Business Operations Manager in Eccles

This pivotal role provides leadership across HR, finance, governance, compliance, health and safety, information governance, estates, IT and our administrative team. Working closely with senior leaders, you will provide assurance that the organisation maintains robust workforce, operational and compliance systems, supporting high-quality service delivery and positive outcomes for the people we serve.

About us: Six Degrees Social Enterprise is a Salford based Community Interest Company, established in 2011. We provide brief psychological interventions and bereavement support services across Salford and Greater Manchester. Our mission is to enable and empower individuals and communities to achieve their optimum wellbeing whilst working in an integrated and inclusive way.

Job responsibilities

• People Management
  • To ensure the Business Support Team is effectively led, managed and developed, providing a high-quality, resilient and patient-focused administrative service that supports clinicians, and enables the safe and efficient delivery of psychological services across the organisation.
  • To ensure the seamless operational provision of business support services across the organisation, fostering effective collaboration and strong working relationships between administrative, operational and clinical teams.
  • To ensure administrative processes and workflows are aligned to clinical service requirements, supporting effective patient pathways, service delivery and organisational priorities.
  • To establish and monitor clear individual and team objectives, performance expectations and development plans, regularly reviewing progress and addressing performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner.
  • To manage team workloads, rotas and workforce planning arrangements to ensure appropriate administrative cover is maintained and operational priorities are delivered effectively.
  • To work closely with clinical and operational leaders to ensure business support functions remain responsive to service demands and contribute positively to the delivery of safe, effective and patient‑centred care.
• Human Resources
  • To act as the organisational lead for workforce compliance assurance, ensuring the organisation can demonstrate, at all times, that staff and volunteers are appropriately recruited, scrutinised, trained and authorised to undertake their roles safely and effectively.
  • To ensure compliance with HR processes and documentation across the organisation via the HR system (People HR) highlighting areas of non‑compliance as necessary.
  • To work closely with the HR provider to develop HR performance information/dashboards to support the management team on employee activities and wellbeing, illustrating areas of challenge and success.
  • To keep up to date with staffing across the organisation in order to accurately manage, update and maintain the staffing establishment, and, to ensure wage spend remains within budget, allow for accurate forecasting, and report to appropriate meetings.
  • To regularly audit recruitment and onboarding processes, identifying themes, gaps or risks and implement improvements.
  • To ensure implementation, monitoring and compliance with organisational/contractual safer recruitment policy and processes.
• Finances
  • To ensure robust financial controls are in place to support the safe, sustainable and effective delivery of services.
  • To maintain oversight of financial processes and expenditure to minimise organisational risk and support service continuity.
  • To provide accurate financial information and assurance to support effective organisational decision‑making and ensure risks are identified at the earliest opportunity.
  • To manage and monitor all aspects of internal finance functions, including (but not limited to) the accounts inbox, Xero coding, Dext, bank payments, aged payables etc.
  • To implement and share the annual invoicing schedule to ensure business continuity.
  • To work closely with the accountants to ensure clarity, plus accurate management accounts and end of year accounts.
  • To manage the end‑to‑end internal Payroll process, including oversight of any internal tracking mechanisms, the monthly payment of Payroll in the bank and liaison with NHS payroll and accountants.
  • To procure any external services, suppliers and products the organisation requires (e.g. premises, stationery, printing, training etc) utilising strong negotiation skills and a cost‑conscious approach in order to agree the best/most cost‑effective prices for the benefit of the organisation.
  • To lead on reporting and accounting into the HR, Contracts and Finances Steering Group.
  • To manage the pension process for NHS staff and The Pensions Trust.
  • To track and maintain information required to be compliant with IR35 rules and regulations and to keep up to date with developments in this regard.
  • To manage the trainee agreements process; ensuring the process is correctly followed, agreements are authorised following the correct channels and managed to successful completion.
  • To ensure a business continuity plan that meets the requirements of the organisation is written, in place, updated and maintained.
  • To ensure critical digital systems remain available, secure and effective, recognising their importance in supporting patient care, clinical decision‑making, communication and service continuity.
  • To manage the overall IT systems for the organisation and liaise with external suppliers as required in this regard.
  • To ensure appropriate system access, security controls and data protection measures are maintained to safeguard patient and staff information.
  • To monitor IT performance and identify risks that may impact clinical operations, patient access or service delivery.
  • To lead on ensuring robust business continuity and disaster recovery arrangements are in place for all critical IT systems.
  • To manage the premises contract and liaise with landlords, as required, involving appropriate internal staff, and escalating any issues as needed.
  • To co‑ordinate the maintenance of the buildings, the preparation of maintenance schedules and the efficient operation of all facilities on the property.
  • To organise contractor visits to ensure all legal requirements are met, e.g. fire alarm and equipment, PAT testing, etc.
  • To keep records of, and, to initiate regular fire practices and alarm tests to ensure emergency procedures are current and timely.
  • To co‑ordinate the purchase, repair and maintenance of all furniture and fittings.
  • To develop work specifications and manage service contracts.
  • To review and/or reassess all Risk Assessments for fire and security.
• Governance
  • To provide clear organisational assurance regarding compliance and governance arrangements through the production of performance reports, compliance dashboards and exception reports, highlighting areas of risk, non‑compliance and required improvement actions.
