operations manager

Job description

Panathlon Operations Manager

Organisation: Panathlon Challenge (Panathlon Foundation)

Location: UK (Office in Stansted/Essex) – hybrid working possible (office, events, travel)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Responsible for: Operations team, logistics, event delivery, supplier management, health & safety, systems/processes

About Panathlon Challenge

Panathlon is a registered charity (no providing sporting and volunteering opportunities for young people with disabilities and special educational needs across England and Wales. The charity delivers over 1,000 external events each year and engages thousands of young leaders to officiate and support its programmes.

Role Purpose

The Operations Manager will ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of Panathlon's programmes and events by leading the operations function, managing resources, systems, logistics and suppliers, and ensuring high standards of health & safety, compliance, and participant experience. This role is pivotal in enabling Panathlon to scale its impact, maintain operational excellence and deliver a safe, inclusive sporting experience for children and young people with SEND.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations team across event delivery, logistics, venues, equipment, and staffing.
• Oversee the planning, scheduling and execution of events across the UK (both on-site and virtual/hybrid), ensuring budgets, timetables and quality standards are met.
• Develop, implement and maintain operational systems, processes and best practices (e.g., venue booking, transport, catering, equipment hire, staff/volunteer deployment).
• Manage and develop relationships with suppliers, venues, contractors, and third-party service providers.
• Lead on health & safety, safeguarding, risk assessment and compliance for all events and operations (ensuring that the programme is safe, inclusive and meets regulatory standards).
• Work closely with the COO, Event Managers, Finance, Communications, and Fundraising teams to ensure operational alignment with strategy, budgetary constraints and organisational priorities.
• Monitor operational performance, generate metrics/insights (e.g., number of events, participant satisfaction, cost per event, incident reports) and produce reports for senior leadership and trustees.
• Drive continuous improvement: review and refine operations post-event, incorporate stakeholder feedback (schools, participants, young leaders) and introduce efficiencies to enable growth.
• Support the training, development and deployment of young leaders and volunteers involved in Panathlon events.
• Be prepared for travel across the UK, occasional out-of-hours work (event weekends, evenings) and hands-on problem-solving on event days.

Person Specification

Essential skills & experience:

• Proven experience in operations, logistics or event delivery (ideally in the sport, education or charity sectors).
• Strong project planning and organisational skills, able to manage multiple events/streams concurrently.
• Experience of managing budgets, suppliers and operational contracts.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills (working with schools, venues, volunteers, regional teams).
• Strong understanding of health & safety, safeguarding, risk management in events or youth/volunteer settings.
• Ability to analyse operational data, generate insights and drive improvements.
• Ability to travel and to work flexibly (including some weekends/evenings when needed).

Desirable skills & experience:

• Experience working with young people with disabilities or in inclusive sport programmes.
• Commitment to inclusion, equity and the social model of disability (working with children/young people with SEND).
• Experience in virtual or hybrid event formats.
• Familiarity with volunteer management and young-leader programmes.
• Experience working in a charity/third sector environment.

Terms & Benefits

• Salary: £40,000
• Holiday entitlement: 25 days + bank holidays
• A chance to deliver meaningful impact and work with a passionate team across the UK