Operations Manager

Ashinaga UK is seeking a driven, proactive and detailed-oriented Operations Manager to join our team. This part-time role (4 days per week) is an excellent opportunity for a professional who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment. The Operations Manager will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of Ashinaga UK, supporting internal administrative, financial, compliance, student recruitment and programming functions as we aim to empower future Young Leaders for Africa through the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI). The Operations Manager will work closely with the Managing Director, Programme Manager and Partnerships Manager to ensure the organisation runs effectively and efficiently. The Ashinaga UK team is small but motivated to see orphaned youth empowered.

About Ashinaga:

The Ashinaga movement was founded in Japan in the 1960s and has since expanded across the globe, empowering over 110,000 orphaned youth with access to education and support to achieve their full potential. The Ashinaga Africa Initiative was launched 10 years ago with the aim of equipping future leaders for Africa through undergraduate scholarships and leadership development opportunities. Ashinaga UK is proud to be part of this global movement, contributing to the mission of transforming lives and communities through education. Our work is primarily in the UK through collaboration with key university partners and donors.

• Pension: Ashinaga UK will match pension contributions up to 8% of the basic salary
• Holiday Allowance: Pro rata (based on full-time equivalent of 28 days per year, in addition to public holidays)
• Start Date: April or May 2025

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Managing Director to ensure efficient operations and resource management.
• Support the team in executing strategy, scholarship programmes, and fundraising initiatives.
• Develop and optimise operational processes for efficiency and compliance.
• Lead on financial administration, including processing invoices, expense tracking, liaising with accountants and budget forecasting.
• Coordinate outsourced support including Bookkeeping & Accounting, Audit, IT, and act as organisation s key point of contact.
• Programme operations related to scholarship events, such as logistical support, coordinating travel and accommodation for Scholars and staff, administrative tasks, and summer internship grant approvals.
• Support scholarship recruitment, including application assessment, interviews, and liaising with university partners.
• Manage digital systems (CRM, project management tools) and data for both internal and Scholar use.
• Lead data management and support various reporting requirements (Trustees, Donors, Charity Commission).
• Support the Director to ensure compliance with charity regulations, health and safety standards, GDPR, and risk management.

Essential Criteria

• Right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor visas.
• Role is based in London, however applicants throughout the UK are encouraged to apply. The role requires travelling to London or elsewhere in the UK from time to time.
• Availability to work weekends on the rare occasion, such as for our annual student leadership events.
• Strong administrative and strategic experience.

Desired Criteria

• Knowledge of charity law and regulations.
• Bookkeeping and financial reporting experience.
• Experience coordinating or supporting with events, such as charity programmes, donor receptions, corporate sponsor events, and webinars.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with organisational objectives.
• Able to efficiently use a wide range of online tools, including spreadsheets, databases, and cloud-based applications.
• Experience using CRM systems to manage and analyse data and produce reports.
• Fundraising or programme management experience is a plus.

Personal Characteristics

• Passion for Ashinaga UK's mission: A genuine commitment to empowering orphaned youth through education and supporting the Ashinaga Africa Initiative's mission.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: Strong relationship-building abilities, with the capacity to engage and manage a variety of stakeholders, including donors and corporate partners.
• Adaptable and resourceful: Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with some degree of ambiguity, able to create processes that may not yet exist and get involved in projects that may require learning new skills.
• Organised and detail-oriented: High level of attention to detail in managing data, creating processes that require buy in from various stakeholders, and ensuring accuracy in communications and documentation.
• Self-motivated: Ability to work independently, take initiative, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Collaborative mindset: Willingness to work closely with colleagues, volunteers, and external partners to achieve shared goals.

Other Information

• Ashinaga UK takes a flexible approach to working, with core hours and an understanding and consideration for work-life balance and personal commitments.
• Interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis, so we encourage early applications.
• Ashinaga Association in the UK is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and ensuring that all job applicants receive fair treatment, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Please note: we are not accepting applications from agencies.