At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Smokefree Island programme to empower communities and improve health outcomes.
- Company: Join Thrive Tribe, a dynamic organisation focused on wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, tailored health support, and 23 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with regular events and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in service delivery and team management is essential.
The predicted salary is between 25200 - 25200 £ per year.
Join us on our journey to empower over a million people to change their behaviours and thrive! At Thrive Tribe we deliver award‑winning healthy lifestyle and wellbeing programmes that make people happier and healthier! We’re looking for a Head of Service to join our Smokefree Island service. You will be responsible for ensuring Thrive Tribe’s Smokefree Island programme delivers measurable health outcomes for local communities. By leading high‑performing teams, strengthening commissioner relationships, and driving operational excellence, you will play a critical part in improving population health and securing the long‑term success of our regional services.
Smokefree Island is a part of 4 public health contracts across the region which employs a wider multidisciplinary workforce delivering services in communities across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. The contracts include services to help residents to stop smoking, lose weight and get active, covering a population of over 1.5 million people and a budget of over £4 million.
Role description
As a senior operational leader, you will be accountable for Smokefree Island’s performance, ensuring services deliver strong outcomes, meet contractual KPIs, and provide an outstanding experience for both service users and staff. You will play a key role in strengthening relationships with commissioners and partners, driving service innovation, and creating the conditions for sustainable contract growth and retention.
Core responsibilities
- Leading Smokefree Island to maintain the ethos and success of Thrive Tribe, building strong relationships with teams, commissioners, stakeholders, and partners in line with our values.
- Creating a high‑performing and positive employee experience for your teams, ensuring Thrive Tribe remains a supportive, engaging, and developmental place to work.
- Providing strategic leadership across the contract to ensure delivery of contractual KPIs while driving quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Developing the capability of your leadership team to deliver outstanding operational leadership and building a strong succession pipeline to support future growth.
- Implementing Thrive Tribe’s full portfolio of digital, remote, and face‑to‑face services to ensure programmes remain responsive to client and community needs.
- Delivering service financial performance, including P&L (profit and loss) accountability and effective budget management across services.
- Supporting the mobilisation of new contracts within your region to ensure services launch successfully and at pace.
- Working with Business Development colleagues to shape service design, pricing, and the development of competitive national and regional tenders.
- Collaborating with other Service Leads to ensure a consistent, joined‑up approach across regions and service areas.
- Representing Thrive Tribe at Public Health strategic groups and wider health system forums across the region.
- Working with colleagues across all of our Thrive Tribe services to contribute to new projects and service developments – we’re always looking to share knowledge and resources!
- Ensuring due consideration is given to our Safeguarding, Information Governance and Clinical Governance policies and procedures.
- Helping us maintain the ethos of Thrive Tribe by driving our organisational culture forward across our services and using every opportunity to embed our values!
Reporting Structure
Associate Director of Operations (Hampshire & Isle of Wight)
Direct reports: 3
About you
We are looking for someone with experience leading the delivery of public or private sector services, managing teams, and overseeing budgets. Building strong, lasting relationships with commissioners and stakeholders is also key to success in this role. We are seeking a natural leader who can develop people and drive performance. However, we hire based on attitude over traditional skills and experience so if you feel you are right for the job we would love to hear from you!
Be the change
You like helping people. Your work will impact on those who need help the most, empowering people to make positive changes to thrive.
Be effective
You’re patient and can adapt under pressure. Always happy to make time for other people. And have a great attitude.
Be happy
You recognise the power of a smile. You value a fun, supportive workplace and want to come to work raring to go.
Be successful
You are motivated and driven. Happy working solo or as part of a team, you love meeting targets and will be given opportunities to contribute and develop your career.
Be big-hearted
You want to make a difference. Working with a like-minded team of optimistic people, we want the same thing to do meaningful work and change lives.
Perks
- Regular team events and activities, including ThriveFest and our annual Challenge Weekend (for those who want to put their fitness to the test!)
- Flexible working – we’re serious about life/work balance
- Tailored health and wellbeing support such as access to life coaching
- Rewards portal offering discounts on shops, restaurants, and days out
- Enhanced parental leave
- 23 days holiday, increasing every year up to a maximum of 29 days (plus Bank Holidays)
- And last but not least, a day on us to live by our values!
Contract: Permanent, 0.6FTE (22.5 hours/week)
Salary: £25,200 per annum
Closing Date: Friday 31st July 2026 at 17:00pm. Interviews are likely to be conducted during the week commencing 10th August 2026, but applicants will be contacted to confirm the next stage.
Location: Isle of Wight
Please note, the successful applicant will be required to have the right to work in the UK.
We believe that every person has the right to thrive at work, which is why we are committed to equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate. Should you require any specific accommodations in the recruitment process please let us know in your application.
Head of Service - Smokefree Island in London employer: Thrive Tribe
Thrive Tribe is an exceptional employer that prioritises community health and well-being, offering a dynamic work culture where your contributions directly impact underserved populations. With flexible working arrangements, a focus on employee growth, and the opportunity to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, this role in Hampshire provides a meaningful and rewarding career path for those passionate about making a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Smokefree Island in London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Thrive Tribe.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Thrive Tribe.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Thrive Tribe.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Thrive Tribe. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service - Smokefree Island in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Thrive Tribe. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Service - Smokefree Island, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thrive Tribe
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Thrive Tribe. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
