Head of Operations

The Public Interest Research Centre is hiring a Head of Operations to oversee strategic direction and operational development. This hybrid role is based in Machynlleth, UK, allowing for remote work and requires travel as needed. Responsibilities include strategic leadership, HR management, and coordination of staff development. The position offers a salary of £42-45,000 for 24 hours per week and includes benefits like a pension and training budget.
Job DescriptionYour main role is to be a senior member of the PIRC team, holding responsibility for overseeing PIRC’s strategic direction and vision, and leading on organisational and operational development to ensure the financial health of the organisation.

Title: Head of Operations

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid - based at PIRC offices in Machynlleth, as well as your home address, with travel when necessary.

Salary: £42-45,000 (£25-27,000 pro rata). This is the base rate for our socially-just pay policy, which can provide additional salary based on personal need.

Hours: 24 hours over 3 days, usually between Monday to Thursday, with 1:1 toil system (hours or days earned for working beyond your set hours)

Job-sharing: Unfortunately applications for job-sharing this role cannot be considered.

Holiday: 28 days (17 days pro rata, including bank holidays)

Additional Leave: We operate a two-week (paid) winter closure period. This is non-contractual leave and it does not count towards your annual leave allowance. Closure period dates are reviewed and confirmed annually.

Benefits: NEST Pension 3% employer contribution, External Mentor, Annual Training & Development Budget,Free eye test & contribution to glasses.

Deadline to apply: 9:00am, 14th July 2025.

Interviews: We’ll carry out remote interviews online, on 22nd and 23rd July 2025.

Preferred start: October 2025, negotiable.

This role requires that you are resident and have the right to work in the UK.

PIRC works to support our movements—for equality, anti-oppression, and climate justice—to tell better stories for a just world:

We connect diverse groups, in participatory spaces, to share knowledge, develop strategies and strengthen movements;We carry out strategic research to support this work;And we create and openly share resources and tools for developing better strategy and communications. For us, this work is not just about communication: our practices must reflect and strengthen the stories we tell, and the values that underpin them. Our approach is strongly rooted in the social sciences, and is led by principles of:

liberationconnectionparticipationcreativityWe advocate an approach that can be used by grassroots groups with limited financial resources, who often find themselves excluded by mainstream strategic communications work.

The Role:

Strategic Leadership

With the Head of Programmes, co-lead, as part of a collaborative process with the full staff team, the development and review of the operational strategy and budgetPlan and facilitate Core Team MeetingsProvide oversight and input into funding applications and reportsProvide oversight and input into Board development and governance processesProvide oversight over annual, quarterly and monthly planningCoordinate quarterly staff residentials (timetabling, logistics, agenda overview, facilitation)Play an active role in the organisational restructure and its evaluation and review, including development of this role.Team Leadership & People (HR) Management:

Oversee HR & legal practices (e.g. policy guidance)Coordinate the development of PIRC’s organisational policies and staff handbookCoordinate recruitment, induction, exit processes and job descriptionsOversee staff development: appraisals, mentoring, anti-oppression 121s, skills audits, and all-team training needs Oversee individual staff training and personal development needsProvide support to Core team members (such as Fundraising Lead and Finance Lead) Oversee confidential and/or official People processes (such as grievance, performance & disciplinary procedures; long-term illness processes and workplace adjustments), utilising the support of the People subgroup and People Support Co-op (PIRC’s external HR support)Oversee anti-oppression planning and development Provide oversight over TOIL and Annual LeaveInstitutional Administration & legal

Liaise with PIRC Board ‘People SubGroup’Liaise with Financial Lead / Company SecretaryAssociates and consultancy work

Coordinate the set up and contracting of new consultancy/external workOnboard and set up contracts for associates and CDT (PIRC’s delivery advisory group) members



Salary: GBP 36000 - 54000 per year

Experience: 5 years required