Operations & Finance Manager

Our Operations and Finance Manager is moving on to become the CEO of another charity that inspires him. While we're genuinely sorry to see him go, we're incredibly proud that his time here has supported his development into a charity leader.

His departure creates an exciting opportunity to join us at a pivotal moment. With a new five-year business plan, growing partnerships, increasing recognition and ambitious plans, we're looking for someone who wants to play a central role in helping our organisation thrive.

This is more than an operations role.

It is an opportunity to become a trusted senior colleague in a small, ambitious organisation where your work will directly influence how we grow, develop and deliver our mission.

About PORe

Portraits of Recovery (PORe) is a contemporary visual arts charity rooted in lived experience of substance use and recovery.

Working with artists, communities and cultural institutions, we create ambitious contemporary art that challenges stigma, broadens understanding and changes how recovery is represented in public and cultural life.

Our work advances Recoverism, a social and cultural movement that recognises people in recovery as artists, cultural contributors and agents of change. Through exhibitions, commissions, participation, research and public programmes, we create opportunities for people to shape how their experiences are represented and understood.

Our work has received growing national recognition, including the acclaimed year-long Recoverist Curators exhibition at The Whitworth, nominations at the Manchester Culture Awards in both 2025 and 2026, and nomination for the Museum Changes Lives Award 2026.

About the role

Working closely with our Founding Director and CEO, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, operational management and financial oversight of PORe.

You will be a key member of our senior team, helping translate organisational ambition into practical action. Your work will create the structure, systems and confidence that enable our artistic programme, partnerships and future development to flourish.

The role combines:

• Financial management, budgeting and reporting.
• Staff support and line management.
• Governance, compliance and organisational planning.
• Operational leadership and problem solving.
• Coordination of resources, systems and organisational priorities.
• Supporting delivery of our new five-year business plan.

As a small organisation, no two weeks are the same. One day you may be reviewing cash flow, preparing trustee information or supporting a funding return. The next you might be helping resolve an operational challenge, supporting colleagues or improving systems that make our work more effective.

You'll have the freedom to take ownership, make decisions and improve how we work while knowing when to seek advice and collaborate with others.

About you

You are someone people trust.

You enjoy helping organisations run well and understand that success depends as much on supporting people as it does on spreadsheets, processes and budgets.

You are practical, organised and resourceful. You can work through complex problems, make sound decisions and follow things through to completion. You are equally comfortable focusing on important details and keeping sight of wider organisational priorities.

You may currently work in a charity, arts organisation, social enterprise, community organisation, public sector body or mission-led business.

Your current job title matters less than your experience, judgement, values and ability to take ownership of operations, finance and people management in a small organisation.

You do not need a background in contemporary art or lived experience of recovery, but you will be excited by our purpose, respectful of the communities we work alongside and motivated by the opportunity to contribute to meaningful social and cultural change.

Why join PORe?

This is an opportunity to:

• Play a genuinely influential role within an award-winning and growing charity.
• Work directly alongside our Founding Director and CEO on organisational development and future direction.
• Help shape the delivery of an ambitious new five-year business plan.
• Be trusted to take ownership and improve systems and processes.
• Work within a supportive, collaborative and values-led team.
• Develop your leadership experience in a role with significant responsibility and visibility.
• Contribute to innovative contemporary arts programmes that challenge stigma and create social change.

What you will receive

• Salary of £35,000 per annum.
• Permanent contract.
• 35-hour working week.
• 28 days annual leave including bank holidays.
• Flexible home working by agreement.
• Opportunities for learning, development and increased responsibility.
• A supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

How to apply

Please read the recruitment pack and submit:

• A covering letter or statement demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria, with examples of relevant experience.
• A current CV with referee details.
• A completed equality monitoring form.

Application deadline: Friday 20 November 2026 at 12 noon.

We encourage early applications and will review applications as they arrive. We may interview and appoint before the advertised closing date if a suitable candidate is identified and may close the vacancy early.

Notification of interview: By Friday 27 November, or earlier for candidates invited to an early interview.

Planned interview dates: Friday 4 or Monday 7 December. Early interviews may be arranged.

Planned start date: By agreement, subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and notice.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, including people with lived experience of recovery. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.