Take ownership of our rapidly expanding Northern operations as Operations Manager, ensuring excellence across our growing portfolio of allotment sites and garage estates while building the systems and team that will support our next phase of growth.Gosen is at an exciting inflection point. We've proven our model works - our sites consistently outperform industry standards, our local authority partners are delighted, and demand for our services is growing faster than we can currently scale. What we need now is operational excellence: robust systems, consistent standards, and strong leadership that can maintain quality as we grow.This is a role for someone who brings order to complexity, who can balance the competing demands of multiple sites and stakeholders, and who understands that great operations aren't about rigid processes - they're about empowering good people to do great work. You'll oversee 15-20 sites across the North, manage a team of site coordinators and supervisors, and be responsible for ensuring every site delivers the high standards that define Gosen.We're looking for an operator, not an administrator. Someone who's comfortable getting their hands dirty when needed, who leads from the front, and who earns respect through competence and integrity rather than hierarchy. You'll need to be equally comfortable discussing soil pH with an allotment holder, reviewing financial performance with council partners, and coaching a site coordinator through a difficult tenant situation.Our culture values pragmatism over perfection. We want people who make things happen, who solve problems creatively, and who understand that community land management requires both professional standards and human empathy. We move quickly, we adapt to circumstances, and we trust our team to make good decisions without micromanagement.If you thrive in dynamic environments, enjoy the variety of managing diverse sites and people, and want to be part of building something significant while making tangible community impact, this role offers real responsibility, genuine autonomy, and excellent growth potential as we expand.
Responsibilities
- Oversee day-to-day operations across 15-20 allotment and garage estate sites in the Northern region
- Lead, mentor, and develop team of 6-8 site coordinators, supervisors, and support staff
- Ensure consistent operational standards, compliance, and performance across all sites
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators including occupancy rates, tenant satisfaction, maintenance standards, and financial performance
- Manage relationships with local authority partners across the region, serving as primary operational contact
- Coordinate response to urgent issues, complaints, and challenges with appropriate escalation and resolution
- Develop and implement operational systems, processes, and best practices that can scale with growth
- Oversee maintenance programs ensuring sites are well-maintained, safe, and compliant with all regulations
- Manage regional operational budget, controlling costs while maintaining quality standards
- Conduct regular site visits, inspections, and quality assurance checks across portfolio
- Support new site onboarding, ensuring smooth transitions from acquisition to operational management
- Identify operational improvements and efficiency opportunities, implementing solutions that enhance service delivery
- Handle escalated tenant issues and disputes with professionalism and fairness
- Coordinate with central support functions including finance, HR, and business development
- Ensure health and safety compliance across all sites with proactive risk management
- Contribute to operational strategy and help shape how we scale our delivery model
- Build strong regional presence representing Gosen with professionalism and integrity
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of operational team members
Requirements
- Minimum 5 years experience in multi-site operations management, ideally in property, facilities, or community services
- Proven track record of managing teams and delivering consistent performance across multiple locations
- Strong leadership skills with ability to motivate, develop, and hold team members accountable
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and pragmatic approach to operational challenges
- Experience managing relationships with clients, partners, or stakeholders with high service expectations
- Strong commercial awareness with budget management experience
- Outstanding organizational skills with ability to prioritize across competing demands
- Confident communicator able to engage effectively with diverse audiences from plot holders to council executives
- Systems-oriented mindset with experience implementing processes that improve efficiency and consistency
- Resilient and calm under pressure with ability to handle multiple urgent issues simultaneously
- Full UK driving license - extensive regional travel required (40-50% of time)
- Comfortable working autonomously with minimal supervision while keeping leadership informed
- Experience with KPI tracking, performance reporting, and data-driven decision making
- Understanding of UK health and safety regulations and compliance requirements
- Proficiency with technology including operations management software, Microsoft Office, and digital communication tools
- Hands-on approach - willing to roll up sleeves and get involved when needed
- Values alignment with Gosen's commitment to community benefit and social responsibility
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