Operations Manager

JR United Kingdom; Newark on Trent; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative organization dedicated to children’s welfare is looking for a passionate Operations Manager to lead their residential care team. This role involves driving excellence in service delivery, ensuring compliance with regulations, and fostering a trauma-informed culture. You will manage a diverse team, oversee budgets, and develop new services, all while making a meaningful impact in children's lives. Join a mission-driven team that values compassion, inclusivity, and the potential of every individual, and help shape brighter futures for children and young people in care.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior management roles within Children’s Residential Care.
• Track record of successful quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Drive excellence across children’s residential services and maintain quality assurance.
• Lead the registration and launch of new homes, ensuring sustainable management.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Compliance

Contract Management

Budget Management

Trauma-Informed Care

Team Management

Child-Centered Approach

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management

Job description

Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for high-quality children’s residential services? Do you have the drive and experience to lead a team to deliver outstanding therapeutic residential care?

YMCA Robin Hood Group is seeking a dynamic Operations Manager to join our Children’s Residential Care team. This is a fantastic opportunity to help lead and grow a high-performing, trauma-informed service that places children’s recovery and development at the heart of everything we do.

As a not-for-profit operator, we’re not here to maximise margins – we’re here to do the right thing. Our homes are small by design, our teams are fully supported and our in-house clinical team make truly therapeutic care possible.

The Opportunity: Operations Manager

As Operations Manager you will:

• Drive excellence across our children’s residential services by embedding high performance, values-led practice, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Provide leadership and oversight of quality, contracts, audits, and compliance – maintaining and improving our Good and Outstanding Ofsted ratings.
• Act as the Responsible Individual, developing effective relationships with Ofsted and local commissioning authorities.
• Lead the registration and launch of new homes, ensuring all are strategically aligned and sustainably managed.
• Manage a large, regionally dispersed staff team with responsibility for performance, development, and wellbeing.
• Oversee significant budgets, contracts, and funding opportunities to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the service.

About You – Who We’re Looking For

• Significant experience in senior management roles within Children’s Residential Care.
• Already hold or be prepared to work towards your Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management to become qualified within 2 years of appointment.
• A track record of successful quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and contract management.
• Expertise in developing new services and managing complex budgets.
• The ability to lead across multiple sites, inspire teams, and foster a child-centred, trauma-informed culture.
• A working knowledge of key legislation and standards, including the Children’s Homes Regulations, Children Acts, and safeguarding frameworks.
• A full driving licence and willingness to travel frequently across the region.

What We Value

We’re driven by our core values and we look for these in every member of our team:

• We Seek Out – We’re always looking for ways to do better.
• We Welcome – We include, respect, and support everyone.
• We Inspire – We believe in every person’s potential.
• We Speak Out – We advocate for what’s right.
• We Serve Others – We act with compassion and purpose.

These values are more than just words—they shape how we work, lead, and serve.

Our North Star – What Guides Us

Everything we do is inspired by our ambition that every child and young person we support:

• Builds the relationships that help them discover who they are
• Develops the skills and confidence to shape their own life
• Learns how to connect with and contribute to the world around them

Your leadership will play a vital role in achieving this mission.

Diversity & Safer Recruitment

YMCA Robin Hood Group is committed to equal opportunities, promoting diversity, and creating an inclusive culture where all staff can thrive.

We follow rigorous safer recruitment processes to ensure the protection of children, young people, and adults at risk. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS checks, reference checks, and thorough vetting as part of our commitment to safeguarding.

Ready to Apply?

If you believe in the transformative power of safe housing, share our values, and have the relevant experience to match—we want to hear from you.

Apply now and be part of something bigger. Help us shape not just better services—but brighter futures.

What Happens Next?

If your application is successful, we’ll invite you to interview. The recruitment process aims to create and maintain a safe workforce and contains robust vetting procedures following Safer Recruitment guidelines. The successful applicant will be appointed subject to references and enhanced DBS check.

For an informal conversation before applying, please reach out to our recruitment team.