Contract: Full time – Permanent
Location: Dublin 8
Working Hours: 35 Hours per week
Salary: DOE
The Head of Operations at ALONE leads the delivery of efficient, and compliant operational systems that support the ALONE organisation. This role ensures the effective integration of cross-departmental functions that underpin ALONE’s national service delivery, strategic priorities, and values-driven culture. The Head of Operations plays a key role in maintaining operational excellence across functions such as quality, compliance, volunteer development, and business planning enabling all departments to deliver impact in a sustainable and coordinated way.
Responsibilities
Strategic Operational Leadership
- Provide organization-wide leadership in delivering a structured, accountable, and collaborative approach to operations.
- Translate ALONE’s strategic plan into operational practices and processes that support scale, service consistency, and compliance.
- Act as a key member of the Leadership Team, advising on operational risks, opportunities, and performance improvements.
Departmental Management and Integration
- Lead and coordinate the work of:
- Quality & Compliance
- Project & Change Management Office (PMCO)
- Volunteer Policy & Development
- Business Operations, Risk & Planning
- Facilities & Health and Safety
- Front Office services
- ICT & CRM Support
- Ensure cross-departmental alignment and that all teams are supported with the systems and infrastructure required for success.
Quality, Compliance and Data Protection
- Ensure all operational practices adhere to high standards, maintaining ALONE’s Quality Management System and compliance with internal and external audit requirements.
- Promote a strong organisational culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and compliance.
- Oversee GDPR adherence, complaints handling, audit schedules, and improvement and corrective actions (ICA) processes.
Project & Change Management
- Oversee ALONE’s Project and Change Management Office, including governance structures such as the Project Control Board (PCB).
- Support department leaders and project managers to scope and deliver cross-functional projects, aligned with organisational goals.
- Maintain frameworks and reporting structures to manage and prioritise change effectively.
Volunteer Programme Development
- Provide strategic and operational oversight of ALONE’s volunteer programme in line with national standards.
- Ensure procedures, systems, and supports are in place for recruitment, training, engagement, and well-being of over 6,000 volunteers nationally.
- Guide ongoing development and quality improvement in volunteer engagement through surveys, data analysis, and programme reviews.
Business Operations and Risk Management
- Support the CEO with cyclical business planning and risk management processes in partnership with the Leadership Team.
- Ensure accurate, up-to-date reporting for the CEO and Board on operational progress, strategic risks, and implementation of key plans.
- Oversee safe and effective facilities management and Health & Safety procedures across ALONE locations.
ICT & CRM
- Oversee the ICT Manager and CRM Team to ensure the operational environment supports ALONE’s digital and ICT related goals.
- Support the implementation of systems, technology, and CRM tools by aligning operational processes, governance, and quality practices with digital initiatives.
- Provide input on operational needs and capacity to national digital care strategies in collaboration with HSE and partners.
Additional duties as assigned
Essential skills & experience
- Minimum 5 years' experience in senior operational leadership, preferably in the non-profit, health, or public sector.
- Proven ability to translate strategic plans into effective operational systems and scalable processes.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and driving cross-functional collaboration.
- Expertise in quality management, regulatory compliance (including GDPR), risk, and health & safety frameworks.
- Track record in leading organisation-wide change initiatives and project governance.
- Solid understanding of ICT infrastructure and CRM systems to support digital transformation.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making skills at executive and board level.
- Strong alignment with ALONE’s mission and values, and commitment to continuous improvement and inclusion.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with stakeholders both internally & externally
- A collaborative team player who fosters strong internal and external relationships.
- Problem-solver, using innovation to improve service delivery and support independent older person and the people we serve.
- Strong time management and organisational skills to prioritise workload and meet KPIs.
Extra Benefits
- Salary DOE
- 35 Hour week (core hours 9-5) –Full-time employees can enjoy a 35-hour working week.
- Annual Salary Reviews
- Pension Scheme: Access our generous pension scheme after just 6 months service
- Time Off in Lieu
- Mileage Policy in place for applicable roles
- Death in Service - after 6 months’ probation successfully completed.
- Travel Saver Schemes
- Sick Pay Scheme -after 6 months’ probation successfully completed.
- Bike to Work Scheme
- HSF Partnership
- Horizontal Transfer Opportunities
- Comprehensive Training & Development
- Bespoke Induction Programmes
- Progression Opportunities
- Further Education Opportunities
- Employee Assistance Programme -ALONE provides a 24hour support programme for all our Employees
- GP telephone Advice
- Virtual Doctor
- Private Prescription Service
- 6 structured Counselling/ Emotional Wellbeing Service
- Legal Helpline
The closing date for applications is Friday August 1st.
ALONE is an equal opportunities employer.
#SM