Director of operations

Sportanddev; Sutton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual away days

Team-building experiences

Coaching and wellbeing support

25 days of annual leave

Access to Innovation Fund

Job summary

The Change Foundation, based in Sutton, seeks an experienced Director to lead The Cricket Centre and oversee charity operations, driving forward The Next Five 2026–2031. This role focuses on values-led leadership, partnership building, and sustainable income generation to transform lives through sport.

We welcome candidates with lived experience and a commitment to creating safe, empowering spaces for young people, with opportunities for professional growth and regular team-building.

Qualifications

• Experienced operational leader with a passion for social change and sport.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to manage budgets.
• Skilled in building partnerships and generating income.
• Committed to values-led leadership and empowerment of staff and participants.
• Lived experience within the communities the charity serves is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Manage The Cricket Centre operations, leading it into a new era of values-led income generation.
• Take ownership of initiatives to grow income generation at the cricket centre.
• Oversee all operational aspects of the charity and organise the annual charity calendar.
• Work with the Head of Finance to manage operational budgets.
• Attend board and sub-committee meetings, providing updates on operational developments.
• Develop strategic partnerships to enhance the charity’s impact.
• Lead, mentor, and manage all operational staff.
• Deliver the objectives outlined in The Next Five 2026–2031 strategy.

Skills

Operational leadership

Financial management

Partnership development

Values-led leadership

Lived community experience

Job description

The Change Foundation are seeking an experienced, passionate leader to join us as a Director. The successful candidate will lead our cricket centre and oversee the charity’s operations, driving forward our ambitious strategy: The Next Five 2026–2031. This role is perfect for someone with lived experience who understands the transformative power of sport and wants to shape a future where every young person feels seen, safe, and supported.

About us

London was burning in 1981. The Brixton Riots exposed the deep cracks in our communities, and from that moment of unrest, a spark of hope emerged. A young cricketer invited local kids to join him on the pitch instead of moving them aside. That simple act became the London Community Cricket Association — now The Change Foundation — a charity that uses sport to transform lives, create safe spaces, and empower young people to grow free from fear. Today, we continue that legacy through innovative, values-led programmes that challenge broken systems and build lasting impact.

Our home: The Cricket Centre, Sutton

From the heart of Sutton, The Cricket Centre stands as more than just a building; it’s our home and the place where change begins. It’s where our team works to drive the mission of The Change Foundation forward, where young people find belonging through sport and mentoring, and where the energy of the community helps sustain our work through events and facility hire.

But our impact reaches far beyond these walls. Across Greater London and beyond, our social change coaches bring our values to life, delivering programmes in the very communities that need them most. They know the people, they know the places, and they understand what it takes to create lasting change.

Key responsibilities

The Cricket Centre

• Manage the day-to-day running of the cricket centre, leading it into a new era of values-led income generation
• Take ownership of initiatives to grow income generation at the cricket centre

Charity operations

• Oversee all operational aspects of the charity and organise the annual charity calendar
• Work with the Head of Finance to manage operational budgets
• Attend board and sub-committee meetings, providing updates on operational developments
• Develop strategic partnerships to enhance the charity’s impact
• Lead, mentor, and manage all operational staff
• Deliver the objectives outlined in The Next Five 2026–2031 strategy

Who we are looking for

• Experienced operational leader with a passion for social change and sport
• Strong financial acumen and ability to manage budgets
• Skilled in building partnerships and generating income
• Committed to values-led leadership and empowerment of staff and participants
• Lived experience within the communities the charity serves is highly valued
• A charity that believes in professional growth alongside the job, with regular training opportunities
• Annual away days and team-building experiences
• One-to-one and group professional coaching and wellbeing support
• 25 days of annual leave
• Access to our Innovation Fund to test and develop new ideas

This is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of a charity with a rich history of transforming lives through sport. If you are ready to lead with courage, empathy, and vision, helping young people thrive in safe, empowering spaces, we want to hear from you.