Business Operations Manager

At B Lab UK, we help businesses to meet exemplary standards and show the way forward for the whole planet. Naturally, how we run our own operations is absolutely key. That’s where you come in as our Business Operations Manager.

As Business Operations Manager, you will manage the delivery of our annual organisational planning and reporting, which is crucial as we continue to set ourselves ambitious targets. You’ll empower and enable colleagues to perform at their best through streamlined business operations, effective ways of working, and clear and consistent systems and practices. We believe you’ll bring your own unique take on where we can continue to enhance our operations.

B Lab UK is part of the global B Corp movement, with the mission to inspire and enable people to use business as a force for good. Certified B Corps seek to redefine success in business by putting social and environmental impact on a par with profit. There are now over 10,000 B Corps spanning 102 countries and 160+ sectors, with many well-known brands including Patagonia, The Guardian, Giff Gaff and Divine Chocolate. 2,500 of those businesses are in the UK.

As Business Operations Manager, you’ll play a critical role in enhancing, embedding and embodying organisational and operational effectiveness:

• Manage the delivery of our annual organisational business planning process, supporting the Head of Operations and partnering with our leadership team, Heads of department and managers to ensure the planning cycle runs smoothly.
• Embed a structured approach to reporting and monitoring.
• Optimise internal knowledge management systems and communication channels to drive clear, effective and consistent internal communication.
• Facilitate access to robust and clean operational data in order to enable data-driven decisions.
• Advise and guide a programme of measuring ourselves against the B Corp Standards.
• Line manage a small team, providing coaching support to enable growth and development.

The kind of things we’re looking for…

• Expertise in successfully coordinating the delivery of organisational planning processes, including business planning and reporting cycles.
• Ability to line manage a small team, with an inclusive, coaching approach that will upskill others, build trust and bring out the best in everyone.
• Ability to implement reporting and tracking systems to monitor progress against objectives and ensure accountability.
• Ability to advise on internal knowledge management and operational data, in order to drive business decisions, improve performance and raise the bar across the organisation.
• Good understanding of organisational compliance and the ethical use of data.
• Strong communication skills, with an eagerness to collaborate, provide clear, accessible guidance and advice – and go further together.
• Commitment to bringing ambition, integrity, professionalism and balance to your work – as well as to the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Proactive problem-solving, with the ability to plan for risks but choose courage over comfort.
• Ability to learn our digital platforms (familiarity with G-Suite, Slack and Asana helpful).
• Passion about sustainability – especially how business can be a force for good.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK (we are not able to provide visa sponsorship). B Lab believes an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission. We’re not looking for candidates who are “culture fits.” We’re looking for candidates who can expand our culture and challenge business as usual. We strive to foster an environment where all staff can bring themselves to work by their own definition, and we strive to provide all candidates with an equitable and accessible recruitment process.