Operations trainee

Closing date for applications: 2nd September at 11.59pm

Bursary: £1,855 per month 

Start date: 4th November 2024

Duration: 12 months

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week (hybrid with at least two days in office)

Gain foundational experience and comprehensive insight into the smooth running of a leading think tank as an operations trainee.

Green Alliance is a charity and independent think tank, committed to achieving a greener future. It plays a central role in shaping environmental thinking in the UK and are known for its cross party influence, the clarity of its insights and the quality of its reports, briefings, events and podcasts.

A think tank is a research organisation that aims to influence government policy making. Green Alliance is a specific type of think tank; many are focused on supporting a particular party or part of the political spectrum, but Green Alliance is politically neutral and focused on policy that improves the environment. It draws up strategies for achieving change internally and with other organisations, doing research for reports and roundtables, and then meeting MPs and civil servants to persuade them to take action. Among other things, staff regularly talk to ministers, appear in newspaper articles and on TV and radio and give evidence to parliamentary select committees.

This an exciting traineeship opportunity to understand how a leading think tank operates at a granular level, while learning from an experienced operations team. You will learn the fundamentals of keeping an office running smoothly and how the operations team supports a team of around 40 people.

Key activities

• You will learn about and use systems, processes and digital tools that help us manage staff time, recruitment, stakeholder engagement and finances
• You will develop skills in minute taking, meeting co-ordination and presenting, through to preparing your own presentation for the team, towards the end of your placement
• You will learn about inclusive recruitment processes and play a part in supporting recruitment over the year
• You will have the opportunity to take the lead, with the team's support, in your own projects such as activities relating to equity, diversity and inclusion strategy
• You will also get a taste of the work we do communications by spending time with the communications team and supporting Green Alliance events
• You will grow your knowledge of how the finances work in a charity through spending time with finance colleagues and undertaking some basic finance tasks
• You will learn skills to support fundraising efforts, including prospect researching and using effective tools for monitoring and looking after key funder relationships.

What we're looking for

• Enthusiasm for supporting Green Alliance's vision of a green and prosperous future for all
• You are likely to be known for being well organised and able to ‘get things done’
• Diligent and proactive in your approach, with an ability to use your initiative
• Good attention to detail
• Ability to read and summarise complex information
• Collaborative: be able to work as part of a team and demonstrate good interpersonal skills
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise work and be flexible when plans change
• Good IT skills, with confidence using MS Office software platforms such as Word and Excel
• Confident in asking for clarification when not clear
• Ability to compromise and work in a non-partisan way
• At least five GCSEs including English and Maths graded five to nine (A-C).

When applying, consider how your experience, including any social or work experience you may have had, helps equip you for working at Green Alliance. We are interested in the life experiences you have had and how you may have overcome barriers to achieve your goals.

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk

This opportunity is only open to individuals from a group that is under-represented in the environmental sector and think tank sector. This includes, but is not limited to Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The successful candidate for this opportunity will also participate in a Creative Access support programme that sits alongside workplace training. This includes a programme of induction training, monthly masterclasses, wellbeing support, buddying / mentoring and more.