Operations Assistant

Innovation Unit Limited

Employment Type Part time 3 days per week (0.6 FTE)
Location Hybrid · United Kingdom (multiple locations) Manchester · London, City of Our team splits their time between home, on client sites and offices in London and GM
Salary £28,000 (GBP) 30 days holiday, 4% Pension contribution, childcare voucher scheme, flexible working
Team Central Business Team
Seniority Junior
  • Closing: 9:00am, 30th Oct 2025 GMT

Perks and benefits

Work from home option
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Programme
Extra holiday
Professional development
Mentoring/coaching
Flexible benefits scheme
Team social events

Candidate happiness

8.47 (203)

Job Description

Purpose

To provide comprehensive organisational, administrative, and HR support across our core business functions, including IT, systems, HR, Finance, recruitment, team events, and workspace coordination. This role is crucial for ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and efficiently, maintaining high standards of organisation, communication, and employee experience.

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Operations & Office Administration

  • Act as a first point of contact for operational queries.

  • Manage shared mailboxes, triaging and forwarding emails as appropriate. 

  • Help maintain shared systems and records (Google Workspace, Sharepoint, HR and operations files).

  • Liaise with shared workspace providers on desks, room bookings, supplies, and office logistics (including managing couriered mail).

  • Keep organisational records, templates, and compliance documents up to date and well organised.

2. System & IT Support

  • Provide day-to-day support with organisational systems (e.g. CMAP, Slack, Zoom, TravelPerk, Miro, Google Drive), ensuring data is up to date and processes are followed.

  • Set up IT and systems access for new starters (Google Workspace emails, CMAP, TravelPerk, Slack).

  • Provide first-line IT troubleshooting (password resets, access issues) and escalate to external IT support when needed.

  • Track laptops/phones, order new kit, and coordinate disposal.

  • Maintain accurate records of equipment and system access.

  • Provide guidance and basic training on organisational systems (CMAP, Slack, Zoom, TravelPerk, Miro, Google Drive).

3. HR & Recruitment Administration

  • Support recruitment campaigns (posting adverts, managing applications in BeApplied, scheduling interviews, and coordinating assessments)

  • Assist with onboarding and offboarding administration (Contracts, inductions, IT/equipment and systems coordination and training).

  • Maintain accurate and confidential HR records. 

  • Support HR initiatives such as diversity monitoring, staff surveys, probation reviews and mid-year reviews/annual summits in collaboration with the HR Manager.

4. Events & Team Culture

  • Lead planning and logistics for key organisational events including:

    • Board meetings

    • Quarterly Away Days

    • Annual Associates Evening

    • Summer and Christmas social events

    • Internal learning Programme sessions (e.g. Innovation Academy)

  • Research and book venues, catering, and travel for events and meetings.

  • Coordinate milestone celebrations and gifts (weddings, new babies, leavers).

  • Support team culture by coordinating birthday cards, end-of-week notes, and other initiatives to promote connection and belonging.

5. Business Development (BD) Support

  • Support proposal and tender submissions, including formatting, document preparation and input of corporate details.

  • Maintain organised records of contracts, proposals, and associate agreements.

  • Assist with basic BD reporting from CRM data.

6. Finance Administration

  • Support staff with purchases of equipment and other expenses.

  • Collect and record credit card receipts to support reconciliation.

  • Organise and code supplier invoices for processing by the Finance team.

  • Support the update purchase order and client invoicing trackers.

  • Provide day-to-day support for expense claims and timesheet processes.

  • Ad hoc support to the MD, Head of Finance and Operations and HR Manager as required.

Skills & Experience

Essential 

  • Proven experience in administration, operations, or HR support.

  • Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence engaging colleagues and external stakeholders.

  • Strong IT skills, including Google Workspace/Microsoft Office and online meeting platforms (e.g. Zoom, Google Meets, Teams).

  • High attention to detail and accuracy, with ability to keep records and processes well organised.

  • Experience handling sensitive or confidential information with discretion.

Desirable 

  • Experience working in a charity, social enterprise, or purpose-driven organisation.

  • Experience supporting recruitment campaigns, ideally using an applicant tracking system (e.g. BeApplied).

  • Previous HR administration experience (contracts, onboarding, staff records).

  • Experience coordinating events or office logistics.

  • Familiarity with systems such as CMAP, Slack, Zoom, TravelPerk, Miro, Google Drive or other organisational tools.

Attributes & Values

  • Proactive and adaptable, able to take initiative and find solutions.

  • Friendly, approachable, and supportive, helping to build positive relationships across the team.

  • Discreet and professional, with strong judgement when handling confidential matters.

  • Detail-oriented, reliable, and committed to delivering high-quality work.

  • Enthusiastic about fostering an inclusive, supportive, and people-centred workplace.

  • Represents the Innovation Unit’s values of equity, transparency, and collaboration.

Timeline:

First round interviews will take place between 3rd and 7th November over video call. Final screening interviews with the Managing Director and completion of an aptitude test will be in the week commencing 10th November online.

All candidates will receive an email confirming that their application has been received. After this, we will only contact the applicants that have been selected for interview. Feedback on your application will be given through the Be Applied system.

Due to the nature of our work with children and vulnerable adults, Innovation Unit operates a Safer Recruitment policy. All offers of employment will be made on the condition of a DBS check being carried out and we will ask for two references.

Removing bias from the hiring process

Start your de-biased application

x

Removing bias from the hiring process

  • Your application will be anonymously reviewed by our hiring team to ensure fairness
  • You’ll need a CV/résumé, but it’ll only be considered if you score well on the anonymous review

Start your de-biased application