Head of Operations

Emerging Futures; England; Remote; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Emerging Futures is seeking a hands-on senior leader to oversee the Midlands & South services, ensuring high-quality, financially sustainable delivery. You will guide Area Service Managers, monitor performance, and strengthen partnerships with commissioners and local stakeholders.

You will drive operational performance, budgets, and recovery plans while upholding safeguarding and housing compliance standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working in homelessness, drug and alcohol, housing and/or criminal justice services.
• Excellent skills in communication, leadership and influencing.
• Experience and knowledge in safeguarding and risk management.
• Strong leadership capable of motivating, inspiring and influencing people.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Area Service Managers and their teams across Midlands & South.
• Drive operational performance to meet contractual expectations and quality standards.
• Oversee budgets and lead recovery plans where services are off track.
• Provide leadership on safeguarding, risk and housing compliance.

Skills

Homelessness services

Communication

Leadership

Safeguarding & risk mgmt

Job description

Leading our community services, drug & alcohol recovery support and recovery-focused housing across the Midlands & South.

Emerging Futures began in 2014, born from a belief that recovery is possible for everyone, and that those who have walked that path should lead the way forward.

From modest beginnings, Emerging Futures expanded across the UK, to a growing and diverse team of staff and volunteers, many with lived experience themselves. Offering support to people affected by homelessness and drug and alcohol use, Emerging Futures has helped thousands through housing, coaching and therapeutic programmes.

Using compassion and courage, Emerging Futures believes that recovery is not just a word, it’s a promise that anything is possible. Together, we’re working for a world where everyone has somewhere to live, something to do, and someone to love.

About the role

This is a hands‑on senior leadership role with responsibility for the performance, quality, safety and financial sustainability of services across the Midlands and South. You’ll lead and develop Area Service Managers, stay connected to what is happening within services and provide practical support where improvement is needed.

You’ll also build strong relationships with commissioners, partners and local stakeholders, helping to strengthen and grow Emerging Futures’ work across the region.

Your main focus will be on:

Leading and developing Area Service Managers and their teams.

Driving operational performance and ensuring services meet contractual expectations.

Overseeing budgets and leading recovery plans where services are off track.

Providing leadership across quality, safeguarding, risk and housing compliance.

Strengthening drug and alcohol practice and our wider recovery offer.

Building commissioner and partner relationships and supporting contract growth.

Creating a positive employee experience and addressing people or performance issues early.

Contributing to organisational development as a member of the Senior Management Team.

You will have substantial experience of leading or delivering drug and alcohol services, with a sound understanding of the treatment and recovery system, harm reduction and recovery‑oriented practice. You should also have recent experience in working at a senior level, developing new and existing services and partnership working. You should also have:

• Extensive experience working in homelessness, drug and alcohol, housing and/or criminal justice services.
• Experience in supporting managers and staff teams to deliver high‑quality, cost‑effective services across geographically dispersed teams.
• Excellent skills in communication, leadership and influencing.
• Experience and knowledge in relation to safeguarding and effective risk management.
• Strong and proven leadership skills including an excellent ability to motivate, inspire and influence people.
• Ability to meet targets and deadlines within financial constraints and available resources, anticipating financial risks, planning ahead and acting promptly on early warning signs to prevent minor pressures from developing into significant financial issues.
• Demonstrate a capacity to work autonomously, keep calm under pressure and the flexibility to work from varying operational sites as required across a regional geographical footprint.

Working in our Midlands & South services

By joining the Emerging Futures workforce, you become part of a nationwide team dedicated to providing addiction recovery support services throughout the United Kingdom.This role joins part of a larger team in the Midlands & South, with colleagues working across our services in Birmingham, Gloucester, Worcester, West Sussex and Hertfordshire.

Registered office: Glen Valley House, 634 Bacup Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 7AW Company number: 8938725