Head of Operations & Chief of Staff to the CEO

About Artists Studio Company (ASC) Artist’s Studio Company (ASC) is one of London's leading arts charities, celebrating over 30 years of supporting artists, makers and creative communities. Our mission is simple: to enable artists and makers to build sustainable creative careers while making the visual arts more accessible to the public. We achieve this by providing affordable studio space, exhibition opportunities, business support, and creative workspaces across London. Today, ASC manages 13 buildings across six London boroughs, providing workspace for more than 850 artists and makers, alongside coworking facilities and gallery hire at our headquarters in Vauxhall. We are entering an exciting new phase of growth, having recently acquired two additional properties to expand our impact.

The Opportunity

This is far more than an operational management position. It is an opportunity for an experienced operational leader to become the CEO's trusted strategic partner, helping translate vision into action while ensuring the organisation runs efficiently, compliantly and with excellence. We're looking for someone who enjoys seeing the bigger picture whilst never losing sight of the detail. Someone who naturally anticipates challenges before they arise, identifies opportunities for improvement, and creates systems that enable people and projects to thrive. You’ll be equally comfortable leading people, improving processes, managing risk, supporting strategic planning, and representing the organisation when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Act as a strategic partner to the CEO, helping deliver the organisation's long-term vision and objectives.
  • Translate strategic priorities into practical operational plans.
  • Identify emerging risks, challenges and opportunities, developing proactive solutions before issues escalate.
  • Support organisational growth, change management and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Oversee HR and the various charity’s departments including the functions of maintenance, compliance, finance, marketing and lettings.
  • Deputise for the CEO when required, including representing ASC at meetings, presentations and public events.
• Operations & Property Management
  • Lead the day-to-day operations across ASC's portfolio of 13 buildings.
  • Ensure all sites are safe, secure, compliant and operating efficiently.
  • Oversee facilities management, maintenance programmes and operational projects.
  • Continuously review systems and processes to improve efficiency and service delivery.
  • Manage the smooth operation of ASC's Vauxhall headquarters.
• Leadership & People Management
  • Lead, mentor and develop operational and administrative teams.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing working culture.
  • Oversee recruitment, onboarding, induction and HR administration.
  • Champion staff wellbeing, learning and professional development.
  • Support managers in developing effective teams and strong performance.
• Finance & Organisational Performance
  • Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning.
  • Monitor departmental budgets and operational expenditure.
  • Help develop financial controls and organisational reporting.
  • Support informed decision-making through operational analysis and performance monitoring.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance
  • Ensure the organisation maintains the highest standards of governance and compliance.
  • Oversee Health & Safety, safeguarding, data protection, charity law, insurance and regulatory compliance.
  • Lead organisational risk management, business continuity planning and policy development.
  • Ensure compliance systems remain robust, proportionate and forward-looking.
• Projects & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead operational improvement projects across the organisation.
  • Introduce systems and processes that enhance efficiency, resilience and organisational effectiveness.
  • Support charity events and cross-departmental initiatives.
  • Encourage innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement across the organisation.

About You

You are an experienced operational leader who combines strategic thinking with exceptional organisational skills. You enjoy creating structure from complexity, building strong teams and helping organisations grow sustainably. You don't simply respond to problems, you anticipate them. You have the judgement, commercial awareness and operational insight to identify potential issues early, assess risk, and implement practical solutions before challenges impact the organisation. You are calm under pressure, highly organised and confident working across multiple priorities. Most importantly, you enjoy supporting people and enabling others to succeed.

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading organisational operations within a complex environment.
• Proven success managing and developing multidisciplinary teams.
• Outstanding leadership, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to see the wider organisational picture.
• Excellent lateral thinking and problem-solving ability.
• The confidence to make sound decisions using both data and professional judgement.
• A proactive approach to identifying operational risks and implementing preventative solutions.
• Experience improving systems, processes and organisational efficiency.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Strong financial understanding, including budgeting and forecasting.
• Experience supporting senior leadership and working at executive level.
• A collaborative, pragmatic and hands-on leadership style.

Desirable Experience

Experience in one or more of the following would be highly advantageous:

• Charity sector leadership.
• Property, real estate, workspace or facilities management.
• Governance and charity compliance.
• Health & Safety management.
• Safeguarding.
• HR systems and people management.
• Business growth, organisational development or change management.
• Risk management and business continuity planning.
• An interest in the visual arts and creative sector is welcomed but not essential.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Operations Management, Finance, Commerce, Real Estate or a related discipline.

Desirable

• MBA, Executive MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Relevant professional qualifications in operations, project management, HR, property or Health & Safety.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum three years' experience in a senior operational leadership role.

Ideal

• Significant experience (10+ years) as a Head of Operations, Operations Director, Chief Operating Officer or similar senior leadership position within the charity, property, workspace or real estate sectors.

Why Join ASC?

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious and respected arts charity at a pivotal stage of its development. You'll work directly alongside the CEO, playing a key role in shaping the future of an organisation that supports hundreds of artists across London. Your ideas will be valued, your leadership will have real influence, and your work will make a lasting impact on the organisation and on UK culture.