About Bristol Avon Rivers Trust
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the rivers of the Bristol Avon catchment for people and wildlife.
We work across urban and rural landscapes to deliver practical river restoration, natural flood management, climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and community engagement projects at a catchment scale. Our work ranges from removing barriers to fish migration and restoring river habitat, through to supporting regenerative farming, creating wetlands and woodlands, and engaging communities in citizen science and environmental action.
As the Trust continues to grow in scale, ambition and complexity, we are seeking an experienced and highly organised Head of Operations to help strengthen our organisational systems, support our team and enable the effective delivery of our strategic vision.
The Role
Job Title: Head of Operations
Location: Hybrid working – with regular attendance across BART offices, project sites and meetings within the Bristol Avon catchment.
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Flexible working arrangements considered.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Operations will play a central leadership role within Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, ensuring the organisation operates safely, effectively, efficiently and sustainably as it continues to grow.
This is a strategic and hands-on operational role overseeing organisational systems, support governance, HR, compliance, health & safety, programme management support and internal operations.
Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will help manage the organisations systems and culture needed to support high-quality delivery across a growing environmental charity.
The role will suit someone who thrives in dynamic organisations, enjoys problem solving and optimising systems, understanding and making sense of complexity, and is motivated by supporting teams to deliver meaningful impact and achieving the organisations goals.
Key Responsibilities
Organisational Leadership & Operations
Lead and oversee day-to-day organisational operations across the Trust
Develop and improve internal systems, processes and operational procedures
Support organisational planning and delivery against BART’s strategic objectives
Work closely with the CEO and senior managers to support organisational growth and resilience
Contribute to organisational decision-making and leadership culture
People & HR Management
Oversee HR systems, policies and procedures
Support recruitment, onboarding and staff development processes
Help foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
Support managers with operational people-management matters
Coordinate staff wellbeing and professional development initiatives
Manage a Project Management Office
Governance & Compliance
Ensure compliance with charity, company and employment regulations
Support the CEO with governance processes, trustee reporting and organisational policies
Oversee organisational risk management systems
Ensure appropriate insurance, contracts and compliance frameworks are in place
- Lead on operational health & safety systems and organisational compliance
Organisational Systems
Support organisational budgeting and financial monitoring alongside the finance and Senior Leadership team
Oversee operational procurement and contract management systems
Support implementation and optimisation of organisational systems, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and IT systems including cyber security
Improve internal reporting and programme coordination systems
Programme & Delivery Support
Support operational coordination across BART programmes and projects
Help ensure teams are appropriately resourced and supported
Improve organisational project management systems and workflows
Support efficient collaboration across delivery teams
- Contribute to organisational development opportunities and partnerships
Person Specification
Essential Experience & Skills
Significant experience in operational management, organisational leadership or business management
Experience developing and improving organisational systems and processes
Strong understanding of governance, compliance and organisational risk management
Experience supporting HR and people-management processes
Excellent organisational and project management skills
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to work strategically while also being comfortable with operational detail
Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
Proficient in Microsoft Office and organisational software systems
Desirable Experience
Experience working within the environmental, charity or public sector
Knowledge of charity governance and funding environments
Experience supporting organisational growth and change management
Familiarity with CRM systems and operational databases
Understanding of health & safety systems within field-based organisations
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone who:
Is highly organised, proactive and solutions-focused
Enjoys enabling others to succeed
Can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery
Is calm and adaptable in a growing organisation
Has strong emotional intelligence and leadership skills
Wants to help small organisations grow and deliver its goal of restoring rivers, landscapes and communities
Why Join BART?
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of one of the UK’s growing rivers trusts at a pivotal stage in its development.
You’ll join a passionate and ambitious team delivering meaningful environmental change across the Bristol Avon catchment, while helping build the organisational foundations needed for long-term impact.
Benefits
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas close
Flexible and hybrid working
9% Employer pension contribution
Professional development and training opportunities
Employee wellbeing support
Opportunity to shape a growing organisation with real environmental impact
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported.
We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities, particularly those underrepresented within the environmental sector.
Further Information
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:
Simon Hunter
Chief Executive Officer
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust
Email: [email protected]
To learn more about our work, visit:
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust
