Crisis
Services Engagement Officer - Catering & Healthcare
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Services Engagement Officer - Catering & Healthcare
Job: Crisis at Christmas Operations Manager (Parental Leave Cover) - London
About Crisis
Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We are embarking on a 10-year strategy to end homelessness, and we know that homelessness is not inevitable. Together, we can achieve this.
We are now recruiting a fixed-term parental leave cover team to deliver Crisis at Christmas 2026/27. This unique project mobilises a vast volunteering effort to provide warmth, companionship, and vital services in temporary centres across London for people experiencing homelessness.
Role: Fixed-term contract (August/September 2026 – February 2027)
Hours: 35 hours per week, with some evenings, weekends, and bank holiday work required. TOIL (Time Off in Lieu) can be accrued under Crisis’ existing TOIL policy.
Location:
- Three days per week onsite at Crisis at Christmas Operations Centre, Canning Town Warehouse (E16 4ES)
- Additional days and iterative locations across London during the Christmas operational period
About the Role
We are looking for a resilient and passionate Operations Manager to oversee and coordinate our catering, healthcare, and guest welfare teams for Crisis at Christmas 2026/27.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage and grow our volunteer-led catering, healthcare, and guest welfare teams, ensuring high standards of delivery.
- Recruit, train, and oversee teams of volunteers while maintaining operations efficiency.
- Coordinate partnerships and service providers to deliver a diverse range of services safely and effectively.
- Prioritise tasks and work under pressure within tight deadlines.
- Engage professionally with staff, volunteers, and external partners to ensure seamless operations.
This role offers an opportunity to passionately support initiatives that help thousands of people during one of the most challenging times of the year.
About You
We’re seeking someone with:
Essential:
- Proven experience in recruiting or managing volunteers.
- Experience working with volunteers and staff in capacity-building roles (even if partially overlapping).
- Strong communication skills to interact with a variety of stakeholders (from senior managers and volunteers to clients).
- Ability to prioritise tasks and work effectively under stress.
- Customer service experience where high-contact role demands persist.
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Desirable:
- Experience working in or supporting healthcare, homlessness/charity sectors, or other social work settings.
- Experience management of cross-organisational partnerships.
- Knowledge of customer welfare processes.
- Willingness to work across the holidays, including within or close to operational sites.
Please note:
- We make job checks inclusive and stress transferable skills rather than an exact resume match.
- If you have relevant skills in volunteer management, even where it overlaps differently, your experience can highlight relevance.
- If you have direct experience in health & safety, outreach, or campaign facilitation, please refer to these in responses.
Inclusion & Diversity at Crisis
We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where every voice matters.
Our existing values, [Bold, Impactful, Collaborative, Equitable] lie at the heart of our vision to end homelessness across our efforts:
- Nurture a supportive workplace where people feel they can thrive, share their identity, and contribute their perspectives.
- Aim for a truly diverse organisation, inclusive of staff of all backgrounds, and represent our communities.
We particularly welcome applications from individuals with:
- Lived experience of homelessness.
- Backgrounds in marginalised groups.
Why Work at Crisis?
Our Values in Action:
Serve with Boldness. Build Impact. Foster Collaboration. Commit to Equity.
Our team is critical to both large- and small-picture changes:
- Policy reforms to ensure government support.
- Breakthrough services to directly assist individuals.
- Community-building efforts that amplify inclusive, ambitious troubleshooting.
Your Benefits:
- Competitive salary (our pay structure is fixed to counter inequity; no offer negations at this stage).
- ** Interest-free department loans**, including benefits like:
- Travel season ticket for commuting.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
- One-off deposit funds to secure tenancy (for those that need support).
- Pension scheme with 8.5% employer match.
- 28 Tagen/jahr Urlaub (pro rata; increasing to 31 days over service), with option of additional paid days (up to 10).
- Enhanced parental leave (allowing for maternity, paternity, shared parental + adoption leave at generous pay rates).
- Your wellbeing supports (flexible wellbeing leave available).
- professional education support (ongoing widening that includes conference paid attendance and advancement ideas).
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Additional Leadership Pillars:
- Learning and Training Access to build your skills proactively.
- Participation at unity level volunteer networks to connect the community meads, spot advocacy strategies, and support self-identity.
How to Apply
Closing Date: 12 July 2026 (23:59 hours).
Next Steps:
- Click “Apply Now”
- No CVs required submit your: details; screening questions to complete.
- Applications scored anonymously, assessed across competencies (two people per application).
Interview Week: Wed, 22 July 2026 Location: Crisis at Christmas HQ, Canning Town Warehouse (E16 4ES).
AI Applications Note:
We recognize modern technology’s role: should you engage tools to weave clarity into your text—do so purposefully. Ensure each response carries your own rationality and creative touch.
Accessibility Adjustments
To ensure your application is fully inclusive and accessible, please contact jobs@crisis.org.uk if you need further technical or resources support.
More Information:
- Crisis at Work entry and charity website: crisis.org.uk/about-us
- Hear from the community
- Watch insights at: youtube.com/user/crisishomelessness
- Or follow our activities via media platforms (by referencing handle).
Regulated Charities:
- England and Wales: SC0400947
- Scotland: 1082947
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