Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Person specification

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who can run the day-to-day operations of the centre. Our charity is restructuring, and we have a new development plan aimed at improving and developing our offer.  This development plan includes growing a new team of instructors, improving our activity delivery, improving the quality of our cleaning and grounds maintenance, improving our catering offer, as well as refurbishing our current buildings and toilets.  You will be competent to manage the activity team, sales staff, estate staff, cleaning team, catering team and our volunteer events team. Your role is all about the here and now, the day to day.  Your primary focus will be ensuring that our guests enjoy their stay from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. You will manage the staffing to ensure that we always have the right number of people working for the day’s level of business. You will build in contingency to cope with holidays and sickness. You’ll also be willing to help out instructing when required.  You will have amazing people management skills,  fantastic customer service and you will also be able to deliver high quality events.  Overall, you will deliver the day to day experience as directed by the Management and Finance Board.

Overview

This job is about ensuring that our visitors all have a great experience at Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre. With an absolute focus on how people experience our centre, the post holder will lead the operational staff in delivering our offer.  

Role Description

Responsible to: Chairman of the Trustees

Base location: Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre, Cannock Wood, WS15 4JJ

Term: Permanent

Salary: Up to £34,000 per year – 40 hours per week

Working days: 5 days from 7 including at least every other weekend and some evenings.

On Call: At least one night in 7.

Line management responsibility:  Deputy Operations Manager, Senior Instructors, Activity Apprentices, International Volunteers, Catering Manager, Housekeeper, Cleaner, Maintenance Officer, Parks Officer, Sales Assistant.

Key tasks

• Support the line management of a team of up to 25 staff, and up to 20 part time volunteers.  
• Support the delivery of residential experiences, activities, catering and cleaning.
• Working with the Chair of Trustees to, lead the way to ensure that all visitors to the centre have an amazing experience of the Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre product.
• Manage and provide on-call duty management support as part of a rota.
• Develop and implement efficient and effective daily operating processes, ensuring your team members have the information that they need to be great at their roles.   
• Other tasks as required to ensure that every visitor has a safe and memorable experience.
• Feedback to the Management and Finance board with quarterly reports, including suggestions of improvements.

Who we are looking for

This role is to lead operational delivery at the centre. You will make our centre work day to day. You’ll be excellent at planning and coordinating. You will lead by example, not afraid to get your hands dirty if needed. This person knows what’s happening on site all of the time and instinctively leads the teams through their day to ensure all visitors have a memorable visit. You will have an eye for detail and be good at talking to people to diffuse and fix any challenges that occur. You will develop a team, working hard to give as many young people as possible an opportunity to have an adventure with us. We are a progressive centre and you will always be keen to improve everything we do.  You will have a Deputy Operations Manager, 2 Senior instructors and a Catering Manager to help you.

Maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders who are all involved in operating the centre will be key to success.

Experience

• Proven competence in managing people in an operational setting.
• Understanding of the value and importance of informal education; especially in the outdoors.
• Experience in managing the safety of outdoor adventurous activities.
• Experience managing support services such as maintenance, catering and cleaning and competence to carry our health and safety checks.
• Experience of problem solving in a customer service focussed environment.
• Organised and comfortable with leading change.
• Ability to build effective relationships with visitors, volunteers and staff.
• IT literate and comfortable with complex spreadsheets and reports.
• Comfortable working in reception dealing with customers’ bookings.
• Be able to take responsibility for financial management of several expenditure budgets.
• Ability to work logically in a measured and structured manner.
• Be able to create and deliver large events for up to 2000 people.

Values and personal qualities

• A self-aware, positive and approachable leader.

• An effective leader who is assertive, energetic and determined.

• An excellent role model who promotes high standards of integrity, and commands trust and confidence from others.

• Able to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of technical competency areas and take a proactive approach to self-development and performance improvement.

• Hold a qualification in all of the following:
• ERCA, CWI or RCI Qualification – Essential
• PSI qualification – Essential
• A current 16 hour first aid certificate – Essential
• PPE checking qualification – Desirable

The benefits

Salary: Negotiable up to £34,000 per year – 40 hours per week

Holiday entitlement: 28 days per year (includes bank holidays).

The Trust has a pension plan with Nest.

Uniform: a comprehensive uniform package is available free of charge.

Accommodation: Accommodation may be available as part of the package depending on your needs.  A 3 bedroom detached house or a 2 bedroom cottage. This is charged for through your salary at a discounted rent plus all bills.

A generous commitment to continuing professional development.

How to apply

Please submit an application form and a cover letter to apply for the role. Please email this to centremanager@beaudesert.org.uk If you’re unable to use email, please post your application to: centre manager, The Beaudesert Trust, Beaudesert Outdoor activity Centre, Cannock Wood, Staffordshire, WS15 4JJ

Download the application form here, or email centremanager@beaudesert.org.uk for a copy.

Application-Form-and-Diversity-Form

If you would like an informal chat about the role to find out more, please call 01543 682278 or email Centremanager@beaudesert.org.uk  

Closing date Sunday 10^th November 2024 and the interviews will be held on Sunday 24^th   November 2024 with a start date of early January 2025 anticipated.