Operations and People Manager

Organisation Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming

Gross Annual Salary: £54,082 full-time Coordinator/Manager grade at pay level 6. This salary increases annually in April each year according to Sustain’s payscale and progression, subject to satisfactory performance. In addition, Sustain matches pension contributions up to 5% of gross salary.

Hours: Full-time (35 hours / 5 days per week) or 0.8 FTE (28 hours / 4 days per week)

Location: The role is office-based in Cambridge Heath, London.

Position type: Permanent contract, subject to funding

20 days’ Basic Annual Leave + public holidays + 3 days of office closure between Christmas and New Year (total of approx. 31 days). Enhanced annual leave rises annually by 2 days to a top limit of 36 days for combined time off.

Equal opportunities: Sustain is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive employer, including recruiting for diversity.

Right to Work: Entitlement to work in the UK. Sustain is not able to assist with applications for work permits and cannot employ people living or working outside of the UK.

Other details: Non-contractual benefits include Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work scheme.

Sustain is hiring for an Operations and People Manager. We are looking for a person with an understanding of working with a values-driven team of people, in the charity or not-for-profit sector. The person appointed will have an appreciation of the aims and values of the Sustain alliance and be excited by supporting our organisation in effective ways of working, whilst freeing up senior leaders and spokespeople to undertake influencing, communication, partnership development and fundraising activities.

The Operations and People Manager will help Sustain function effectively as an organisation and be a great place to work. This is a senior, trusted role working closely with the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Senior Management Team (SMT), line managers and Trustees to strengthen our people, operational and governance systems.

The post-holder will lead practical improvements in HR, people processes, line management standards, staff development, onboarding, offboarding, organisational culture and compliance. They will combine sound judgement, strong systems thinking and a people-centred approach, helping Sustain keep processes clear, proportionate and well-managed, while supporting colleagues to focus on effective delivery.

The mission of the Sustain alliance is to catalyse systemic change in the UK’s food and farming system – securing a healthy, fair, and sustainable future for all people, nature and a stable climate. Working in collaboration with our alliance members and others, we run a range of advocacy work, projects and campaigns to achieve permanent changes in policy and practice; and to engage more people, organisations and communities in being food system change-makers.

As with all senior roles at Sustain, the person appointed to this role will work mainly at the Sustain office in London during their probationary period, and thereafter at least half of working hours at our office, whilst benefiting from the flexibility offered to all colleagues. This is part of senior role-modelling of the creativity, support, engagement and well-being benefits that in-person working cultivates between colleagues. This will be managed in coordination with other senior colleagues to enable good in-person coverage and connectivity across the week and across common holiday periods.

First stage interviews will take place (via Zoom) on: Wednesday 23 September 2026. Second stage interviews to take place in-person (London office) on: Wednesday 30 September 2026.

Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture.