North East Lincolnshire Operational Lead
Location: Based in North East Lincolnshire
Salary: Competitive, based on experience
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Reporting to: Operations Director
About Our Future
In every town, brilliant people are working to make things better. They spot what’s needed, bring others with them, and start creating change. But too often, they’re doing it in spite of the system, not because of it. Short-term funding kills momentum. Distant rules block action. And the people who live there rarely get to decide what happens next.
Our Future exists to change that. We help local people take control of their town’s future, together. We support a shared vision, connect energy and ideas, and help long-term funding flow to what matters most, as decided by the people who live there.
In North East Lincolnshire, we’re proving what’s possible when local people lead and the system gets behind them.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a grounded and ambitious leader who cares deeply about place and people. This is a rare opportunity to help grow a movement rooted in belief, trust and community-led action.
You’ll lead Our Future’s work across North East Lincolnshire. That means helping shape a bold, locally-owned strategy, building inclusive partnerships, supporting local governance and delivery, and ensuring the energy and ideas already alive in the area can turn into lasting change.
You’ll need to hold both the big picture and the day-to-day detail. You’ll be credible with a wide range of people, open in your leadership, and motivated by creating something hopeful with others.
Key Responsibilities
Place Leadership and Strategy
● Grow the movement by building belief, widening participation and connecting people who care about their place to each other
● Develop and support the local model that can sustain long-term change
● Lead the local delivery of Our Future’s strategy, ensuring it remains rooted in what matters to communities
● Organise inclusive and energising events that help build shared purpose, trust and momentum
Partnership and Collaboration
● Build and maintain strong relationships across sectors, including community, business, local government and funders
● Spot opportunities to connect people, align efforts and unlock change
● Be a confident and trusted voice for the ambitions of North East Lincolnshire in both local and national spaces
Team Development and Culture
● Support the recruitment and leadership of a small local team who share the vision and care for a thriving North East Lincolnshire
● Help build a working culture that reflects Our Future’s values: generous, practical, relational and ambitious
● Work with others to create simple and supportive ways of working that help people thrive
Experience and Skills
We're open about where you’ve come from. You may have worked in community development, business, public service or place-based change. What matters most is how you work with others and your commitment to creating a thriving future for North East Lincolnshire.
What you’ll bring:
● Experience of leading change in a place or within different communities.
● Strong project and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and relationships
● Great communication and relationship-building skills, with a calm and confident presence
● Experience of managing teams and creating inclusive environments where people feel trusted and motivated
● A practical mindset and an ability to turn vision into action on the ground
● A love of and commitment to Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham and wider North East Lincolnshire is highly desirable
Knowledge and Understanding
● Understanding of what helps places thrive and how to support citizen-led change
● A strong commitment to equity, inclusion and local ownership
● Appreciation of how to connect local action to wider policy and funding
Personal Qualities
● Warm and relational: you build trust quickly and value people’s stories and strengths
● Tenacious and thoughtful: you stay the course and act with care
● Practical and adaptable: you focus on progress, not perfection
● Collaborative and humble: you lead with others, not over them
● Positive and persistent: you believe in what’s possible and help others believe it too
Requirements of the Role
● Based in North East Lincolnshire
● The ability to travel independently is essential including access to a car and a full UK driving licence
● Willingness to travel to London on a regular basis and to events nationwide as required
● Right to work in the UK
What We Can Offer
● We offer the ability to work compressed hours in a 4-day working week, with a focus on high quality delivery and outcomes not hours. We prioritise wellbeing and flexibility, but we’re also a small and agile team. When key moments or deadlines come around, we all pitch in and support each other.
● Five weeks annual leave plus bank holidays and extra time off at the end of the year
● A 10% employer pension contribution, with a 3% employee contribution
● A values-led culture built on trust, flexibility and shared purpose
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We want Our Future to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. If you’re excited by this role but unsure whether you meet every requirement, please consider applying or getting in touch for a conversation.