Operation Lead in Peterborough

We are Hestia. We make a difference.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Team Manager to play a pivotal role in our Domestic Abuse Service in Tower Hamlets

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

Our family women refuge\'s offer holistic support in order to empower women and their children who have experienced trauma to lead their recovery and gain the skills and confidence to move on safely. The Team Manager is responsible for the operational running and strategic direction of the refuge. Providing line management and leadership to the staff team, leading on contract and compliance and the safety, security and maintenance of the refuge, ensuring that the building aligns with our PIPE (Psychologically Informed Physical Environment) building standards and rental income is secured.

The Team Manager plays a central role in ensuring the refuge is a safe, trauma-informed, and welcoming space for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. They promote an inclusive, anti-racist, and feminist approach while upholding Hestia\'s values of respect, dedication, and collaboration. Core responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day service delivery, ensuring compliance with safeguarding protocols, and facilitating the safe transition of service users. The manager ensures the team delivers high-quality, person-centred support, particularly for individuals with complex or intersectional needs.

In terms of operational and building management, the Team Manager is responsible for maintaining the safety, cleanliness, and functionality of the refuge in line with health and safety and PIPE (Psychologically Informed Physical Environment) standards. This includes managing relationships with landlords and housing teams, authorising repairs, handling rent collection and arrears, and addressing any security concerns. They also oversee the accurate and timely turnaround of vacant units and uphold positive community relations to ensure the refuge remains a secure and respected environment.

The role also involves leading and developing a high-performing team, ensuring all staff are well-supported through supervision, reflective practice, and training opportunities. The manager upholds staffing levels, supports volunteers and students, and manages performance and conduct issues where necessary. Quality assurance and compliance duties include monitoring performance against KPIs, using systems like INFORM and Power BI, handling feedback and complaints, and ensuring financial accountability. They also represent Hestia in strategic planning, external networks, and multi-agency partnerships to strengthen service delivery and community integration.

What do I need to bring with me?

You\'ll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don\'t have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you\'re willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here\'s what the team will be looking for

The ideal candidate should possess a solid general education, ideally with Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. They should either hold a SafeLives Service Manager qualification or be willing to work towards it. Experience in supervising staff and delivering high-quality support to individuals with diverse needs and risks is essential, as is a strong understanding of risk assessment and management in domestic abuse contexts. A good grasp of performance monitoring, welfare benefits, housing legislation—particularly the rights of domestic abuse survivors under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021—is also required.

Applicants should demonstrate a strong background in working within domestic abuse services, whether in the community or in a refuge setting. They must understand and value co-production, ensuring services are developed in partnership with those who use them. Effective communication skills are key, along with confidence in using IT systems such as Microsoft Office, Teams, and Power BI. A clear understanding of safeguarding practices and health and safety legislation is crucial, with the ability to implement relevant policies effectively.

The role demands emotional resilience and the ability to work under pressure, especially in crisis situations involving traumatised or vulnerable women and children. A strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practices is essential, as is the ability to work independently within established policies and procedures. Flexibility and the ability to travel within the borough and beyond when required are also necessary for this position.

This is a culturally specific service, and as such, it is a genuine occupational requirement that applicants speak one or more South Asian languages in addition to English.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don\'t be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it\'s all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.