Chief Operations Officer

Age UK Bristol
- Hybrid working – Withywood Centre, Bristol (BS13), other AUKB offices & home
- Full-time – 35 hours per week
- £45,000 - £46,800
- Senior Leadership Role

Lead change. Shape services. Transform ageing in Bristol.

Age UK Bristol is on a mission to change the way we age. We work to ensure people aged 50+ can live well, stay connected, and remain independent for as long as possible—while helping to make Bristol a truly Age Friendly city.

We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Operations Officer (COO) to join our senior leadership team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation and services.

About the role

This is a unique opportunity to lead operational excellence at a respected local charity while driving meaningful change across the city through a major new strategic initiative. This role is currently covered on an interim basis; we are now seeking to appoint a permanent postholder through an open and competitive process.

As COO, you will:

• Lead, manage and develop our services to achieve high-quality outcomes
• Work closely with the CEO to deliver our strategic vision and organisational growth
• Take a leading role in organisational development and change management
• Build and strengthen partnerships across Bristol and beyond
• Oversee safeguarding, compliance, and quality standards across all services
• Lead the co-development of Bristol’s Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Planwith key partners
• Deputise for the CEO when required

You will directly manage our Service Managers and embed a collaborative, “team of teams” culture—ensuring our staff feel connected, supported and empowered to deliver excellent services. You’ll also play a crucial role in delivering our vision to firmly establish Bristol’s role as an age-friendly city, where older people are valued, empowered and supported to thrive.

About you

We are looking for a strategic, values-driven leader who also has a strong operational background, a keen understanding of ageing and age related matters and a passion for improving later life.

You will bring:

• Significant senior management experience, ideally in the charity, public or health sector
• A strong track record of leading services and delivering organisational change
• Experience of overseeing safeguarding and risk management
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire high-performing teams
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking, using evidence and data to drive decisions and improvements
• A good track record of raising funds and managing grants and contracts
• Excellent and proven innovation skills
• The ability to build effective relationships with partners, funders and stakeholders

An understanding of the needs of older people—and the wider VCSE sector—is essential for this role.

Why join Age UK Bristol?

At Age UK Bristol, you’ll be part of a passionate and collaborative organisation where the staff and volunteers make a real difference to people’s lives every day.

We offer:

• The opportunity to make a difference - to shape services that directly impact older people’s lives
• A key leadership role in a respected local charity
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• A supportive, inclusive and values-driven culture
• An excellent team of staff and volunteers to work alongside.

Our values

We are looking for someone who shares our commitment to being:

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Age-positive and empowering
• Supportive and caring
• Proactive and creative
• Collaborative

Interested?

If you are an experienced leader who wants to create lasting impact for older people in Bristol, we would love to hear from you.

👉 Apply now and help us reimagine ageing in Bristol.
To apply, request an application pack for the role by emailing hr@ageukbristol.org.uk or calling the admin line at 0117 928 1530

Deadline for receipt of applications: 12:00 noon on Friday 29 th June

Interviews will be held on: Monday 13 th July 2026 at Withywood Centre, Queens Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol BS13 8QA