Operations Director

About Us

Earth Rover Program is a new not-for-profit organization. Making novel use of cheap and dispatchable technologies, its purpose is to improve our knowledge of the soil, both enhancing scientific understanding and enabling farmers to raise fertility and crop production while reducing environmental impacts. In our first 2.5 years, we will benchmark and image soils below-ground, improving our understanding of their properties on sites around the world. This initial phase will enable us to refine the methodology before pursuing further development and deployment. Our approach has the potential to help address one of humanity’s most urgent challenges: feeding the world within environmental limits.

The organisation has been co-founded by Simon Jeffery, Reader in Soil Ecology at Harper Adams University; George Monbiot, author of Regenesis and Honorary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford; and Tarje Nissen-Meyer, former Professor of Geophysics at the University of Oxford / Professor in Environmental Intelligence at the University of Exeter; and Katie Bradford, Operations Specialist. 

About the Role

• Min 4 days per week, fixed term, 24-month contract
• Salary: £40,000-£45,000 p.a., depending on experience
• Application deadline: 8 December
• Remote and flexible working, with quarterly in-person team away days
• Opportunity to work in a new, high-profile, mission-driven organisation
• Supportive, inclusive environment, with a passionate and committed team 

Core responsibilities 

Finance

• Setting up financial systems and processes, including cashflow, project and funder reporting
• Overseeing bookkeeper and tracking grant expenditure
• Managing payroll and expenses, supported by outsourced team
• Managing weekly payment run
• Supporting annual accounts and audit processes 

Governance

• Supporting Board and Advisory Group with the development of systems and processes
• Supporting onboarding of new Directors and Advisory Group members
• Delivering operational updates to the Board
• Developing and maintaining a risk register 

Legal

• Supporting the ERP team with negotiating and renewing contracts, with pro-bono legal support 

Funding and fundraising

• Supporting ERP Board and team with all fundraising activities
• Monitoring current grants and funding pipeline 

Team

• Supporting with recruitment and onboarding
• Developing policies and company documentation
• Providing day-to-day operational support to ERP team 

IT

• Setting up and maintaining IT infrastructure, working with outsourced provider
• Reviewing and refining data protection compliance processes
• Supporting the team to use IT systems effectively 

Qualifications and experience

• A strong interest in all aspects of ERP’s core missions: climate action, agricultural innovation or soil ecology
• Experience working in an operations-focused role for a UK organisation, ideally within a small team
• Good working understanding across one or more key areas (finance, fundraising, HR, IT etc), with a willingness to learn in other areas
• Excellent writing and analytical skills - and great attention to detail
• Experience of developing and managing systems and processes
• Strong numeracy skills
• Team player, bringing a positive and proactive approach 

How to apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter via the 'Apply' button above, including employment status and notice period. 

Diversity and inclusion

We strive to create a fair and healthy environment where all colleagues feel valued. We aim to cultivate a culture of collaboration and respect, where our people are highly engaged, and individual contributions are celebrated. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

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