At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations and support the CEO in shaping the future of a leading arts charity.
- Company: Join Artists Studio Company, a respected charity supporting artists and creative communities in London.
- Benefits: Make a lasting impact while enjoying a collaborative work culture and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: This role offers a chance to support hundreds of artists and enhance UK culture.
- Why this job: Be a strategic partner to the CEO and influence the future of the arts sector.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in operational leadership and team management within complex environments.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About Artists Studio Company (ASC): Artist's Studio Company (ASC) is one of London's leading arts charities, celebrating over 30 years of supporting artists, makers and creative communities. Our mission is simple: to enable artists and makers to build sustainable creative careers while making the visual arts more accessible to the public. We achieve this by providing affordable studio space, exhibition opportunities, business support, and creative workspaces across London. Today, ASC manages 13 buildings across six London boroughs, providing workspace for more than 850 artists and makers, alongside coworking facilities and gallery hire at our headquarters in Vauxhall. We are entering an exciting new phase of growth, having recently acquired two additional properties to expand our impact.
The Opportunity: This is far more than an operational management position. It is an opportunity for an experienced operational leader to become the CEO's trusted strategic partner, helping translate vision into action while ensuring the organisation runs efficiently, compliantly and with excellence. We're looking for someone who enjoys seeing the bigger picture whilst never losing sight of the detail. Someone who naturally anticipates challenges before they arise, identifies opportunities for improvement, and creates systems that enable people and projects to thrive. You'll be equally comfortable leading people, improving processes, managing risk, supporting strategic planning, and representing the organisation when required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership: Act as a strategic partner to the CEO, helping deliver the organisation's long-term vision and objectives. Translate strategic priorities into practical operational plans. Identify emerging risks, challenges and opportunities, developing proactive solutions before issues escalate. Support organisational growth, change management and continuous improvement initiatives. Oversee HR and the various charity’s departments including the functions of maintenance, compliance, finance, marketing and lettings. Deputise for the CEO when required, including representing ASC at meetings, presentations and public events.
- Operations & Property Management: Lead the day-to-day operations across ASC's portfolio of 13 buildings. Ensure all sites are safe, secure, compliant and operating efficiently. Oversee facilities management, maintenance programmes and operational projects. Continuously review systems and processes to improve efficiency and service delivery. Manage the smooth operation of ASC's Vauxhall headquarters.
- Leadership & People Management: Lead, mentor and develop operational and administrative teams. Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing working culture. Oversee recruitment, onboarding, induction and HR administration. Champion staff wellbeing, learning and professional development. Support managers in developing effective teams and strong performance.
- Finance & Organisational Performance: Working alongside the CEO and Financial Controller, support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning. Monitor departmental budgets and operational expenditure. Help develop financial controls and organisational reporting. Support informed decision-making through operational analysis and performance monitoring.
- Governance, Risk & Compliance: Ensure the organisation maintains the highest standards of governance and compliance. Oversee Health & Safety, safeguarding, data protection, charity law, insurance and regulatory compliance. Lead organisational risk management, business continuity planning and policy development. Ensure compliance systems remain robust, proportionate and forward-looking.
- Projects & Continuous Improvement: Lead operational improvement projects across the organisation. Introduce systems and processes that enhance efficiency, resilience and organisational effectiveness. Support charity events and cross-departmental initiatives. Encourage innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement across the organisation.
About You: You are an experienced operational leader who combines strategic thinking with exceptional organisational skills. You enjoy creating structure from complexity, building strong teams and helping organisations grow sustainably. You don't simply respond to problems, you anticipate them. You have the judgement, commercial awareness and operational insight to identify potential issues early, assess risk, and implement practical solutions before challenges impact the organisation. You are calm under pressure, highly organised and confident working across multiple priorities. Most importantly, you enjoy supporting people and enabling others to succeed.
We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Significant experience leading organisational operations within a complex environment.
- Proven success managing and developing multidisciplinary teams.
- Outstanding leadership, communication and relationship-building skills.
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to see the wider organisational picture.
- Excellent lateral thinking and problem-solving ability.
- The confidence to make sound decisions using both data and professional judgement.
- A proactive approach to identifying operational risks and implementing preventative solutions.
- Experience improving systems, processes and organisational efficiency.
- Excellent project management and organisational skills.
- Strong financial understanding, including budgeting and forecasting.
- Experience supporting senior leadership and working at executive level.
- A collaborative, pragmatic and hands-on leadership style.
Desirable Experience: Experience in one or more of the following would be highly advantageous: Charity sector leadership, property, real estate, workspace or facilities management, governance and charity compliance, health & safety management, safeguarding, HR systems and people management, business growth, organisational development or change management, risk management and business continuity planning. An interest in the visual arts and creative sector is welcomed but not essential.
Qualifications:
- Essential: Bachelor's degree in business administration, Operations Management, Finance, Commerce, Real Estate or a related discipline.
- Desirable: MBA, Executive MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification. Relevant professional qualifications in operations, project management, HR, property or Health & Safety.
Experience:
- Essential: Minimum five years' experience in a senior operational leadership role. Previous experience in property management industry in managerial roles. Previous experience in HR management. Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations governing the operation and management of workspaces and properties.
- Ideal: Significant experience (10+ years) as a Head of Operations, Operations Director, Chief Operating Officer or similar senior leadership position within the charity, property, workspace or real estate sectors. Extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations governing the operation and management of workspaces and properties.
Why join ASC? This is an opportunity to join an ambitious and respected arts charity at a pivotal stage of its development. You'll work directly alongside the CEO, playing a key role in shaping the future of an organisation that supports hundreds of artists across London. Your ideas will be valued, your leadership will have real influence, and your work will make a lasting impact on the organisation and on UK culture. If you are an experienced operational leader looking for a meaningful role where you can combine strategic thinking, people leadership and operational excellence, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Head of Operations & Chief of Staff to the CEO in London employer: Radix Solutions
Join Bridgend County Borough Council as an Occupational Therapist and be part of a dedicated team that prioritises the well-being and independence of individuals facing complex challenges. With a strong commitment to evidence-based practice, you will benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages collaboration with various health professionals, ongoing professional development, and a focus on innovative care strategies. Enjoy the unique advantage of working in a vibrant community setting, where your contributions directly impact the lives of residents while enjoying a flexible hybrid working policy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations & Chief of Staff to the CEO in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations & Chief of Staff to the CEO in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
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Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Radix Solutions. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Radix Solutions
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with Radix Solutions, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at Radix Solutions, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
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Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for Radix Solutions could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
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