Volunteer Fractional COO/Senior Ops Lead - Volunteer

The most important qualities are:

• Strong operational judgement and the ability to see what needs to happen next
• A practical, hands-on approach rather than purely advisory experience
• The confidence to challenge constructively and act as a trusted sounding board to the founder/CEO
• The ability to prioritise, create clarity and maintain momentum across several areas of activity
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills
• Comfort working with a largely volunteer team where people contribute at different levels and have different availability
• A collaborative style combined with the confidence to take ownership when needed
• Pragmatism and an ability to introduce appropriate structure without creating unnecessary process or bureaucracy

We would particularly like to hear from people who have worked as a COO, Operations Director, Chief of Staff, Managing Director, General Manager or in another senior leadership role with broad organisational responsibilities.

Relevant experience could include:

• Working closely with founders, CEOs or senior leadership teams
• Building, scaling or transforming an organisation, business unit or programme
• Managing activity across several functions or workstreams
• Translating strategy into practical execution
• Establishing effective operating rhythms, processes and accountability
• Managing competing priorities with limited resources
• Leading through periods of growth or organisational change
• Working with external partners, advisers and senior stakeholders

Previous experience in a start-up, scale-up, charity, social enterprise or purpose-led organisation would be helpful, but it is not essential. We are more interested in the quality of your experience, judgement and approach than in any particular sector background.

This role could be particularly well suited to someone who is semi-retired, between senior positions, building a portfolio career or simply looking to use their experience in a meaningful way.

You do not need to know the charity sector in depth. What matters most is that you can help us make good decisions, bring greater structure and coordination to the organisation, and turn priorities into action.

Remote

What will you be doing?

We are looking for an experienced senior operator to work closely with our founder/CEO and wider volunteer leadership team in a flexible, fractional volunteer capacity.

The role is intended for someone who can bring structure, judgement, challenge and follow-through to a growing organisation. We are not looking for someone simply to advise from the sidelines. We need someone who is comfortable taking ownership, helping prioritise activity and ensuring that important work continues to move forward.

Depending on your experience, interests and availability, you could help us with:

• Translating strategic priorities into clear actions, ownership and follow-through
• Supporting the founder/CEO with planning, prioritisation and decision-making
• Coordinating activity across technology, fundraising, commercial development, marketing and community growth
• Helping improve communication between volunteers, advisers and external partners
• Identifying operational risks, dependencies and gaps before they become problems
• Introducing practical processes and structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
• Helping to ensure agreed actions and projects are followed through
• Supporting the development of simple management information and reporting
• Acting as a trusted sounding board to the founder/CEO
• Constructively challenging assumptions and helping maintain focus on the organisation's most important priorities
• Taking ownership of selected operational or strategic projects where this fits your experience

The role is deliberately broad and we would shape it around the successful volunteer's strengths. We do not expect one person to cover every aspect listed above.

We would particularly value someone who has operated at COO, Operations Director, Chief of Staff, Managing Director, General Manager or similar senior level. Experience of working with founders, scaling organisations or operating across multiple functions would be particularly useful.

Time to Give Network is a Community Interest Company and much of our organisation is supported by experienced professionals contributing their skills on a voluntary basis. This means the successful person will need to be pragmatic, collaborative and comfortable working in an environment where people have different levels of availability.

For the right individual, this is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping how the organisation develops and to apply substantial commercial and operational experience to a clear social purpose.