Join our team: Business Operations Manager

We’re looking for a new Business Operations Manager to ensure the smooth running of our social enterprise, Data Orchard CIC.

Applications will be particularly welcomed from those with knowledge and expertise in business processes - particularly small businesses. The ideal person will be focused and organised, experienced in using a variety of digital tools, good at working and communicating with a range of people, resourceful, and a problem-solver.

Here at Data Orchard CIC, you’re encouraged to be yourself. We promote and celebrate diversity and welcome applications from people who are neurodivergent, of global majority ethnicity, trans or non-binary, disabled, or however you might identify. You don’t have to have all the experience and knowledge we have listed, as long as you are willing to learn.

Data Orchard is a social enterprise with a small team of employees, associates, and board members. We enable organisations working for social and environmental benefit to get better with data. Our clients are primarily charities, social housing providers, public sector bodies, and other nonprofit organisations. We work directly across the UK on around 30-40 projects a year. We reach and engage thousands more around the world, through our events, tools and resources, and online communities.

If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, please check out the full job details below. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role please contact our Co-Chief Executive: Madeleine Spinks at mads@dataorchard.org.uk

Introduction

Data Orchard CIC is a social enterprise with a vision of a world enriched and empowered through data. Our mission is to enable every nonprofit organisation to use data effectively to achieve their goals. We do three key things:

• Build organisations’ data skills and capabilities

• Gather, explore and analyse data for organisations

• Promote the importance and value of data for good.

Since 2013 Data Orchard has become established as one of the UK’s leading pioneers in supporting organisations to build their data capabilities. We have a small team of five employees and a range of associates who work on 30-40 projects a year with clients in the charity, housing, public and social enterprise sectors.

Our unique research and resource development in organisational data maturity has enabled us to reach and support partners and clients around the UK, and increasingly internationally. Data Orchard is committed to building a team which is diverse in skills, experience, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background.

Job Description

Job title: Business Operations Manager

Salary: £28,000 FTE (£16,800 pro rata) (reviewed annually)

Responsible to: Co-Chief Executive

Location: Remote but eligible to work in the UK. Work from home and at a co-working space near where you live, or at Data Orchard office in Herefordshire. You will be required at face-to-face team gatherings every 6-8 weeks in different locations around the UK.

Hours: 0.6 FTE

Hours of work: 21 hours per week, flexible working.

Contract type: 12 month fixed-term with a view to permanent contract.

Overall purpose of job

To ensure the smooth running of our social enterprise.

Specific responsibilities

• Manage the onboarding and offboarding of clients (contracts, setting up communication and data sharing tools).

• Monitor and report on the status of contracts with clients, suppliers and associates.

• Ensure key information systems are kept up to date with accurate and complete client and project data.

• Manage requests for client feedback.

• Manage the company's incoming enquiries and direct them as appropriate.

• Oversee policies to ensure they are regularly reviewed and compliant.

• Monitor employee time and leave.

• Oversee arrangements for online and in-person team gatherings (learning events, wellbeing walks, AGM, socials).

• Contribute ideas towards improving how we run the company.

Personal skills and attributes

Essential

Knowledge and experience of business processes: knows about key business/organisational processes, has experience of working in small businesses.

Focused and organised: able to prioritise, self-manage and use own initiative. Meticulous attention to detail and methodical.

Digital tools: experienced in using a variety of digital tools, including Microsoft Word, Teams and Excel, CRM/databases. Able to adapt, explore and quickly learn new digital tools.

Working with others: approachable and friendly; assertive and persistent.

Communication: engages well and relates to people at all levels from senior executives to administrators; able to communicate effectively, instructing verbally and in writing.

Resourceful: draws on inner resources and resilience in difficult situations; able to self-manage in a sometimes-pressurised environment; liaises effectively with colleagues to get things done as a key part of a small team

Problem solving: takes a logical approach to analysing the facts of a situation; able to develop effective solutions based on reasoned arguments and available evidence.

Alignment with Data Orchard’s values, which are:

1. Collaboration: Cooperate, trust, listen, and communicate with team members, clients and partners.

2. Respect: Carry out all responsibilities in accordance with Data Orchard’s Equality and Diversity Policy. Show mutual respect and consideration for one another. Ensure peoples’ diverse backgrounds, ideas and opinions can be heard.

3. Openness: Contribute to a culture of trust and shared learning. Constructively challenge and be open to being challenged by others. Be inquisitive and receptive to discussion, new ideas and ways of doing things.

4. Quality: Apply high standards of professionalism in the work we deliver to clients and how we interact with them, our colleagues and partners. Ensure our work meets legal and ethical standards and is quality assured.

5. Honesty: Be truthful and fair. Behave with integrity and objectivity. Take responsibility and keep promises.

Desirable

Work experience: Experience in working/volunteering in the nonprofit/social sector.

Personal Development: committed to continuous personal development; able to identify learning and development needs, engage in self-directed study.

Qualifications: relevant qualifications in business administration, company management and operations.

Working for Data Orchard

When you join Data Orchard, you will be able to access our Staff Handbook which gives details of policies and procedures. You will also have a statement of terms and conditions which apply to your job (your contract). This is a summary of the benefits of working here:

Pension

Data Orchard offers a staff pension scheme and if you join it, you will contribute 4% of your earnings (+1% from HMRC) and Data Orchard will match this with 4%.

Holidays

The holiday entitlement for full time employees is 33 days per year including bank and public holidays. Your holiday entitlement will be prorated to your hours of work. So for a 0.6 FTE part time role this will be 19.8 days per year. The holiday year runs from 1st April to 31st March.

Flexible working

Data Orchard offers flexible working, such as compressed working week, home working, part time and job sharing. We are committed to supporting work life balance and well-being among our staff.

Probationary period

All new appointments are subject to a probationary period of 3 months, unless stated otherwise in the terms and conditions.

Line management

Line management meetings will be regularly held every 4-6 weeks with an annual review.