Operations Assistant

Every 6 minutes someone learns that they are losing their sight. Every five hours, a baby is born with sight problems. In these moments, two profound questions emerge:

• Can this be stopped?

• How do I (or my child) live this life?

The merger of Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation on 1st April 2023 will enable us to address both questions. By combining our strengths and expertise we’ll be the only significant national funder with the efficiency, capability, and capacity to increase investment in medical research and social improvement. Together we can mitigate both the prevalence and impact of sight loss.

We are now looking for experienced, committed, and creative individuals to join our dynamic team as we launch a new five-year strategy. If you want to be part of something impactful, we’d love to hear from you.

The Operations Assistant will play a crucial role in the future growth of our newly merged charity and the impact that we can achieve through partnership for people with sight loss.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an enthusiastic professional willing and able to be hands on with a good eye for detail, as is necessary in a small organisation, alongside working strategically with the leadership team. You will be used to balancing numerous demands and deadlines, and be committed to ensuring the Operations function works effectively across the charity.

Responsible to

HR & Operations Manager

Direct reports

None

Working hours and contract

Permanent, full time (35 hours per week). Depending on experience, we will consider flexible arrangements including part time and flexible hours.

Salary

London Living Wage (£23,933 if full time)

Location

Hybrid working. 1-2 days per week in Central London, near Aldgate. 1 day per week in retail shops.

Role Responsibilities:

· Supporting the provision of a great Operations service to the business

· Support our Operations initiatives, processes and procedures

· Support contract management with external suppliers relating to estates, facilities and ICT

· Help ensure that operations at head office and in our shops are well maintained and compliant with governmental, environmental and health & safety standards

· Help improve the physical working environment at head office and the shops

· Support relevant areas relating to policy (e.g. health & safety)

· Help nurture a positive working environment

· Support on facilities and other related projects as required

Person specification:

Skills, knowledge & experience

Essential

· Ability to manage high volumes of varied work and operate to tight deadlines

· Experience of building relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders

· Enthusiastic, friendly and engaging

· Solutions-focused and willing to roll-up sleeves in a small team

· An excellent communicator, able to present complex information clearly in oral and written form

· Excellent organisation and planning skills

· Positive, resilient and supportive of others

· Enjoy working at a fast pace, on own initiative to tight deadlines

· Comfortable managing multiple competing priorities

· A willingness and ability to learn new skills, a self starter with a pro-active attitude

· ‘Can do’ attitude and a sense of humour

Desirable

· Experience of office or facilities management

· Degree-level education or equivalent.

Flexibility

· The role description is a general outline of duties and responsibilities and may be amended as the newly merged charity develops and the role grows. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Application Instructions

We value the authenticity and individuality of our applicants and believe that your CV and cover letter should reflect your unique skills, experiences, and personality. Therefore, please refrain from using AI tools, including ChatGPT, to produce your application materials. Applications drafted with the assistance of AI will be automatically rejected.

Accessibility

Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements. If you are unfamiliar with MS Teams and would like to do a tech run-through before the interview, we can also coordinate that.