WATIF Community Trust
West Calder, West Lothian
Location: Based at Loanhead Farm, West Calder. EH55 8LN Work will take place across a variety of settings, throughout the WATIF Community Development Trust area Reports to: Board of Trustees Hours of employment: Full time. Flexible working hours with some evening and weekend working Own transport is essential as there is no public transport nearby Salary: £36,000 - £40,000. Overview The Operational Manager will be responsible for delivering the strategic direction of the Board of Trustees for the Charity. The key priorities will be engagement with the WATIF community, cultivating strategic partnerships along with the development and delivery of a clear learning and development strategy. The strategy must support future organisational growth and unlock revenue generation opportunities, including fund raising, partnerships and social enterprise models. The Operational Manager will provide strong team leadership, operational excellence and community engagement through effective engagement of the WATIF staff team, ensuring the work remains locally rooted and sustainable. The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication skills, skilled operational planning experience and an in-depth knowledge of grant funding together with knowledge and experience of the charity sector. The role involves working closely with the Project Manager of Loanhead Farm and other staff in managing facilities, coordinating logistics for events, building relationships with funders and community organisations. The area covers the villages of Woolfords, Auchengray, and Tarbrax - a trio of small, historically linked villages along with several small settlements in South Lanarkshire, nestled amidst the farms and forestry near the Pentland Hills and offering rural life with community hubs in the Villages, comprising a population of around 819 people. Essential Experience and Skills Proven senior leadership experience in a UK charity, community organisation, or social enterprise Excellent communication, relationship-building and partnership skills Deep understanding of community-led principles and grassroots engagement Strong track record of designing and implementing organisational learning and development strategies Demonstrated experience in successful fundraising, income generation or business development Experience of leading teams through change, growth or capacity-building processes Proven experience of engagement with a diverse and close-knit community in a rural area. Desirable Familiarity with social enterprise models and/or community business development Experience in leading communications with community, partners and funding stakeholders Experience of tech enabled learning initiatives. MS 365, Excel, Social Media, Xero Values and Initiatives Passionate about equity, community empowerment, and inclusive practice Ability to inspire, motivate and mobilize teams and community Passion for people development and social impact Strong emotional intelligence and commitment to wellbeing Confidence in working with diverse communities, including those experiencing disadvantage Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Organisational Growth Lead the development and implementation, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, of a future focussed strategy that reflects community needs and organisational ambitions Identify and pursue new opportunities for sustainable income generation, innovation and community impact Represent the organisation with key stakeholders, partners, and media, representing its values and vision to build visibility and influence. Learning and Development for Organisational and Revenue Generating Growth Design and implement a charity wide learning and development strategy for future growth and sustainability for the organisation's portfolio of services and activities, ensuring team growth, capability and succession planning Establish programs that upskill staff and support innovative service delivery and operational improvement and efficiency Identify skills gaps and create internal pathways for staff, volunteers and community leaders to grow Revenue Generation and Fundraising Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including community fundraising, major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships and earned income opportunities Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, foundations, sponsors and other funding bodies Ensure effective operational systems, budget management, compliance and risk oversight Explore and develop income-generating opportunities, including social enterprise and commissioned services Team Management and Organisational Culture Inspire, lead and support a skilled and passionate staff team, promoting wellbeing, development and inclusive practice Foster a collaborative and innovative community driven and values based organisational culture Ensure that all HR policies, recruitment, performance requirements are current and adhered to Recruit, coordinate and manage volunteers to the organisation both at Loanhead and throughout the WATIF area Governance and Compliance Work closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure effective governance, reporting and strategic oversight Ensure full compliance with all legal, regulatory and contractual obligations including Charity Commission guidance Lead on safeguarding, health and safety, risk management, and organisational policy development
Location: Based at Loanhead Farm, West Calder. EH55 8LN Work will take place across a variety of settings, throughout the WATIF Community Development Trust area Reports to: Board of Trustees Hours of employment: Full time. Flexible working hours with some evening and weekend working Own transport is essential as there is no public transport nearby Salary: £36,000 - £40,000. Overview The Operational Manager will be responsible for delivering the strategic direction of the Board of Trustees for the Charity. The key priorities will be engagement with the WATIF community, cultivating strategic partnerships along with the development and delivery of a clear learning and development strategy. The strategy must support future organisational growth and unlock revenue generation opportunities, including fund raising, partnerships and social enterprise models. The Operational Manager will provide strong team leadership, operational excellence and community engagement through effective engagement of the WATIF staff team, ensuring the work remains locally rooted and sustainable. The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication skills, skilled operational planning experience and an in-depth knowledge of grant funding together with knowledge and experience of the charity sector. The role involves working closely with the Project Manager of Loanhead Farm and other staff in managing facilities, coordinating logistics for events, building relationships with funders and community organisations. The area covers the villages of Woolfords, Auchengray, and Tarbrax - a trio of small, historically linked villages along with several small settlements in South Lanarkshire, nestled amidst the farms and forestry near the Pentland Hills and offering rural life with community hubs in the Villages, comprising a population of around 819 people. Essential Experience and Skills Proven senior leadership experience in a UK charity, community organisation, or social enterprise Excellent communication, relationship-building and partnership skills Deep understanding of community-led principles and grassroots engagement Strong track record of designing and implementing organisational learning and development strategies Demonstrated experience in successful fundraising, income generation or business development Experience of leading teams through change, growth or capacity-building processes Proven experience of engagement with a diverse and close-knit community in a rural area. Desirable Familiarity with social enterprise models and/or community business development Experience in leading communications with community, partners and funding stakeholders Experience of tech enabled learning initiatives. MS 365, Excel, Social Media, Xero Values and Initiatives Passionate about equity, community empowerment, and inclusive practice Ability to inspire, motivate and mobilize teams and community Passion for people development and social impact Strong emotional intelligence and commitment to wellbeing Confidence in working with diverse communities, including those experiencing disadvantage Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Organisational Growth Lead the development and implementation, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, of a future focussed strategy that reflects community needs and organisational ambitions Identify and pursue new opportunities for sustainable income generation, innovation and community impact Represent the organisation with key stakeholders, partners, and media, representing its values and vision to build visibility and influence. Learning and Development for Organisational and Revenue Generating Growth Design and implement a charity wide learning and development strategy for future growth and sustainability for the organisation's portfolio of services and activities, ensuring team growth, capability and succession planning Establish programs that upskill staff and support innovative service delivery and operational improvement and efficiency Identify skills gaps and create internal pathways for staff, volunteers and community leaders to grow Revenue Generation and Fundraising Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including community fundraising, major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships and earned income opportunities Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, foundations, sponsors and other funding bodies Ensure effective operational systems, budget management, compliance and risk oversight Explore and develop income-generating opportunities, including social enterprise and commissioned services Team Management and Organisational Culture Inspire, lead and support a skilled and passionate staff team, promoting wellbeing, development and inclusive practice Foster a collaborative and innovative community driven and values based organisational culture Ensure that all HR policies, recruitment, performance requirements are current and adhered to Recruit, coordinate and manage volunteers to the organisation both at Loanhead and throughout the WATIF area Governance and Compliance Work closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure effective governance, reporting and strategic oversight Ensure full compliance with all legal, regulatory and contractual obligations including Charity Commission guidance Lead on safeguarding, health and safety, risk management, and organisational policy development