About us

The Birch Collective work alongside 16-25s experiencing mental ill-health or social isolation. Through nature-based creative groups, we support participants through their transition to adulthood, unlocking their potential to be resilient, motivated, and empowered individuals who can make positive changes in their lives.

We believe in the efficacy of nature based mental health interventions and to that end host a range of programmes including:

• Fresh Air Thursdays: a weekly land-skills and wellbeing session
• Camp Birch: A 4-night transformational woodland residential
• 1:1 Nature Based Mentoring: for participants in recovery from mental health crises/suffering from persistent health needs (commissioned by the NHS)
• Therapeutic Forest School: Working alongside partners we have developed this offer for young adults with profound disability (United Response) and ESOL students (The City of Bristol College), many of whom are asylum seekers & refugees. 
• Partnership work: Bespoke nature-based workshops for partner organisations such as the Princes Trust, OTR and others.
• Steering Groups: a series of participatory workshops exploring loneliness/ social action and a chance to have a say in what direction the Birch Collective takes in the following year. 

All of our programmes aim to build community and engender feelings of belonging, purpose and resilience. We co-design our programme with participants and offer space and support for them to develop practical and interpersonal skills via delivering mini workshops, and becoming peer representatives and volunteers. As a staff team we have experience in psychotherapy, eco-therapy, Forest Schools & play, community music, group work, heritage craft, forestry and ecologically-sensitive food growing. The Birch Collective (Birch) is now 4.5 years old. We are seeking someone to replace one of the co-founding directors during their maternity leave.

Role Outline 

In this vital role, the Operations Manager will support and work directly with the existing team and particularly the Director, reporting directly to them and replacing one of our Directors while they are on maternity leave. As this is a broad role, encompassing a number of different aspects that the outgoing Director has held responsibility for, we are looking for someone who is driven, fast to learn and has wide ranging experience.

You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to empower our board to take a more active role in the organisation and to place the views of 16-25 year-olds at the heart of our work. The Director will lead on finance and fundraising and will hold the strategic oversight of the business. You will lead on the smooth running of our operations including:

• Develop and implement a strategy for making the most of our board, empowering them to become more involved and take more responsibility within the organisation 
• Set up a youth shadow board in collaboration with the Director so the people we serve are at the heart of our organisation 
• Diversity and inclusion - a review of our current policies and practises and advice on how to improve them
• Oversee Birch’s key governance documents, including the Articles of Association and the organisations Strategic Objectives, and will be the policy manager for the organisation.
• Supporting the Director with finance, fundraising and strategic overview of the business 

If you don't meet these criteria but you feel would suit the role and have all of the relevant experience then please do apply.

As part of The Birch Collective you will:

• Be part of a small team where we employ sociocratic decision making where possible
• Have the opportunity to shape your role and make your mark on the organisation 
• Be part of an organisation that is making a positive difference in the lives of 16-25s
• 28 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Training opportunities and time for personal development/reflection 
• Have flexibility in working hours.

For more information please download Job description PDF