Operation Manager jobs in United Kingdom

My Inspiring Journey Hub (MIJ Hub) is a leading private school and non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting individuals from 4 to 40 with diverse learning needs. For over 13 years, MIJ Hub has delivered structured education, vocational training, and community-based programmes that empower individuals to build independence, confidence, and meaningful participation in society.

To support long‑term sustainability and accessibility, MIJ Hub operates a portfolio of social enterprises alongside its education services. These include food and beverage (F&B) operations and beneficiary‑led ventures that generate earned income to subsidise education and training for families in need. MIJ Hub operates in fast‑paced, real‑world environments where operational reliability, accountability, and impact matter.

The Operations Lead is responsible for the day‑to‑day operational management and performance of all MIJ Hub social enterprises, including Komunal Café, Ashraf Kitchen, and other beneficiary‑led ventures. This role ensures that operations run smoothly, orders are fulfilled on time, teams are adequately staffed, and systems are in place to support sustainable growth. While B2B lead generation, pricing strategy, and revenue targets are owned by the Growth team, this role ensures all B2B initiatives are operationally feasible, reliably executed, and supported through long‑term client relationships.

This is a hands‑on management role requiring strong operational judgment, people leadership, and execution focus in a mission‑driven environment.

• Plan and oversee end‑to‑end daily operations across all MIJ Hub social enterprises
• Ensure consistent service delivery, production quality, and fulfilment standards
• Lead day‑to‑day problem solving and resolve operational issues quickly
• Maintain operational readiness across café, kitchen, and production environments
• Manage key suppliers and vendors to ensure reliability and timely delivery
• Step in during critical periods to ensure continuity of operations

• Plan staffing requirements across café and kitchen operations
• Oversee scheduling, deployment, and shift coverage to meet daily demand
• Partner with HR on recruitment, onboarding, and staffing adjustments
• Ensure teams are trained, supported, and deployed effectively to meet operational demand

• Monitor key operational costs including labour, wastage, and procurement
• Implement SOPs, workflows and daily checks to improve efficiency and reduce errors
• Track operational metrics and identify improvement opportunities
• Balance cost discipline with quality, safety, and beneficiary considerations
• Provide regular operational updates and flag risks early

• Support product innovation and menu changes with the Head Chef and Growth team
• Assess feasibility, costing, and execution readiness for new items
• Ensure new offerings integrate smoothly into existing operations
• Maintain product specs and batch consistency

• Ensure B2C orders and campaigns are fulfilled on time and to standard
• Support B2B closing by confirming feasibility, timelines, and fulfilment plans post‑handover
• Act as the primary point of contact for B2B clients post‑handover, maintaining relationships through reliable delivery and proactive follow‑ups to support repeat orders
• Own fulfilment planning and execution for campaigns, events, and corporate orders
• Provide clear visibility on capacity, lead times, and operational risks, and flag repeat‑order opportunities for B2B clients to the Growth team

• 4–7 years of experience in operations management within retail, F&B, e‑commerce, or production environments
• Strong experience managing daily operations, fulfilment, and frontline teams
• Experience managing operational budgets, cost control, and fulfilment margins
• Comfortable in client‑facing conversations related to delivery, timelines, and execution
• Strong analytical and practical problem‑solving skills
• Skilled in operations, logistics, and team leadership
• Excellent collaborator with cross‑functional teams, especially Growth, culinary, and training
• Experience in social enterprises, inclusive hiring, or impact‑driven organisations is a strong plus

• Sustainability
• Product Innovation
• Budgets
• Leadership
• SOPs
• Formulation of SOPs
• Change Management
• Operations Management
• Pricing Strategy
• Problem Solving
• Reliability
• B2B
• Accountability
• Scheduling
• Accessibility
• Cost Control
• Service Delivery