Operations & Development Manager

To read and print a Google doc version of the job description see here.

Salary: £42,197 per year (pro-rata: approx. £17,071 for 16 hrs/week)
Employment Type: Part-time, Permanent (16 hours per week)
Location: Remote, with monthly in-person meetings in Sussex
Reports to: Managing Director

About Us

Circle of Life Rediscovery (CLR) is a Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to delivering nature-based programmes, training, and events. We work across funded initiatives and private revenue-generating activities to promote nature-based learning, Forest School training, and well-being courses for the health sector.

What we do:

• Deliver High-Quality Training and Programmes: Provide innovative, evidence-based training and professional development for educators, practitioners, and health professionals.
• Build Partnerships and Networks: Collaborate with schools, healthcare providers, local authorities, and other organisations to expand the reach and impact of nature-based solutions.
• Innovate and Inspire: Continually evolve the CIC’s programmes and approaches to remain at the forefront of nature-based learning and health interventions.
• Promote Equitable Access to Nature: Ensure opportunities for all individuals, regardless of background, to connect with and benefit from nature.
• Transform Educational & Health Practices: Integrate outdoor and nature-based approaches into mainstream education & health to foster regeneration, resilience, and wellbeing for people and our planet.
• Support Community Wellbeing: Develop programmes that work with nature to address mental health and physical wellbeing for diverse communities.
• Advocate for Systemic Change: Influence policy and practice by demonstrating the value of nature in education and health, supported by robust research and case studies.
• Generate Social Impact: Measure and communicate the social, educational, and health benefits of the CIC’s work to stakeholders and funders.

About the Role

We are seeking an Operations & Development Manager to play a pivotal role in ensuring our financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and strategic growth. This newly created role will shape the future of CLR, working closely with the Managing Director to drive impact and innovation. You will implement inspiring new training, events, programmes that support scalable growth and enhance our mission and strategic goals.

This is a flexible, hands-on leadership position, requiring both strategic thinking and practical implementation. Given the part-time nature of the role, we anticipate that priorities may evolve, and we encourage applicants to bring efficiency, focus, and creative problem-solving to make the best use of time.

Our Values In Action:

At CLR, our core values guide everything we do. In this role, these values translate into:

• Reliability: Ensuring consistent and high-quality programme delivery, meeting deadlines, and maintaining clear, open communication with all stakeholders.
• Authenticity: Bringing genuine passion for nature-based education and staying true to our mission, ensuring integrity in all decisions and interactions.
• Inclusivity: Designing and delivering programmes that are accessible to all, ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for participants from diverse backgrounds.
• Care for the Land: Advocating for sustainability, integrating environmentally responsible practices into operations, and fostering a deep respect for nature.
• Reciprocity: Building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with partners, participants, and the community, ensuring our work supports and uplifts others.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Oversight

• Ensure efficient day-to-day operations, compliance with relevant regulations, and best practices.
• Oversee a small freelance workforce, ensuring effective resource allocation.
• Support marketing efforts by working with marketing personnel or contractors to promote CLR’s programmes and services (if required).
• Maintain and improve internal systems and processes to support scalable growth.

Financial Management & Income Generation

• Manage budgets, monitor financial performance, and ensure accurate reporting.
• Own and implement an income generation strategy, balancing funded projects with private revenue streams.
• Identify new funding opportunities and write compelling proposals to secure grants and funding.

Business Development & Strategy

• Identify and develop new growth opportunities, including partnerships, funding sources, and revenue-generating programmes.
• Monitor operational performance and implement improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Stay updated on policy and sector developments in nature-based learning and mental health to inform CLR’s strategy.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director to refine and execute CLR’s strategic goals.

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Build and maintain relationships with funders, partners, participants, and the wider community.
• Provide timely reports and insights to the Board and Managing Director, ensuring transparency.
• Ensure risk management, legal compliance, and governance policies are effectively implemented.

Who This Role Would Suit

✅ Highly organised, methodical, and able to manage multiple priorities efficiently.
✅ Comfortable working independently and making decisions in a fast-paced, small team
        environment.
✅ Experienced in developing and managing programmes, budgets, and partnerships.
✅  Passionate about nature-based learning, education, and health.

🚫 This role may not suit someone who:
❌ Prefers a highly structured, office-based role with a large team.
❌ Needs close supervision and frequent direction.
❌ Finds managing multiple projects at once overwhelming.

Employment Type & Scope

• Part-time (16 hours per week) on PAYE basis. Working hours can be flexible, but regular availability is required.
• Remote working, with a requirement to attend in-person meetings in Sussex once a month.
• Annual leave entitlement based on pro-rata of full-time allocation.
• Statutory pension contributions.
• Sick pay and other statutory employee benefits.

Given this role is part-time (16 hours per week), we acknowledge that the full scope of responsibilities may be adjusted based on priorities. We seek an individual who can efficiently focus on high-impact areas, ensuring the best use of available time.

💡 This role is available either as an employed position (£42,679 PAYE) or on a self-employed/contractor basis. Contractors must operate as a genuine business and will be responsible for their own tax and National Insurance. The day rate will be negotiated based on experience and deliverables.

How to Apply

If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your CV and a covering letter to [email protected] outlining your experience and how you can contribute to Circle of Life Rediscovery’s mission.

To apply, please answer these three questions in your cover letter:

1. Why do you want to work with Circle of Life Rediscovery, and how do our values align with your own?

2. Can you share an example of a time when you successfully managed multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment?

3. What experience do you have in income generation, and how would you approach creating new revenue streams for CLR?

📌 Closing Date: Tuesday, 25th March
📌 First Interviews (Remote): 1st-4th April
📌 Second Interviews (In-person in Lewes): 22nd – 24th April
📌 Start Date: End May – End June 2025

We understand that candidates may not meet 100% of the criteria. If you feel you meet at least 80% of the skills and expertise required for this role and align with our values, we strongly encourage you to apply. 

We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.