Director of Operations

Raspberry Pi Foundation; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative technology charity based in Cambridge is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to support global strategy. This role involves managing teams across various functions, ensuring compliance, and leading operational improvements. Ideal candidates should have significant experience in the not-for-profit sector and a grasp of technology's role in enhancing productivity. The position offers competitive salary and flexible working arrangements, aiming to foster a collaborative environment.

Benefits

25-30 days paid annual leave

8% employer contribution pension

Private healthcare

Flexible working hours

Support for parents and carers

Life assurance

Investing in learning and development

Cycle-to-Work scheme

Season Ticket Loan scheme

Qualifications

• At least five years’ experience managing global operations.
• Experience in developing systems and services for effective operations.
• Understanding of emerging AI technologies.
• Experience with Objective and Key Results (OKR) frameworks.
• Experience in compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of operational systems.
• Manage and mentor teams including business planning and IT.
• Ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Oversee performance management processes.
• Develop the Foundation’s sustainability plan.

Skills

Management of global operations

People management skills

Problem solving

Excellent communication

Collaboration across teams

Education

Experience in not-for-profit sector

Understanding of AI technologies

Tools

Performance management systems

Business planning tools

Job description

Job Title: Director of Operations

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £80,000 - £100,000 p.a. Full-time equivalent, dependent on experience

Basis: Permanent; Full-time, part-time or flexible

Eligibility: You must be eligible to work in the UK

The role

We are looking for an experienced Director of Operations to support the Raspberry Pi Foundation's ambitious global strategy.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and working with colleagues from all parts of the business, you will be responsible for supporting the growth of our operations in each of the countries in which we employ people directly (India, Ireland, Kenya, South Africa, the UK and US) and through our growing network of global partners in over 60 other countries.

You will lead teams that are responsible for governance and legal, facilities and information technology, and business planning and risk management. You will personally contribute across a wide variety of areas, including running the processes through which we set annual and quarterly objectives and key results, overseeing performance management and reporting, and ensuring that we have good governance in all of our operating entities.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of managing global operations in multiple countries, preferably in the not-for-profit sector. You will be someone who thrives on solving problems and you will need to have a good understanding of technology - including AI - and how it can be used to enable business effectiveness and productivity.

We strive to make the Foundation a place where talented people who care about our mission can do the best work of their careers. We have a flexible and collaborative approach to all aspects of our work. If you’re the right person for the job, we’ll make it work for you, and you can be confident that you’ll be working with an exceptional team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of systems, policies, processes, and services to enable the Foundation to advance its global strategy effectively.
• Manage, support, and mentor highly skilled teams including: business planning, legal, facilities, and IT.
• Ensure that we are compliant with all relevant local laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate, including making sure that Trustees and Executives have access to appropriate external legal and professional advice as required.
• Run the Foundation's processes for business planning and performance management, working closely with the Executive and Leadership team to ensure that we have clear goals and good quality information on how well we are performing.
• Run the Foundation's risk management process, working with colleagues to ensure that the risk register is regularly reviewed and that mitigating actions are identified and implemented.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Foundation’s sustainability plan as we work towards net zero.

• Ensure that the Foundation has the IT systems, productivity tools, and business processes that it needs to enable colleagues to work effectively.
• As a member of the Leadership team, contribute to the strategic direction, culture, and values of the organisation.

Experience and personal attributes

We recognise that everyone has the potential for growth, and we welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they have some, but not all, of the experience and personal attributes listed here.

• At least five years’ experience in a senior role managing global operations, ideally in the not-for-profit sector.
• Significant experience of developing and delivering systems, policies, processes, and services that support effective operations, including commissioning and managing outsourced services.
• A good understanding of technology, including productivity tools and systems. You will ideally have a good understanding of emerging AI technologies and their application to business processes.
• Experience of designing and running business planning and performance management systems. You will ideally have worked with an Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework.
• Experience of running governance and compliance in multiple jurisdictions.

• Excellent people management skills, with experience of managing specialist teams and working cross-functionally.
• An open and collaborative approach, and the ability to work across teams to achieve results.
• Outstanding communication skills, including the capacity to adapt your communication style to different parts of the organisation.

About us

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is an independent charity with a global mission to enable all young people to realise their full potential through the power of computing and digital technologies.

We empower schools to teach computer science and AI literacy through free curricula, classroom resources, purpose built software tools, and professional development for teachers. We inspire young people to become tech creators through the world's largest networks of coding clubs. We undertake original research that informs our work and which we use to advance the field of computer science education more broadly.

All of our resources and learning experiences are available for anyone to use at no cost. We are particularly focused on creating opportunities for young people who experience educational disadvantage and those who come from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in technology industries.

Over the past decade, we have supported hundreds of thousands of educators and tens of millions of students. We have teams in six countries (India, Ireland, Kenya, South Africa, the UK and US) and partnerships with mission-aligned non-profit organisations in over 60 countries.

We are at the forefront of the global educational movement to expand access to computer science education and AI literacy. You can learn more about our work in our latest Annual Report.

Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a wide range of benefits for all of our colleagues.

• Paid time off. In addition to public holidays, full-time employees in the UK receive 25 days of paid annual leave initially, rising to 30 days after five years service, plus 3 additional days of paid leave for the company-wide closure at the end of each year.
• Pension. We provide an 8% employer contribution on top of your minimum 4% employee contribution.
• Private healthcare. We provide comprehensive private healthcare for all employees through Vitality Plus.
• Flexible working. We have clear policies to provide flexibility over when and where you work, helping you balance work responsibilities with the rest of your life.
• Support for parents and carers. We provide generous family leave and flexibility for parents and carers.
• Life assurance and income protection. We provide life assurance and income protection schemes to provide peace of mind for you and your family.
• Investing in learning and development. We invest in your growth and development, including through access to learning resources and training, with dedicated time for all employees.
• Travel to work. Through our Cycle-to-Work and Season Ticket Loan schemes we support cost effective and sustainable travel to work.

Timetable for applications

Closing date: Friday 22 August at 5:00pm BST

Phone screen: Week commencing 25 August 2025

First interview: Week commencing 1 September 2025

Second interview: Week commencing 8 September 2025

Our recruitment process

All of our workplaces are inclusive spaces where we want people to feel respected, valued, and able to do their best work. We are committed to building teams that bring together people with a broad range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. That starts with our recruitment process.

Here's what you can expect:

• As part of your application, you will be asked to respond to a small number of questions that we will use to screen your eligibility for the role. You will also be asked to provide your cv and a short cover letter.
• Eligible applications will be reviewed by our recruitment team and the hiring manager.
• A small number of candidates will be invited to a phone call with the hiring manager. The purpose of this call is to check our understanding of your application and to answer any questions you have.
• We normally have two interviews, at least one of which will take place in-person. Interviews will be with the hiring manager and at least one other colleague.
• You will usually be asked to undertake a work-based assessment in advance of your interviews. This will be an opportunity for you to show how you would perform some part of the role. You will be given advance notice and clear instructions.
• If you have any questions about or feel that you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, including adjustments for neurodiversity, please contact our People and Culture team at [e-mail].
  

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Everyone appointed to a role at the Foundation will be required to undergo a background check to confirm that you are a suitable person to work with children. Further background checks will be made at regular intervals thereafter.