Job Type: Full-time 5 days per week. Permanent contract. 6 month probation period. Reporting to CEO. To start ASAP.

Deadline for applications: 12pm Monday 9th May 2022

Salary: Grade D Scale point 1 £41000 to Scale point 5 £48000

Benefits: 5% pension contribution. 25 days holiday plus bank holidays. Mentoring scheme and training. 

Who we are

On Road Media is a charity supporting people and the media to create content that changes the world. Our thoughtful, vibrant team works with journalists, film makers, campaigners and everyday people in pursuit of powerful, effective communications on the most important issues of our times. 

We support people with first-hand experience of different issues to do safer, more strategic media work, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes. We bring people together with the media at “interactions”, inspiring fresh and nuanced content within popular culture.

We’ve done groundbreaking work, such as working with the soaps Eastenders and Emmerdale to introduce their first transgender characters and supporting the communication around the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Earthshot Prize. We created the Better Stories guide - a practical guide that supports people to do safe, strategic and effective media interviews.

Summary of the role

This is a varied, dynamic role leading the operational functions of On Road Media as part of our executive team. We are trusted and valued for our high-quality, compassionate delivery - and our unwavering focus on wellbeing. The Head of Operations and People plays a pivotal role in making sure this also applies to On Road Media’s internal practices. They manage the smooth running of the staff team and work practices. They help us to live our values every day and across all our work.

The post holder will work closely with the CEO and Director of Communications to support the organisation to continue to flourish - and to grow.  We are looking for someone who will manage our HR and operations functions, while understanding and responding to the needs of both the staff team and the organisation. They will be responsible for tracking and ensuring reporting is on time for On Road Media, both to funders and the Charity Commission, in line with our charitable status, purpose and values with oversight from the CEO and Trustees. This involves reviewing working practices, making sure safety regulations are followed, and ensuring legal compliance.

They will work closely with our CEO and Finance Manager to support the financial wellbeing of On Road, by providing input into project and funding budgets and ensuring grant payments are paid on time in line with grant reporting.

They will manage the HR functions with support from the administrator and external provider, Peninsula HR. They will ensure On Road has the skills and knowledge required to achieve its goals and that the policies and practices adopted are understood and put to good use. This will include managing, reviewing and maintaining the wellbeing action plan for staff and prioritising health, safety and the mental health and welfare of the team, whether working remotely or in the office.

They will be committed to our journey as an organisation prioritising inclusivity, overseeing and managing our equality, diversity and inclusion plan with the Board and team.  They will be an effective communicator, with good levels of emotional intelligence, and be responsible for co-creating a supportive, positive and effective workplace.

The post holder will need to be able to switch easily between problem solving and strategic thinking. They will bring a 'can do' attitude, be a confident decision maker and be able to manage multiple projects and tasks concurrently.

Our offering 

Working in a friendly office (in an Ethical Property building surrounded by other social enterprises and charities) and working remotely with a hybrid working policy in place. There is a framework for staff, including a work station risk assessment and health and safety action plan for flexible working. The On Road Media team have: 

• Optional well-being check-ins with managers – an opportunity to talk about experiences at work with optional Wellness Action Plans.

• Mentoring – each staff member is set up with an external mentor after the 6 month probation period.

• Training opportunities – as a small charity, we have a modest training budget but we try our best to access training opportunities through our funders for staff where possible and encourage staff to attend relevant sector events.

• Meeting amazing people through our networks of activists and journalists.

• Working alongside people who love what they do.

• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme with counselling and advice helplines.

Main responsibilities

HR and people

• Working collaboratively with the senior management team to identify and support an environment in which all staff can develop and progress.

• Working collaboratively with the executive team on the organisation’s strategy.

• Maintain the processes that allow our team to grow and flourish, including professional development, training, appraisals, performance management, probation periods, objective setting and reviews.

• Manage recruitment with support from the CEO. In partnership with other members of the team, prepare job specs, arrange advertising, short-listing, equal opportunities, interview panels and manage training for staff involved in recruitment.

• Manage HR practices and employee development and wellness action plans, with advice from consultants Peninsula.

• Foster and develop organisational culture with staff and maintain a positive and inclusive workplace environment – this includes conversations about inclusion, welfare, mental health, wellbeing and policies.

• Organises purchases for materials and services required for staff.

• Liaise and consult with other third sector consultants we work with on issues such as inclusion, diversity, performance, finance etc.

• Directly manage at least one member of staff.

Diversity, inclusion, belonging and equity

• Building and driving a core action plan which has been developed following a year-long organisation-wide consultation with Impact Culture, in partnership with our Board of Trustees with input from our executive team..

• Advising and consulting with the team on ways to weave inclusivity, equity, diversity, belonging and anti racism into all aspects of our work.

• Evaluating qualitative and quantitative data on diversity and inclusion and translating those insights into action.

Policies and procedures

• Develop and implement charity policies and statutory procedures we are required by law to uphold.

• Liaise and consult with pro bono law firms in order to update relevant legal policies.

• Manage systems and HR so that core operational functions achieve their objectives.

• With administrative support, ensure all policies and procedures are revised and up to date at all times.

• To confirm that health and safety regulations are followed and staff are trained.

• Ensure all staff, clients, volunteers, partners and network members are appointed in compliance with policies relevant to their role.

• Establish and continually review standards and frameworks for charity procedures.

• Maintain compliance across all our data protection policies and employee guidelines.

Finance and Reporting

• Work closely with our Finance Manager to ensure that finance and grant tracking systems are in place and are working effectively across the charity.

• Support executive team and Finance Manager with operational budgets and forecasting in monthly and quarterly meetings.

• Track reporting to funders, manage fundraising reporting and grant-tracking processes with administrative, fundraising support and Salesforce monitoring.

Essential Job Skills and Experience

We expect you to meet most of these criteria, however, we don’t expect you to meet every point and welcome applications where skills have come from a mix of areas.

• Experience in a people driven role or operations. 

• Experience of line management with a focus on staff development.

• Excellent communication skills – enjoys dealing with people and has patience and good listening skills. 

• Solid organisational skills including attention to detail, multi-tasking skills and ability to prioritise well, with consistency and accuracy.

• Experience of developing positive working relationships with teammates, funders and stakeholders.

• Excellent written skills and good general IT skills.

• Experience in problem solving when faced with challenges.

• Strong numeracy skills.

Values and Person Specification

• Friendly, warm, respectful with an ability to build trust.

• A motivating team player and efficient self-starter, with a demonstrably flexible and positive attitude towards work and colleagues.

• Ability to support and develop relationships.

• Personally invested in On Road Media’s mission, vision and values and collaboration-focused method of work.

• Committed to reflection and learning.

• Ability and willingness to both give and take constructive feedback with team members.

• Awareness of your own needs and resilience, knowing your limits under pressure.

• Confident to ask for help when you need it or offer support to others who may need it.

• Growing levels of self-awareness, including an understanding of how your background has shaped the opportunities afforded to you and how you relate to people from different backgrounds to you.

• Willing to develop emotional intelligence, including a growing ability to empathise with and appreciate others, creating opportunities for those you work with to grow.

Next steps

Deadline for applications: 12pm Monday 9th May 2022

To get started with your application, please see the top right of this page.

You’ll answer some questions that are related to the day-to-day aspects of the job. After the job closes, your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers.

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step. First stage interviews will be held in mid May 2022.

Please note that any offer of employment is subject to relevant checks. Please refer to our privacy statement and candidate privacy notice regarding treatment of your data.