Head of Operations

About Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the rivers of the Bristol Avon catchment for people and wildlife.

We work across urban and rural landscapes to deliver practical river restoration, natural flood management, climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and community engagement projects at a catchment scale. Our work ranges from removing barriers to fish migration and restoring river habitat, through to supporting regenerative farming, creating wetlands and woodlands, and engaging communities in citizen science and environmental action.

As the Trust continues to grow in scale, ambition and complexity, we are seeking an experienced and highly organised Head of Operations to help strengthen our organisational systems, support our team and enable the effective delivery of our strategic vision.

The Role

Job Title: Head of Operations
Location: Hybrid working – with regular attendance across BART offices, project sites and meetings within the Bristol Avon catchment.
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Flexible working arrangements considered.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Operations will play a central leadership role within Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, ensuring the organisation operates safely, effectively, efficiently and sustainably as it continues to grow.

This is a strategic and hands-on operational role overseeing organisational systems, support governance, HR, compliance, health & safety, programme management support and internal operations.

Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will help manage the organisations systems and culture needed to support high-quality delivery across a growing environmental charity.

The role will suit someone who thrives in dynamic organisations, enjoys problem solving and optimising systems, understanding and making sense of complexity, and is motivated by supporting teams to deliver meaningful impact and achieving the organisations goals.

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership & Operations

• Lead and oversee day-to-day organisational operations across the Trust
• Develop and improve internal systems, processes and operational procedures
• Support organisational planning and delivery against BART’s strategic objectives
• Work closely with the CEO and senior managers to support organisational growth and resilience
• Contribute to organisational decision-making and leadership culture

People & HR Management

• Oversee HR systems, policies and procedures
• Support recruitment, onboarding and staff development processes
• Help foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
• Support managers with operational people-management matters
• Coordinate staff wellbeing and professional development initiatives
• Manage a Project Management Office

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with charity, company and employment regulations
• Support the CEO with governance processes, trustee reporting and organisational policies
• Oversee organisational risk management systems
• Ensure appropriate insurance, contracts and compliance frameworks are in place

· Lead on operational health & safety systems and organisational compliance

Organisational Systems

• Support organisational budgeting and financial monitoring alongside the finance and Senior Leadership team
• Oversee operational procurement and contract management systems
• Support implementation and optimisation of organisational systems, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and IT systems including cyber security
• Improve internal reporting and programme coordination systems

Programme & Delivery Support

• Support operational coordination across BART programmes and projects
• Help ensure teams are appropriately resourced and supported
• Improve organisational project management systems and workflows
• Support efficient collaboration across delivery teams

· Contribute to organisational development opportunities and partnerships

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant experience in operational management, organisational leadership or business management
• Experience developing and improving organisational systems and processes
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance and organisational risk management
• Experience supporting HR and people-management processes
• Excellent organisational and project management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work strategically while also being comfortable with operational detail
• Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and organisational software systems

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within the environmental, charity or public sector
• Knowledge of charity governance and funding environments
• Experience supporting organisational growth and change management
• Familiarity with CRM systems and operational databases
• Understanding of health & safety systems within field-based organisations

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Is highly organised, proactive and solutions-focused
• Enjoys enabling others to succeed
• Can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery
• Is calm and adaptable in a growing organisation
• Has strong emotional intelligence and leadership skills
• Wants to help small organisations grow and deliver its goal of restoring rivers, landscapes and communities

Why Join BART?

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of one of the UK’s growing rivers trusts at a pivotal stage in its development.

You’ll join a passionate and ambitious team delivering meaningful environmental change across the Bristol Avon catchment, while helping build the organisational foundations needed for long-term impact.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas close
• Flexible and hybrid working
• 9% Employer pension contribution
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Employee wellbeing support
• Opportunity to shape a growing organisation with real environmental impact

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported.

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities, particularly those underrepresented within the environmental sector.

How to Apply

Please send:

• A CV
• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role

to:

Simon Hunter
Chief Executive Officer
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Email: info@bristolavonriverstrust.org

Please include “Head of Operations Application” in the subject line.

Further Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Simon Hunter
Chief Executive Officer
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Email: [email protected]

To learn more about our work, visit:

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust