Operations and Engagement Officer Job Vacancy

Job Description: Operations and Engagement Officer

Job Title: Operations and Engagement Officer

Reports to: Centre Manager

Location: Whittington Park Community Association, Yerbury Road, N19 4RS

Contract: Part-time, Permanent. 20 hours p/w. (Mondays 12 – 5pm, Tuesdays 1 – 5pm, Wednesdays 1 – 5pm, Fridays 10 – 5pm)

Salary: £30,000 FT (pro rata £17,142.86 )

Location: Whittington Park Community Centre. No home working.

About Whittington Park Community Association

Whittington Park Community Association is a long-standing community centre in north Islington. We've been working for and with the community since 1970's and provide a range of programmes to help support local resident including Over 55's Social Club, two Youth Clubs and an Under 5's service. The centre is also used to hire to local people for parties, exercise and wellbeing classes, community meetings and much more.

Role Purpose

The Operations and Engagement Officer plays a key role in ensuring the smooth, efficient, and welcoming running of the community centre. This role blends operational oversight with community engagement — ensuring the building functions safely and effectively while fostering strong relationships with local residents, partner organisations, and centre users.

The postholder will be part of a small but committed team, maintaining excellent customer service, supporting operational workflows, coordinating activities, working with volunteers and helping create a thriving, inclusive, and vibrant community hub.

Key Responsibilities

1. Centre Operations

• Oversee the daily running of the community centre alongside the Bookings Manager and caretakers, ensuring it is safe, tidy, and fully operational.

• Work with the Premises Manager on rectifying building issues, liaising with contractors, suppliers, and maintenance teams.

• Support compliance with health & safety, safeguarding, and data protection policies. Safeguarding training is mandatory and will be provided immediately upon appointment of job.

• Monitor room bookings, set up spaces for activities, and ensure equipment is available and functioning.

• Assist with managing inventories, supplies, office systems, and centre resources.

• Support the Centre Manager with operational planning, reporting, and administrative tasks.

• Maintain up-to-date information on notice boards and around the centre

• Provide cover for colleagues.

2. Community Engagement

• Build positive relationships with centre users, partners, volunteers, and local organisations.

• Welcome visitors and provide excellent front-of-house service.

• Collect and analyse data to gauge member engagement, programme effectiveness, and overall satisfaction. Including assessments, case studies and surveys, both online and in person.

• Design and implement evaluation tools to measure and ensure the effectiveness of programmes.

• Support outreach initiatives to increase community participation and awareness of centre services.

• Assist in developing and delivering events, workshops, and engagement activities.

• Generate regular reports for management and funding bodies, demonstrating the impact of community engagement initiatives.

3. Administration & Data

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of attendance, bookings, feedback, expenses, outcomes and activity data for reporting purposes.

• Support funding applications by gathering evidence and stories of impact.

• Provide administrative support to programmes, projects, and centre initiatives.

• Assist in the preparation of monitoring reports for our funders.

• Provide administrative support to HR functions, including maintenance of HR records and our HR system, as well as supporting recruitment, references, DBS

4. Partnership & Volunteer Support

• Assist in advertising for, recruiting and coordinating volunteers, including communication, scheduling, and basic supervision.

• Provide guidance and skill development opportunities for volunteers.

• Support relationships with partner organisations delivering services at the centre.

• Help ensure smooth logistics for partner-led activities and services.

• Identify growth opportunities and provide recommendations to enhance and diversify the offerings at WPCA.

Working Conditions

• Some evening or weekend work may be required to support community events.

• The role involves light manual handling (e.g., moving tables/chairs for room setups).

Person Specification – Operations and Engagement Officer

Criteria	Essential	Desirable
Experience	Experience in customer service, administration, or community-facing roles Experience managing competing priorities in a busy environment Experience using digital systems (e.g., Microsoft 365, booking platforms)	Experience working in a community centre, charity, or public sector environment Experience coordinating events, activities, or volunteer programmes Experience collecting data for reporting, monitoring, or funding
Skills & Abilities	Excellent communication and people skills Strong organisational and time management abilities Ability to work independently and as part of a small team Ability to solve problems proactively and calmly	Understanding of community development principles Basic design skills (e.g., Canva, poster creation) Ability to contribute to community outreach planning
Knowledge	Understanding of the importance of safeguarding, equality, and confidentiality Awareness of health & safety in a public-facing building	Knowledge of local community needs and priorities Knowledge of GDPR and data protection best practice
Personal Qualities	Warm, welcoming, and approachable manner Flexible, reliable, and proactive Commitment to inclusivity and community empowerment	Familiarity with the local area and communities Creative approach to community engagement
Other Requirements	Willingness to work occasional evenings/ weekends for key events Ability to carry out light manual handling (chairs, tables, equipment)	First Aid qualification

References and DBS check

This role is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of this check.

Appointment will be subject to the receipt of two satisfactory references. We will request references from your current and/or previous employers. These will be obtained after a conditional offer of employment is made.

Safeguarding is of paramount importance and training will be given to the successful applicant upon starting the role.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than one side of A4, explaining why you would be a good fit for the role and addressing the person specification.

Send to jo.corrall@whittingtonpca.org.uk

For any questions, please contact the Centre Manager on jo.corrall@whittingtonpca.org.uk or 020 3848 9252

Application end date is 31st May at midnight.

Interviews to take place W/C 15th June