Operations officer Farms for City Children

Employer: FARMS FOR CITY CHILDREN 
Posted: 11 January 2013 
Location: Exeter, Devon 
Industry: Charities - Animal , Charities - Children , Charities - Environment , Education - Vocational , Education - Schools 
Level: Graduate 
Contract: Permanent 
Hours: Full Time 
Salary: £28,000

A key full time role in a team of six people who are responsible for facilitating and co-ordinating the smooth running of the charity. The team is based at our head office in central Exeter and the other members are the chief executive, finance officer, fundraiser, assistant fundraiser and administrator. The operations officer reports to the chief executive and liaises regularly with the three farms. The post holder must have a full UK driving licence and be prepared to drive to the farms when required.

Farms for City Children is a registered charity aiming to enrich the lives and develop the potential of children from towns and cities by giving them the chance to spend a week working together in the heart of the countryside on a real farm. The charity was founded in 1976 by children’s writer Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare and now operates at three farm centres: Nethercott in Devon, Wick Court in Gloucestershire and Treginnis on the Pembrokeshire coast.

This post is subject to a salary review on successful completion of a six-month probationary period. The ideal candidate will have the capacity to grow into the job, supporting and standing in for the Chief Executive when necessary.

Main responsibilities

The role involves overview and co-ordination of various key operations, including:

• Health and safety on the farms and at head office: risk assessment, compliance, training needs and documentation
• Dissemination and tracking of advance health and safety information for schools
• Prioritising and scheduling the upkeep and development of our three historic farm properties
• Sourcing and arranging staff training.
• The charity’s technological and IT requirements (supported by our IT consultant)
• Standardising management information from the farms
• Central record of online CRB checks
• Issuing employment contracts
• Minute taking at quarterly Board meetings and at termly senior management team meetings

Person specification

The ideal candidate for the new role will demonstrate in their application that they can bring the following skills and attributes to the role:

• A systematic thinker, organised and resourceful, with good attention to detail
• Good communication skills and the ability to work well as part of a small team
• Able to think strategically and analyse the bigger picture
• Excellent administrative skills, including word-processing and good general IT skills
• The capability to prioritise and manage a diverse workload
• A sympathy for the aims and objectives of Farms for City Children

Experience of the following is desirable:

• Property management, lettings, development, surveying
• Health and safety management and/or supervision
• HR administration
• Training procurement
• Supervision of IT needs (software and hardware) and online CRM systems

Closing date for applications: Monday 4th February.