OPERATIONS MANAGER

The Access Foundation is focused on making a real difference to people’s lives by awarding grants to charities which make a valuable and measurable positive impact.  Our grant giving objectives fall into three categories: 

1. to mitigate the digital divide by making computing facilities, support and learning available to disadvantaged and vulnerable people  

1. to advance the charitable causes of the registered charities which are chosen as the "Access Group Company Charities of the Year"  

1. to advance the charitable causes of charities for whom there is a strong emotional connection with a member of staff (e.g. through support they or a close relative have received from the charity) 

The Foundation aims to achieve this via a fund from which it awards grants to other charitable organisations aligned with the principles above. You are a key member or the team that works towards our target to award grants to a total value of +/- £2 million each year.   

The Access Foundation was set up in 2021 following the success and growth enjoyed by The Access Group over the previous decade. While affiliated with The Access Group in terms of its identity, The Access Foundation is a separate organisation, governed by an independent board of trustees and with its own objectives and goals. 

The Access Foundation wants to fund projects and activities that make a real difference to people’s lives in the countries the Access group is active.  To achieve our objectives, we are looking to appoint an experienced Operations Manager to help run and improve our operational processes.  

Job objectives 

• Support the trustees in the due diligence and evaluation of each applicant and facilitate the decision-making process for each application 

• Support the ongoing evaluation process of all successful applicants and ensure agreed measures and outcomes are reported back to the Foundation in a timely manner 

• Manage the external communication of the Foundation’s successes back to stakeholders and supporters, as well as other channels on social media, such as Instagram and LinkedIn 

• Manage the communication with the Access Group and maintain an open channel of communication with the charities team at the Access group 

• Manage the Admin and Grants Assistant and ensure all Admin processes as well as operational processes are running smoothly and make changes where required 

• Manage the use of the accounting package Access Financials to ensure processes are followed and grantees paid on time.  

• Oversee the data collation for and write the impact report 

• Collaborate and work with the trustees and volunteers 

Duties and responsibilities will include 

• Write regular reports to the trustees of new applications, applications in progress and outcomes, inform and advise the trustees to achieve a swift decision on all cases 

• Organise the publicity and communications around each successful grant, including newsfeeds, social media and website updates. 

• Liase with the Access Marketing team to support their own comms 

• Ensure financial accounts are accurate and complete 

• Liase with 3rd parties such as external suppliers and partners ranging from auditors to our financial partners 

• Draft Offer letters for the successful applicants 

• Recruit, Manage and Appraise the Admin and Grant Assistant  

• Attend trustees, volunteers and applications meetings 

• Manage the access controls for volunteers and staff 

• Oversee the financial accounts, approve invoices on our bespoke Finance system and deal with some financial accounting together with our Chair of the board of trustees 

Skills and Experience Required 

• Organised, efficient and reliable with the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneous 

• A minimum of 2 years' experience in a similar role 

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships at all levels from junior to CEO 

• Computer literate with good knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook. 

• The ability to be an ambassador for the Foundation to all external parties and stakeholders 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills 

• Ability to travel to London as required (minimum once every 6 weeks) 

• Sympathy for grassroot charities 

• Experience of the charity sector