.
- Maintain oversight of facilities-related contracts, maintenance, security, sustainability and emergency arrangements.
Project Management and Organisational Improvement
- Lead and coordinate cross-organisational projects that improve business support functions, systems and ways of working.
- Support effective change management so new processes, systems and ways of working are communicated, embedded and reviewed.
General
- Leading your team in alignment with our aims, objectives, policies, core values and the standards set out in our Employee Handbook.
- Fully participating in all relevant training to develop and maintain your performance in the role.
- Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to our values: Caring Always, Working Together, Supporting Everyone, Enabling All and Continually Improving.
- Performing other duties as reasonably required within the role.
Person specification
Bradford District and Craven Mind is committed to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and improving the quality of life for people with mental health challenges. We value diversity, inclusion and lived experiences when recruiting our staff and volunteers.
Qualifications:
Essentials
- Relevant experience in business management, governance, risk management, health and safety, project management, information governance or a related discipline.
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Desirable
- Relevant professional qualification in business management, governance, risk management, health and safety, project management, information governance or a related discipline.
Experience:
Essential
- Significant experience of managing corporate or business support functions.
- Experience of supporting governance, compliance and risk management frameworks.
- Experience managing organisational policies and compliance programmes.
- Experience coordinating statutory, regulatory or funder reporting.
- Experience managing facilities, procurement and health and safety activities.
- Experience overseeing IT systems, digital services or technology providers.
- Experience of coordinating or managing projects that improve organisational systems, processes or service delivery.
- Experience leading teams and developing staff.
- Experience of managing budgets and external suppliers.
Desirable
- Experience within the charity, health, social care or mental health sector.
- Experience of leading digital transformation projects.
Skills & Abilities:
Essential
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Excellent organisational and project management abilities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to influence and build effective relationships across all levels of the organisation.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Ability to develop practical project plans, manage risks and dependencies, and support colleagues to deliver agreed milestones.
Desirable
- Ability to support change management and embed new ways of working across teams.
Knowledge:
Essential
- Understanding of data protection and information governance requirements.
- Knowledge of effective governance, risk management, compliance and assurance arrangements.
- Understanding of how strong business support functions contribute to safe, effective and sustainable service delivery.
Desirable
- Knowledge of Charity Commission and charitable governance requirements.
Attitude
- Committed to the values and purpose of Bradford District and Craven Mind.
- Proactive, solution-focused and able to take ownership of improvement work.
- Collaborative and supportive in approach, with the ability to work constructively across teams.
- Calm, organised and resilient when managing competing priorities or organisational change.
- Committed to inclusion, continuous improvement, accountability and high standards.
- Desirable
- Interest in contributing to the development of a growing charity and strengthening organisational infrastructure.
Please apply through our website - Join our team | Bradford District and Craven Mind
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