Operations Lead for The Chancery Lane Project

We’re seeking an Operations Lead to join our team.

This is an opportunity to apply your skills to help grow a dynamic, multifaceted and fast-paced project. You will help equip legal professionals to demonstrate real engagement in tackling the complex systemic issues of climate change and driving real world solutions.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with a strong understanding of, interest and experience in:

●    Law, both internationally and in the UK 

●    Fostering community, and

●    The application of technology for project, client and community management.

As an integral member of the team, you will both lead project activities, as well as provide effective and timely support to the project community, to other project team members, and its steering group at this crucial stage of our development, helping to continue the remarkable momentum and impact The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP) has already galvanised.

TCLP takes a beneficiary-centred and iterative approach to project development, and bases management on trust, team relationships and self-management. Successful candidates will have an appetite to engage with the project community and the team in these ways.

The roles will provide unrivalled experience across the legal sector.

We are recruiting the Operations Lead on a part-time or full-time basis.

The Head of Operations will lead on:

• Financial management, including budgeting, bookkeeping, financial reporting and payroll.
• Human resources, including recruitment.
• Office management, including IT, policies and internal communications.
• Establishing and maintaining organisational systems including institutional memory, and
• Establishing and maintaining governance and reporting systems.

In addition the Operations Lead will work with the executive director to develop strategy, governance and management systems ahead of incorporation and longer-term fundraising. They will also work across the team to address issues related to sustainability, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing, volunteer management, and other aspects of daily operations and organisational management as required.

The project requires an individual who can confidently manage all aspects of the organisation’s operations, and at the same time is interested in new forms of operations management and leadership that are aligned with building a global movement of lawyers and legal professionals committed to taking environmental action.

The responsibilities of the Operations Lead:

• Undertaking a comprehensive review of the current operations and creating a budgeted plan towards the desired operational set up.
• Putting in place and managing financial systems to suit the growing organisation, including grant management systems.
• Putting in place and managing human resources systems and policies required for new and existing staff, for example, PAYE/ pension as well as legally required policies such as grievance procedures, and employment contracts.
• Recruiting the required employees and consultants and putting in place robust onboarding procedures.
• Ensuring systems for reporting to funders and to CIVA (TCLP’s umbrella charity - www.civa.org.uk) are fit for purpose, including financial and audit functions, and leading on regular reporting to funders and to CIVA.
• Putting in place and managing organisational systems for effective internal communications, decision making and risk management.
• Managing the office and acting as central contact for service providers, IT, and support required by staff, for example, design and printing publications.
• Acting as a ‘governance anchor’ and company secretary, including interacting with regulators such as Companies House, The Charity Commission and HMRC.
• Putting in place a plan for governance as part of efforts to secure multi-year funding.
• Any other operational requirements that arise in the evolution of the organisation.

The Operations Lead will have the following attributes:

• Experienced in organisational development and of organisational systems.
• At least five years relevant fundraising and budget management, and experience of HR and recruitment.
• Knowledge and experience of company and/or charity governance and regulation, ideally as a company secretary or relevant support function.
• Strong background in monitoring and evaluation, with a willingness, and ideally experience, of non traditional approaches to this topic.
• Strong leadership, organisational, multitasking and decision-making skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication.
• Process management experience.
• Has effectively managed projects at a variety of levels.

The project

TCLP is a global effort of legal professionals to create practical legal solutions to reverse climate change. We do this by using collaborative problem solving to rewire contracts and laws, for use across the legal profession, to create new market norms.

Our vision is a world where every facet of the law and the legal profession enables solutions to the environmental crises facing our planet. A world where all individuals and organisations engaged with law can use it to have a positive impact on the environment. Our mission is to enable every lawyer, law firm and legal actor to take action to realise this vision.

Since our first legal hackathon in November 2019 we have been overwhelmed with support from the legal profession. With proof of concept and waves of momentum, we’re ready to scale our impact across the globe and throughout the corporate world.

You can learn about how TCLP works on our website and private events platform.

Following the confirmation of significant philanthropic funding we are now recruiting a range of roles to increase our capacity.

These roles will give an unrivalled experience across the legal sector and are a unique opportunity for the successful candidates to apply their skills. You will help equip legal professionals to demonstrate real engagement in tackling the complex systemic issue of climate change.

The salary range for this role is £45,000 to £60,000 FTE, depending on experience.