  • To act as a key contributor to organisational risk management processes, ensuring risks that may impact patient safety, service delivery, workforce sustainability, regulatory compliance or organisational reputation are actively managed and reported.
  • To ensure audit outcomes are effectively reported to governance forums and translated into measurable improvements that enhance organisational effectiveness, compliance and service quality.
  • To ensure mandatory training is fully monitored across the organisation and that all staff are up to date and compliant with training requirements.
  • To write, maintain and update policies, processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) as required, and track all associated documentation appropriately.
  • To investigate accidents and incidents and subsequently co‑ordinate the initial response and implement any learning.
  • To act as organisational Information Asset Owner (IAO) and complete the annual information governance toolkit, implementing actions and improvements as required.
  • To ensure the organisation has appropriate insurance arrangements for public and professional indemnity insurance.
• Communication
  • To maintain excellent relationships and two‑way communication both internally and with external contractors (for example, but not limited to, HR and accountants) in order that advice and guidance can be sought and adopted for the benefit of the organisation and shared internally.
• Quality and Innovation
  • To work with the wider management team on innovation activities linked to quality improvement opportunities.
  • To take a lead role in the tender and bids team and bring together key aspects of required information.
  • To keep abreast of development across the sector and provide regular updates to Senior Management and the Board in this regard.
  • To liaise with commissioners and the Board, presenting reports at relevant meetings as well as contributing to organisational development.
• Equality and Diversity
  • To act as the organisational lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, maintaining oversight of the EDI framework and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, organisational commitments and best practice standards across all areas of the organisation.
  • To maintain oversight of organisational compliance with equality, diversity and inclusion legislation, standards and organisational commitments, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions where required.
  • To provide assurance to Senior Management and the Board regarding the organisation's adherence to its EDI framework, objectives and statutory responsibilities.
  • To ensure compliance with organisational equality and diversity policies and procedures and recognise differences as enriching in the workplace.
• Health, Safety and Compliance
  • To be the Health and Safety Lead within the organisation, providing information to support external audits, conducting internal audits as required and implementing any actions arising out of audits in a timely manner and working with external consultants/expertise.
  • To ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent legislation.
  • To undertake a proactive role in the management of risks in all actions, including risk assessments, reporting incidents inline with the Six Degrees process.
  • To ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998), General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (GDPR) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
  • A degree or equivalent experience.
  • A recognised Health and Safety qualification, e.g. IOSH (or a willingness to complete one within 12 months of appointment).
  • Demonstrable commitment to on‑going training and development.
  • Additional qualifications in leadership and management.
• Experience
  • A professional background in at least four of the following: HR, finance, contract management, business intelligence, health and safety, information asset management, business continuity, and procurement.
  • Experience at working at senior management level.
  • Line management experience including dealing with day‑to‑day issues, leave requests and HR matters.
  • Experience of leading and developing a team in line with team, departmental and organisational goals.
  • Experience of leading a service/project to meet defined standards and timelines.
  • Experience of developing and maintaining excellent relationships.
  • Experience of contract negotiation.
  • Experience of managing budgets at an organisational level.
  • Experience of leading on and Health and Safety policy.
  • Experience of conducting audits and implementing actions/learning.
  • Ability to use 1:2s and personal development positively and effectively.
  • Experience of contributing to service development and wider service innovations.
  • Be able to plan and execute action plans successfully.
  • Experience of writing reports, processes, policies and procedures for a range of purposes.
  • Experience of writing bids / tenders.
  • Experience of using financial software and systems, e.g. Xero, Dext, etc.
• Knowledge & Skills
  • The ability to think and act strategically.
  • Effective budgeting and financial reporting.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent analytical skills and ability to review things objectively.
  • Collaborative working.
  • Willingness to seek and adopt feedback, advice, support and guidance from others.
  • Demonstrate a passion and enthusiasm for the role and deliver positive results.
  • Ability to maintain a proactive, positive attitude at all times.
  • Relevant IT skills commensurate with the role, i.e. ability to set up new systems, analyse data and utilise Excel effectively at a high level.
  • Ability to be self‑reflective in own personal and professional development.
  • Effective relationship building skills.
  • Understanding of cost‑consciousness and the application of this for organisational benefit.
  • Understanding of HR, financial and mandatory training software.
  • Understanding and application of compliance and regulation and what that means in the context of this role and the organisation.
  • Understanding and application of equality and diversity and what that means in the context of this role and the organisation.
  • Understanding and application of health and safety at work and what that means in the context of this role and the organisation.
  • Understanding and application of data protection, security and confidentiality in the context of this role and the organisation.
  • A commitment to undertake all mandatory training in line with required timelines.
  • Understanding and application of safeguarding legislation and responsibilities in the context of this role and the organisation.
  • Influencing skills and the ability to know when to use them.
  • Existing sector wide knowledge in relation to government policy and the impact this may have on the organisation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.