United Kingdom: Operations Coordinator (part time)

Jul 30, 2023 | Conflict and Environment Observatory
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The Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) is a specialised charity monitors and raises awareness of the environmental and humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and military activities. CEOBS is seeking a highly organised and effective Operations Coordinator to support it in its mission.   

Position overview

This is an exciting opportunity to play an important role in supporting the delivery of its broad portfolio of research and advocacy projects, by ensuring that CEOBS is operationally robust.   

As a small and growing charity, it is looking for a dynamic, responsible and dependable individual who can anchor and oversee its governance, office, HR and financial systems. Since its launch, CEOBS has grown to 11 local and remote staff, supported by an increasingly diverse range of donors and funding sources. CEOBS is ambitious, and its further growth demands solid organisational foundations.

The successful candidate will support its Board of Trustees and Director on organisational governance. They will work closely with its accountants and book-keepers on financial management, reporting and projections, as well as with its donors, clients and suppliers, whether local or international. They will also be expected to contribute to HR processes and lead on HR policy development, as well as helping ensure adequate levels of support for staff.  

Core responsibilities

  • Governance: support the Board of Trustees, including by arranging and running meetings and assisting trustee recruitment, preparing minutes and the reports necessary for compliance and best practice.  
  • Human resources: ensure the ongoing development of HR policies and their implementation, manage time and holiday recording systems, and provide support to the Director and senior staff in the management of personnel.
  • Office management: maintain and develop its office, its information and communication systems, oversee staff meetings and record-keeping, and plan and manage events.
  • Financial: work closely with its book-keepers and accountants to ensure effective financial controls, manage and pay suppliers, budget and allocate resources, prepare financial projections and reports, and manage the financial reporting to different donors and clients.

Essential requirements

  • Commitment to and enthusiasm for its organisational aims.
  • Energetic, proactive and incredibly well organised.
  • Educated to degree level in a relevant field.
  • Experienced in developing systems and processes.
  • Experience of charity governance, ideally in a small charity setting.
  • Experienced in financial administration and management.
  • Experience with HR policies, and ideally in their development and implementation.
  • A keen eye for detail, and numbers, and comfortable in preparing written and financial reports for different audiences.
  • Excellent IT skills and a confident user of a range of office communication platforms and tools.   
  • Experience of using book-keeping software.
  • Knowledge of data management and compliance with GDPR.
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • As effective working alone as collaboratively in a small team.
  • Eligible to work in the UK.

Desirable requirements

  • Experience working in similar roles in the environmental or humanitarian disarmament sectors.
  • Comfortable using Google Suite as well as Microsoft products. 

What CEOBS offers


CEOBS welcome applications from all qualified candidates. As an organisation that seeks to affect change on a global level, CEOBS values the unique contributions of a diverse and inclusive workforce. CEOBS recognises that the environmental sector isn’t sufficiently representative of wider society, and that diverse voices and perspectives help CEOBS to understand its research, and to better represent those it is trying to help.

This role is being advertised on a flexible basis and CEOBS is prepared to consider a range of working arrangements, with flexible working hours and up to 50% of the post able to be home-based.

CEOBS also offers 

  • 4% employer’s pension contribution.
  • Contribution towards the costs of physical and mental healthcare. 
  • A relaxed and friendly workplace and the opportunity for the work to make a difference.

The post is currently funded for one year, with extensions subject to further funding. CEOBS offers 25 days holiday a year plus Bank Holidays, pro rata.

CEOBS is based close to Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, which offers direct access to beautiful countryside and a vibrant and progressive cultural life, and is 45 minutes by train from Leeds or Manchester. Interviews will take place in September.

To apply


Send a CV and covering letter in Word or PDF format, with name as the filename for both documents to: jobs@ceobs.org. CEOBS expects the covering letter to clearly outline suitability for the role, and directly address the requirements of the person specification above. CEOBS  is particularly interested in understanding how the applicant’s past experiences and skills could transfer to the role.

Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK; hybrid.


Salary: £31,500 pro rata

Hours: Part time – 28 hours.

Contract: 12 months, extension subject to funding.

Closing date: 25th August 2023