Operations Director

The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (GA) is the central charity that supports its member congregations, ministers and societies in England, Scotland and Wales.

Its purpose is to promote free and inquiring religion, through inclusive, free‑thinking communities that draw on wisdom from all sources, without doctrine or dogma.

Our congregations are autonomous and locally led; the GA is not a hierarchical leadership body, but one that supports and leads alongside our members.

As Britain’s religious culture and context has changed, so have Unitarian communities, and the GA is in a process of adapting to best meet these changing needs.

Role Purpose

This new role serves as the operational engine to strengthen the organisation at a time of change, driving governance, systems and data as strategic enablers.

The Operations Director works closely with the Chief Officer to lead a transition to a future‑fit organisation, supporting the organisation’s centenary and its impact on members.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Chief Officer to shape strategy, translate priorities into action, and build the systems that make us resilient.
• Serve as Company Secretary, stewarding the transition to a CIO and ensuring legal and regulatory obligations are met with confidence.
• Ensure financial management arrangements deliver accurate, timely information and sound controls; work with the Honorary Treasurer and external accountants on budgeting, fund oversight, audit support, escalating risks and holding providers to account.
• Lead information infrastructure, oversee CRM migration, and champion a culture of good data practice—including thoughtful use of AI where beneficial.
• Line‑manage two team members and keep HR and supplier relationships running smoothly, with care and clarity.
• Nurture collaborative relationships with key Unitarian bodies from an operational perspective, providing governance support for affiliated organisations.
• Take operational ownership of the Annual Meeting and ensure the infrastructure behind communications is solid and reliable.

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership experience in a purpose‑led or membership organisation, with a track record of building capacity through periods of organisational change.
• Experience leading complex organisational change and systems transformation, including the people dimensions of change.
• Financial literacy sufficient to own management accounts, lead budgeting, and act as a critical friend to trustees on financial governance; comfortable interrogating financial information and holding external providers to account (accountancy qualification not required).
• Experience managing implementation or significant improvement of CRM, financial management or other organisational systems, including managing migration risk.
• Experience of people management and good HR/employment practice.
• Substantial experience of charity governance and compliance, with solid working knowledge of UK charity law and Charity Commission requirements.
• Company secretarial experience.
• Desirable: Experience of property or building management, including leases, tenancy relationships, and facilities oversight.
• Desirable: Experience of a CIO conversion or similar legal restructuring of a charity.
• Desirable: Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
• Desirable: Experience working in a faith, membership or congregational context.

You don’t need to be Unitarian or a person of faith to apply. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and beliefs who are drawn to work within a values‑led organisation.

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