Operations Manager in London

Type: Full-Time (40 hours per week)

Reports to: Director of Operations

Location: Westminster, London (expectation of working from our office 2-3 days a week)

Salary: c£68,000, depending on experience

Start date: We expect to complete interviews in July, with the successful candidate joining the team as soon as possible thereafter, subject to reference checks and notice period.

About CLTR

The Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR) is a UK-based, non-profit and independent think tank with a mission to transform global resilience to extreme AI and biological risks. We achieve this by working with governments and institutions, offering targeted, evidence-based advice designed to enhance understanding, decision-making and governance.

The Role

The Operations Manager is a key hire within our small but highly effective Operations Unit, sitting alongside a People Operations Manager and reporting directly to the Director of Operations. The Operations Manager will play a pivotal role in supporting CLTR’s overall operations, working across units and delivering projects spanning cybersecurity, finance, administration, data protection, office management and others. This is a hands-on, generalist role suited to a skilled and self-motivated operator who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is comfortable switching between strategic project management and day-to-day delivery. You will have the confidence to take on new challenges and the ability to communicate clearly with internal teams, contractors and external service providers to drive impact. You will take ownership of key operational systems and processes, lead on our internal cybersecurity and IT operations (in partnership with our external managed service provider), and support a range of compliance, administrative, and organisational improvement projects. As the organisation grows, this role will be central to building the infrastructure that supports a scaling team.

What you’ll do:

• Project & Operations Management
• Project manage key operational initiatives from initiation through to delivery, maintaining clear plans, timelines, and stakeholder communication.
• Support the Director of Operations in developing and implementing operational strategies aligned with the organisation's growth plans.
• Identify inefficiencies in existing systems and processes and drive improvements, ensuring the organisation is well-positioned to scale.
• Maintain operational documentation, process guides, and internal knowledge management systems.
• Cybersecurity and IT:
• Serve as the primary internal point of contact for our external IT and managed security service provider, ensuring service levels are maintained and issues are resolved promptly.
• Oversee day-to-day IT operations including device management, software licensing, onboarding/offboarding technology needs, and user support escalations.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of the organisation's cybersecurity policies and controls, in line with relevant frameworks (e.g. Cyber Essentials).
• Maintain and develop an asset register, acceptable use policies, access controls, and incident response procedures.
• Proactively identify and mitigate IT and security risks as the organisation grows, including preparing for future infrastructure needs.
• Coordinate internal roll out and learning around AI tools.
• Compliance & Governance Support
• Maintain and update internal policies in coordination with the Director of Operations, People Operations Manager and relevant leads.
• Support the People Operations Manager with HR-adjacent compliance requirements where appropriate (e.g. right to work checks, DBS, data handling).
• Support organisational compliance activities, including data protection (UK GDPR) and any sector-or donor-specific regulatory requirements.
• Assist in preparing for and managing external audits, accreditations, and due diligence processes.
• Office & Administrative Operations
• Oversee the smooth day-to-day running of office operations, including facilities management, supplier relationships, and procurement.
• Manage relationships with key operational suppliers and service providers, reviewing contracts and ensuring value for money.
• Provide flexible administrative support to the Director of Operations and wider Operations Unit as needed, with a can-do approach to varied tasks.
• Support the planning and logistics of internal events, offsites, and all-staff meetings.
• Provide flexible operational support to the Risk Management Unit (0.5 days per week).
• Organisational Development
• Contribute to scaling the organisation's operational capabilities as headcount grows, including helping to onboard new staff, implement new tools, and embed operational best practice.
• Play an active role in fostering a well-organised, collaborative, and mission-aligned working culture.
• Any other tasks as reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven track record in an operations, project management, or business management role.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously and deliver to deadlines.
• Proven ability to manage IT and/or cybersecurity operations, ideally including experience working with external managed service providers.
• Experience supporting compliance or governance functions, including working knowledge of UK GDPR and data protection practice.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organisational skills, with a systematic approach to documentation and process management.
• A self-starter mentality — comfortable with ambiguity, able to take initiative, and happy to roll up their sleeves on both strategic and administrative tasks.
• High agency and a proactive, ownership-driven approach — you follow through on commitments, adapt quickly, and don't wait to be told what needs doing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate clearly, kindly and directly — giving and receiving feedback openly, and building strong relationships across teams and with external partners.
• A genuine commitment to CLTR's mission and an understanding that getting the operations right is what enables high-impact work to land.
• Eligible to work in the UK. Unfortunately we are unable to sponsor visas for this role.

Desirable

• Experience working in a not-for-profit, think tank, research organisation, or similarly mission-driven environment.
• Project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or Agile.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks such as Cyber Essentials, NIST, or ISO 27001.
• Experience supporting organisational scaling or managing change in a growing team.
• Strong digital literacy and experience working with tools such as Claude, Gemini, Asana and WordPress, and the ability to learn new software rapidly.
• Experience managing procurement and supplier contracts.

Location and Travel Requirements

Flexible location within the UK, with the expectation of attending our central London office at least twice-to-three times a week, including Mondays. We are open to discussing remote and flexible working arrangements with candidates.

Salary and Benefits

£68,000, depending on experience. If you are interested in this position, but the salary is a barrier to applying, please get in touch with our team to discuss. In addition to your salary, CLTR offers a generous benefits package which includes:

• 30 days annual leave, plus public holidays;
• £5,000 (before tax) annual wellbeing budget, for you to spend at your discretion on items such as gym membership, therapy, meditation, etc.;
• £3,000 annual learning and development budget, plus up to five days paid work time;
• £2,000 onboarding grant for equipment and supplies;
• A pension contribution scheme (up to 7% employer-matched contribution);
• Private health insurance;
• Group life insurance;
• Generous parental leave benefits; and
• Paid office lunches twice a week including on Mondays.

Working with CLTR also comes with a commitment to caring deeply about your wellbeing, career development and overall experience working with our team, and to respect your preferred working patterns, including flexible working hours as agreed with line managers, wherever possible.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a cover letter (no more than two sides of A4) using the application form (by 9am UK time on Monday 22 June 2026). Please use your cover letter to demonstrate how you meet the person specification, and how you would approach the responsibilities of this role in practice. We plan to conduct first round interviews online with selected candidates during the week commencing 29 June 2026. Final interviews will be held in person during the week commencing 13 July 2026 at CLTR’s office in London. If you have any questions regarding the process or dates above, please contact us.

Equal opportunities

As an employer we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also warmly welcome applicants returning to work after career breaks. We know that our organisation is strengthened by the rich variety of perspectives that a truly diverse workforce brings. We want to make sure that our selection processes are as fair as they can possibly be, providing a level playing field for anyone who wants to come and work at CLTR. Therefore, if you have any special access requirements or other support needs throughout the application process, including interview, please contact us so we can talk through any adjustments you need in complete confidence, and make arrangements on your behalf. Adjustments can be whatever you need them to be, whether that’s around accessibility, preparation time and space, or just travel expenses to get you to an interview. Let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure you’re getting a fair opportunity to succeed.