Operations Manager in Newtownabbey

LFT Charitable Trust funds powerful, life-changing work led by our grant partners and we are looking for a full-time Operations Manager to help us do this well. You will bring a financially confident and discerning eye to appraising applications and monitoring performance. We want someone who reads numbers and people equally well: curious enough to ask questions, fair enough to not assume the worst and generous enough to share their own expertise. You don't need a background in the charity sector to thrive here. We would love to hear from people with business, consultancy, advisory or financial experience too; what matters most is your judgement and your people skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the grant making process end to end from soliciting and assessing applications through to letters of offer, payments and record-keeping.
• Appraise applications and financial information with sound judgement, asking constructive, probing questions where something needs a closer look.
• Check that grant partners have delivered on what they promised, including using the evaluation methods they set out and offer sensitive, considered support where a project has drifted off track.
• Look for ways to add value beyond the grant itself, sharing your skills, contacts or advice with partners wherever it would help.
• Support all of our grant partners with equal enthusiasm, whatever their beneficiary group or cause.
• Keep on top of sector trends, prepare reports for internal and external use and support any staff in the Grants Team.

This is a full-time, office-based role; there’s no remote or hybrid option. The description above is intended as a very brief overview of the role. For a more detailed description, please download the Recruitment Pack via our website.

Salary & Benefits

• £32,000 - £38,000 (subject to qualifications and experience)
• Permanent position, subject to successful probation
• 5% employer pension contribution
• 31 days holiday entitlement
• Learning & development opportunities
• Accessible office location with free parking
• Smart modern working environment
• Small dynamic team that works closely together

Key Qualities

• Curious about how organisations plan, deliver and evaluate their work, whether that curiosity comes from the charity sector or a business/consultancy background.
• Comfortable asking probing questions with warmth and respect, applying judgement that’s neither naive nor overly sceptical.
• Treats every beneficiary group as equally deserving, regardless of personal interest or affinity.
• Generous with their own expertise, contacts and time.
• Enthusiastic, high-integrity and committed to learning.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Five years relevant experience in grant-making, business, financial or management; third sector experience is not essential.
• A relevant business, finance or voluntary sector qualification.
• Strong financial skills, able to interpret accounts and observant enough to pick up on the finer details.
• Comfortable comparing planned versus actual delivery and following up diplomatically on any gaps.
• Highly organised, with strong Excel skills and excellent communication.
• Access to transport for travel throughout NI.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience of grassroots, independent, relational grant making.
• Experience working across the community & voluntary sector.
• Experience in measuring and reporting impact.

Application Process

To apply, please click Apply Now, where you will be redirected to our careers page to access our application form. Completed forms should be saved as a PDF and submitted via email by 3 pm on Thursday 24th September 2026. It is anticipated that interviews for the position will be held on Thursday 8th October 2026. Interviews will include scenario-based exercises, details of which will be provided on the day of the interview. All offers of employment are subject to receipt of satisfactory references. Referees will not be contacted prior to a job offer being made.