Head of Facilities and Operations

• Inspire
• Address: Lindbergh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9QX
• Salary: £31,614 - £44,433 per annum (pro rata)
• Hours: 30 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent
• Reference: 0954

Inspire is seeking a Head of Facilities and Operations, to provide strategic and operational leadership for Inspire's central operations and physical spaces.

Your role to be ensure that our centres are safe, welcoming, well-managed and financially sustainable places where young people can access high-quality services and the wider community can take part in activities, events and venue hire.

About the role

The role has organisation-wide oversight of health and safety, facilities and building compliance, repairs and renewals, planned maintenance, security, business continuity and the effective day-to-day operation of our sites. It leads the development of a longer-term buildings strategy, using condition, risk, utilisation and financial information to identify future investment priorities and support informed decisions by the Senior Leadership Team and Trustees.

The Head of Facilities and Operations is also accountable for growing and managing venue hire and other appropriate income from our spaces, balancing commercial opportunity with Inspire's charitable purpose and the needs of services for young people. This requires effective planning of space, staffing and operational resources across days, evenings and weekends, with the flexibility to direct resources to the buildings and times of greatest demand.

The postholder will lead a mixed team of permanent and sessional staff, with direct line management of Operations, Bookings and Sales Leads and Facilities and Maintenance Officers who are responsible for the day-to-day coordination and supervision of sessional staff. The role will set clear standards, strengthen management accountability and ensure that teams work together to provide a consistent experience across all sites.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Facilities and Operations contributes to whole-organisation planning and decision-making and helps deliver Inspire's strategic priorities: Led by Youth, Driven by Insight, Growing with Purpose.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic and operational leadership for Inspire's centres, ensuring they are safe, compliant, welcoming and able to meet the needs of young people, staff, partners and the wider community.
• Developing and deliver a coherent buildings and facilities strategy, including repairs and renewals, planned maintenance, utilisation and future investment priorities.
• Growing sustainable income from venue hire and other appropriate use of Inspire's spaces while protecting service quality, charitable purpose and community access.
• Leading and develop Operations, Bookings and Sales Leads and Facilities and Maintenance Officers and the wider permanent and sessional workforce, creating clear accountability, consistent standards and flexible deployment across sites and operating hours.
• Managing operational budgets, suppliers, contracts, risks and performance information, ensuring resources are used effectively and decisions are evidence-led.

You will need to:

• An experienced operational leader with a strong track record of managing multi-site facilities, community venues or comparable public-facing environments.
• Able to move confidently between strategic planning and practical operational delivery, setting priorities and ensuring actions are completed.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety, facilities compliance, risk management, planned maintenance and contractor oversight.
• Commercially aware, with experience of developing income, managing venue or service performance and balancing financial objectives with organisational purpose.
• An effective people leader with experience of managing managers or team leads and creating accountability across permanent and sessional workforces.
• Skilled in budget management, procurement, performance reporting and the preparation of clear, evidence-based recommendations for investment.
• Highly organised and able to deploy people and resources flexibly across multiple locations, competing priorities and operating hours.
• A collaborative and inclusive leader who builds strong working relationships across services, support functions and external partners.
• Committed to safeguarding, equity and creating safe, welcoming environments for young people and communities.
• Willing and able to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends, and to travel regularly between Inspire sites.

Due to the nature of the role, a full driving licence and access to a vehicle will be required along with an Enhanced DBS.

About us

Inspire is a charity dedicated to helping young people discover their purpose and fulfil their potential. Each year, we support thousands of young people through education programmes, wellbeing services, and employment support.

We are passionate about creating opportunities and enabling young people to make positive choices about their future. Our team is made up of committed, supportive professionals who are driven to make a real difference.

What we will offer you

Join our fantastic team at Inspire and enjoy a range of benefits to enhance your own well-being, improve your work-life balance and most importantly make a difference to the lives of the young people we work with.

Here is what makes us a great place to work:

• Career development:  We invest in your future with access to training and opportunities for career advancement within the organisation.
• Your birthday off! After a successful probation period you will be awarded an additional day’s leave to celebrate your birthday so you can enjoy your special day without having to worry about work.
• Gifted leave:  We understand the importance of quality time with loved ones and that is why we gift additional annual leave over the Christmas period to staff, allowing you to fully enjoy the festive break.
• Annual leave and Pension contributions accrual: We recognise and reward your commitment. The longer you stay, the more annual leave and pension contributions you will accrue because loyalty deserves to be celebrated.
• Childcare support: We understand and recognise the importance of family and that’s why we offer your children free places (aged between 5-11 years) at our holiday clubs whilst you work, making it easier for you to balance your work and family life.
• Uniform: We make sure you feel part of the team with a professional, high quality uniform provided at no cost to you.
• Free parking: Enjoy the convenience of free car parking at all of our sites.

We believe in equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all.

We recognise the importance of flexibility and are committed to supporting different working patterns.

To find out more

For more information, please contact Andy Crump, CEO (Chief Executive Officer), by emailing [email protected]

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV (Curriculum Vitae) and Covering Letter by email to [email protected]

Please ensure your email is received prior to the closing date.

Closing date: 9.00 pm, 19 October 2026.

Interview date: Early November 2026.