Operations Manager

Animate supports artists to experiment, collaborate and produce bold animation projects. We are a catalyst for connection. We believe that artists’ animation empowers people to see their world differently. Animate was established in 2007. We are an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) and are based in Derby, working across the UK.

You will work closely with the team, Board of Directors, stakeholders and partners to keep the organisation running smoothly and enable it to deliver a high-quality artistic programme. You will contribute to programme development, fundraising, evaluation and reporting.

Responsibilities include:

• Financial management
• HR administration
• Contributing to planning and developing the programme, assisting with writing funding applications: collating data, drafting budgets, and timelines
• Reporting to ACE, maintaining risk register, contributing to evaluation
• Governance: Board meetings administration, submissions to Companies House
• Systems: developing, implementing and reviewing company policies and procedures, lead on environmental sustainability, overseeing IT systems and management of the archive
• Duties in common with all Animate staff: supporting the vision, mission, values and objectives of Animate; ensuring all work is delivered in line with Animate’s policies including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; contributing to and participating in a collaborative working environment; engaging in continuing professional development

We seek someone who is personable, proactive, assertive, ambitious, resilient, and creative in outlook, with:

• Senior management experience in a similar role
• Experience of financial management, writing and monitoring budgets, producing management accounts and cash flow forecasts
• Project management experience, working with a range of partners and stakeholders
• Experience of contributing to successful funding applications and a good awareness of the cultural funding landscape
• Experience of supervising other team members/volunteers
• A passion for arts, culture, film, animation
• Strong communication skills with excellent verbal and written skills and thorough attention to detail
• Understanding of the requirements of running a small-scale arts organisation, including the legal requirements for companies and reporting to funders is desirable
• Awareness of Arts Council England grants systems and reporting requirements is desirable
• Knowledge of independent animation practice is desirable
• Experience of arts programming or project development is desirable
• Ability to work remotely
• A commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive space for staff, partners, artists and audiences

Remote working, with some UK travel
Hours: 21 per week, worked flexibly.
Term: Part-time (0.6 FTE), fixed term to March 2028, with possibility of extension subject to funding
Salary: £21,000 per year (£35,000 full time equivalent pro rata)
Start date: 1 April 2026
Applicants must hold the Right to Work in the UK.

Deadline: noon, 7 January 2026

Follow this link for full details.