Join our team as an Operations Manager in Lancashire.
Are you a compassionate and collaborative leader, who wants to change people’s lives? Our team in Preston is looking for an experienced Operations Manager to join them in providing high-quality recovery care to a diverse client group. If you are enthusiastic, creative and passionate about helping and developing others, we’d love to hear from you.
This is a full time role working 37.5 hours per week on a fixed term contract until 28/02/2027. The salary for the position is £38,000 per annum. Please use the linked job description to support your application.
As a leading charity supporting people with drug, alcohol, and mental health challenges, we operate over 80 services across England and Scotland, providing free and confidential support to more than 100,000 people each year. Find out more about us here.
The closing date for this role is 23rd August 2026; however, please note that this role may close early should sufficient applications be received, so early application is advised. All applicants should submit a CV and a covering letter on why you would like to be considered for this role.
We provide emotional and practical support to young people experiencing challenges with drugs and alcohol across Lancashire. We have services in Preston, Burnley and Lancaster. Our teams work with people at every stage of their recovery journey - providing evidence-based psychosocial interventions, helping clients build resilience, exploring the root causes of substance misuse and achieving meaningful change. Learn more about us here.
This role will involve working across all three service areas in Preston, Burnley and Lancaster - as such a driving license and access to a vehicle is essential.
The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and managing staff teams, ensuring that they are well informed, inspired and engaged with the strategic objectives of WithYou. It is important that you promote a cohesive culture that is committed to delivering high quality recovery-orientated services. This includes standalone Young Persons teams, supporting young people up to the age of 25 and multiple partnerships with other services.
Key duties will include:
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Working closely with colleagues in the sector to demonstrate plans are in place and mechanisms exist to monitor delivery and achievement of goals
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Actively contributing to the extension of service provision and the development of new initiatives
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Managing or contributing to the management of service delivery budgets
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Ensuring staff receive appropriate training and support to deliver services
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Developing strong and positive relationships with key stakeholders and commissioners to ensure continuity of service
This post requires excellent leadership skills to work innovatively and confidently, supporting staff to develop in high performing recovery work, overseeing performance, quality assurance and safeguarding with the capacity to work within competing demands and tight timescales. You will work closely with the Service Manager and Head of Young People Service Delivery to ensure clear communication and a mutually agreed delivery of service.
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28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
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An extra day off for your birthday or a special occasion of your choice
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Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
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2 days paid volunteer leave per year
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Auto-enrollment into We Are With You’s pension scheme
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Access to a Blue Light Card - giving you great savings on big high-street and online brands
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Flexible working opportunities and access to a range of services and resources to support you with your wellbeing
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We have an excellent Refer a Friend scheme which offers you a £500 bonus for any recommendations, any role! Our scheme allows you to recommend your friends and family to work with us and earn a £500 bonus payment for every successful referral you make. Please note, the Refer a Friend scheme is only applicable once your recommended friend has been employed for 6 months
The most important things you can bring to this role is clear and inspirational leadership as well as experience in working collaboratively with partners. We’re open to discussions with candidates working in leadership roles outside of the drug and alcohol arena - for example, in mental health or housing. We’re most interested in your ability to demonstrate motivational leadership skills, with the drive to promote staff development and retention. You’ll have the support of a Head of Service Delivery and a wider team of experienced and dedicated stakeholders across the organisation.
If you have experience managing comparable services, as either an established manager or in a team leader or similar capacity and you are looking for the next step up in your career, we would welcome your application.
You should have:
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A proven track record of managing and leading drug and alcohol services or emotional wellbeing services (or comparable services)
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A sound understanding of safeguarding practices and experience in applying and managing these where applicable
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A demonstrable ability to provide inspirational and visual leadership
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The ability to interpret evidence and analyse problems to create viable, sustainable solutions
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Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to quickly establish credibility and make a positive impact.
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A driving license and access to a vehicle
As an organisation, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our staff. We know that representing the communities we serve is key to us meeting our vision of a future where everyone lives a life free from the harm associated with drugs and alcohol. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring and we encourage people from underrepresented communities and backgrounds to apply to join our team, including people with lived experience, people with disabilities, people from racialised communities, LGBTQ+ people, people of all ages and armed forces veterans.
As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates that are veterans and meet all the essential criteria for a role. With You is also a Disability Confident Employer and we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with a disability and meet all the essential criteria for a role.
If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we’ll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.
Please note that you will be required to provide 3 years worth of references and where applicable, undergo an enhanced DBS check, to be considered for a role at WithYou.
Please review our
before submitting your application.
