Operations Manager

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to join Novara Media’s growing operations team. This role provides core operational support to the Operations Lead and the wider Business Operations Team. Reporting to and working alongside the Operations Lead, you will support the day-to-day management of our operational activities, with a particular focus on managing our upcoming office move and the smooth running of our new studio. This is a hands-on, generalist role for someone who thrives on variety and problem-solving, but is also meticulous, with excellent attention to detail. You’ll have a genuine interest in project management, and enjoy creating systems that help organisations run smoothly.

A key focus of this role will be supporting and managing our office move in 2026. You’ll help coordinate the physical relocation and transition between spaces, and then take ownership of managing our new workspace—ensuring it’s well-resourced, runs smoothly, and becomes a space where our team thrives. Beyond this, we want someone efficient, organised and with excellent attention to detail to help with all aspects of the day-to-day running of the organisation, from helping to run recruitment processes and finalise contracts, to dealing with external contractors, to paying invoices and assisting with basic financial admin.

About You

You’re an experienced operations professional or organiser who can hit the ground running. You understand how political and media organisations work, or you bring operations expertise from other sectors. You’re a confident generalist who can manage an office move, coordinate with external partners, maintain meticulous attention to detail, and solve whatever operational challenges arise. You’re comfortable working independently and prioritising your own workload, while collaborating closely with the Operations Lead day-to-day. You know when to escalate issues to the Directorate. You’re unflappable, solutions-focused, and genuinely enjoy enabling organisations to run smoothly. Ideally, you’re interested in HR work. This includes developing and maintaining policies, supporting union negotiations, ensuring compliance with employment law, and improving internal HR workflows. You don’t need to be an HR specialist or have prior experience – we work with external advisors – but you should be enthusiastic about this aspect of the role.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a deep understanding of Novara Media – including each team's ambitions and constraints – which will be crucial to the constructive problem-solving and project management that will define the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Office Move & Workspace Management
  • Lead the coordination of our physical office move, working closely with the Operations Lead to manage logistics, timelines, and the transition between spaces.
  • Manage day-to-day operations of our offices and studios in both current and new spaces, including maintenance, supplies, and facility-related issues.
  • Cultivate a positive workspace culture by organising team events, lunches, and activities that bring the team together.
  • Maintain studio bookings and room calendars, ensuring smooth scheduling and resource allocation.
  • Manage external stakeholder relationships related to our workspace.
  • Keep us fully resourced, anticipating needs and ensuring we have all necessary supplies and equipment.
• Operational Support & Administration
  • Provide operational support across all sections, with an ability to prioritise when there are competing demands.
  • Act as operational point of contact for partners and stakeholders, and sole point of contact when the Operations Lead is on leave.
  • Participate in Business Operations Team meetings to solve problems across the organisation, and monitor and report on bottlenecks or challenges.
  • Assist with basic administrative finance tasks (e.g., completing monthly payroll spreadsheets for director sign-off).
  • Keep organisational processes, policies, and operational documentation up to date.
  • Support data collection for quarterly or annual organisational reviews.
  • Provide administrative and facilitation support to the Directors; assist with planning and logistics for meetings or training sessions.
  • Help maintain health & safety compliance and records.
• HR & People Operations Support
  • Work with external HR to project manage HR processes.
  • Help the Operations Lead maintain and improve internal HR practices, including keeping shared documents, policies, and resources up to date.
  • Support recruitment and onboarding processes for new starters and freelancers.
  • Facilitate and support negotiations between our Directors and the NUJ Chapel, tracking agreed actions and ensuring follow-through.
• Sabbatical Cover (September – December 2026)
  • Take on expanded responsibilities during the Operations Lead's sabbatical, providing leadership and continuity for the operations function.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL

• Experience managing day-to-day operations of a growing organisation, ideally within media, political, or creative sectors.
• Proven track record of successfully managing facilities, workspaces, or physical operations – bonus points if you’ve managed an office move!
• Interest in or experience with HR practices, including policy development, union relations, or people operations.
• Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, especially during periods of change.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a practical, hands-on approach.
• Meticulous attention to detail and excellent organisational systems.
• Confident communicator who can liaise with people at all levels, from external partners to directors.
• Flexible and resilient, able to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident using digital tools for communication, project tracking, budgeting, and documentation.
• Understanding of and commitment to Novara Media's left-wing political values.

DESIRABLE

• Experience working in left-wing organisations, campaigns, trade unions, or activist spaces.
• Experience coordinating or managing office relocations or significant organisational changes.
• Understanding of employment law and best practices in HR.
• Experience in media, creative, or cultural organisations.
• Experience managing shared or coworking spaces.
• Financial administration experience: processing wages and invoices, liaising with accountants, and detail-oriented approach to budgets.
• Experience organising team events, social activities, or culture-building initiatives.
• Experience managing production studios.

Details

• Location: You will be expected to work primarily in our London offices.
• Hours: 32 hours per week, flexibly – this is preferably spread across 5 days. Core hours are 11am – 4pm.
• Pay: £37,440 per annum* *We are a London Living Wage employer.

How to apply

Applicants should submit a CV and a supporting statement of up to 500 words explaining why they’re a great hire for this role, and for Novara Media, with references to specific project work. Submit your application via the BreatheHR portal. Please note: We will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis as applications are received, so we encourage you to apply early. The position may close before the stated deadline if we find the right candidate.

Benefits of the role

• 4-day working week with full-time pay, and genuinely flexible working hours as needed.
• Generous parental and dependants leave policies that go well beyond statutory requirements.
• Free tickets and access to all Novara Media events – meet our guests, attend live shows, and be part of production.
• Office-based role in London with a collaborative, engaged team.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support.