SDG2 Advocacy Hub
Operations Director
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Operations Director (Or, the person who quietly keeps everything together)
United Kingdom, home-based | Full-time | Existing UK right to work essential
Previous candidates need not apply
Want your application considered?
Please follow these steps:
- Write a Cover Letter, outlining why you are the person that keeps everything together.
- Attach your CV - keep it relevant to the job advertisement.
- Email info@sdg2advocacyhub.org attention Chief of Staff, by EOD Friday 7th August.
- All applications will be considered on a rolling basis and interviews offered accordingly.
This isn't a typical Operations Director role
In fact, if you're looking for a large operations team, layers of management, or a corporate environment, this probably isn't the role for you.
We're a small global organisation with a big mission: good food for all. But more importantly, we're a team that genuinely enjoys working together. We laugh a lot. We challenge each other. We care deeply about our work. We celebrate birthdays across time zones. We check in on one another. We bring our whole personalities to work. Some days we’re preparing strategic convenings. Some days we're discussing governance papers. Some days we're planning a chef event in Ghana. Some days we're helping a colleague on the other side of the world who's having a difficult week. We'd like to keep it that way.
Who are we?
The challenge is clear: hunger, food insecurity, and inequitable food systems continue to leave millions behind. Our vision is Good Food For All.
Many of the solutions already exist. Our role is to help them reach the scale needed to transform lives by creating the enabling environment for investment, policy change, stronger partnerships, and collective action. The SDG2 Advocacy Hub is an amplifier of what works, a builder of champions, and a connector of people, ideas, and action. We bring together governments, businesses, civil society, researchers, chefs and citizens to accelerate progress towards Good Food For All, advancing SDG2 through more sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems. If you've heard of the Chefs' Manifesto or Beans is How, you've already seen some of our work.
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Why we're hiring
This is a brand-new role. Not because something has gone wrong. Because we're growing up.
We've reached the point where we need someone who genuinely enjoys building the systems, culture and foundations that allow brilliant people to do brilliant work. Someone who believes operations isn't about saying "no." It's about creating the conditions for everyone else to succeed.
So...who are you?
You're probably the sort of person who...
- Genuinely enjoys making organisations better
- Spots problems before other people notice them
- Loves a good spreadsheet but also loves people
- Can explain governance without making people's eyes glaze over
- Knows when to follow policy and when to help write a better one
- Is calm when everyone else is stressed
- Enjoys creating clarity out of complexity
- Believes kindness and accountability belong together
- Doesn't mind working behind the scenes if it helps the organisation shine.
Most importantly… You enjoy being part of a team.
What you'll actually do
You'll become the operational heartbeat of the Hub. You'll oversee finance, HR, governance, systems, compliance and organisational planning. You'll work closely with our Chief of Staff, CEO, Deputy CEO and Board of Trustees. You'll help us become a stronger charity every year. Sometimes you'll be reviewing budgets. Sometimes you'll be preparing Board papers. Sometimes you'll be helping a colleague navigate an HR issue. Sometimes you'll be quietly fixing something before anyone even notices. Sometimes you’ll be preparing for a team celebration.
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What you'll need
We're less interested in ticking every box than finding the right person. That said, you'll probably bring:
- Significant experience (10+ years) leading operations within a charity, NGO or purpose-driven organisation
- Confidence working with UK charity governance and Charity Commission requirements
- Strong financial management experience
- Experience overseeing HR processes and external providers
- Knowledge of UK employment practices and Employer of Record models
- Confidence working with Trustees and senior leaders
- Excellent judgement, warmth, humility, discretion, curiosity
Things that will make us smile
You enjoy making complicated things simple. You like improving systems. You write clear emails. You ask thoughtful questions. People trust you. You remember birthdays. You don't panic easily. You believe organisational culture deserves as much attention as organisational strategy.
Things that won't matter
Whether your degree is from Oxford or somewhere nobody has heard of. Whether you've worked for a huge organisation. Whether your CV looks perfect and has no gaps. Gaps usually make for an interesting life journey.
Things that will matter
How you make people feel. How you solve problems. How you build trust. How you think. How you help others succeed. How you actively listen and respond.
One final thought...
Operations rarely gets the headlines. Nobody celebrates a risk register. Or a payroll that runs perfectly. Or governance papers arriving on time. But organisations change the world because someone quietly makes all of that happen. If that sounds like the kind of work you love, we'd love to hear from you.
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