We're Hiring: Deputy Director

We are recruiting for a Deputy Director for The Burton at Bideford. Application deadline: 10am, Tuesday 1 September 2026.

The Deputy Director (Operations and Business Development) is a new senior leadership role that will work in close partnership with the Director and Board of Trustees to improve strategic effectiveness and sustainable growth. Created to support the next stage in The Burton's development, this role will translate strategic ambition into practical delivery, ensuring the organisation has the leadership, systems and operational capability needed to achieve its long-term goals.

The Deputy Director will lead organisational planning, internal operations, financial planning and performance, while supporting business development, commercial activity and income growth. They will oversee the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable The Burton to operate effectively, make informed decisions and deliver its ambitions.

Job Details

Job Title: Deputy Director
(Operations and Business Development)
Contract: Full time (37.5 hours per week)
Duration: Two-year fixed-term contract. We hope this role will become a permanent part of our senior leadership team, subject to securing sustainable funding. There is a three-month probationary period.
Salary: £45,000 per year
Hours: The Burton works on a 7-day rota and the hours can be worked flexibly over the full week dependent on operational need. Some weekend and evening work will be required on a rota basis.
Location: The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Occasional flexible/home-working is offered but the majority of the working week will be at The Burton.
Responsible to: Director
Responsible for: Commercial Operations Manager, Finance Officer, Operations and Front of House Coordinator-day rota and the hours can be worked flexibly over the full week dependent on operational need. Some weekend and evening work will be required on a rota basis.

Person Specification

Potential applicants may already be in a similar role or feel ready to take the next step in developing their careers and contributing to an ambitious organisation at a pivotal moment of its journey. Experience of working within the arts or charity sector may be an advantage to this role but is not a requirement – we are excited to explore transferable skills from other sectors.

You do not need to meet all of the person specification but we are excited to meet candidates with:

Significant experience in operations, business development and/or a senior leadership role.
An ability to translate strategy into practical delivery, balancing competing priorities within a small or medium-sized organisation.
Demonstrable experience contributing to organisational planning, budgeting and performance management.
Confidence using financial information, budgets and management reporting to support decisions.
Experience supporting income generation through commercial activity, partnerships, fundraising or business development.
Experience leading, supporting and developing teams and creating collaborative working cultures.
An understanding of HR process and experience in policy development.
Experience as a designated safeguarding lead or a willingness to complete a level three safeguarding training and undergo an enhanced DBS check.
A track record of improving systems, processes or ways of working to increase organisational effectiveness.
Strong communication, relationship-building and influencing skills with a range of stakeholders.
An understanding of governance, risk and compliance within a charity, public or mission-led environment.
Experience working in museums, galleries, charities, visitor economy, public sector or mission-led organisations.
An understanding of charity finance, restricted/designated funding, grant reporting and project accounting.
Part-qualified or qualified finance qualification (for example AAT Level 4, CIMA, ACCA, ACA) or equivalent professional experience with an understanding of cloud-based accounting software (Xero desirable).

We are looking for someone who is:

Strategic but enjoys making things happen.
Financially confident and commercially aware.
Able to build trust and work collaboratively.
Comfortable moving between strategic thinking and operational delivery.
Excited to work in a small organisation where responsibilities are varied and interconnected.

Key Dates

If you have any questions while making your application, require this information in a different format or would like to have an informal discussion about the role please get in touch with Jo Jones, Company Secretary: secretary@theburton.org.

Application deadline: 10am, Tuesday 1 September 2026
First interviews: Monday 14 September 2026
Second interviews: Date to be confirmed

How to Apply

Please download the full Recruitment Pack and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.

The Burton at Bideford is an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer who understands the benefits of diversity so that everyone – irrespective of individual identities, background, or any personal characteristics – receives fair and equal treatment in a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment.

To apply for the position, please email secretary@theburton.org with the following documents:

An up to date CV
A cover letter no longer than two A4 pages telling us why you are interested in this role and what you can bring to it
A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

If you would prefer, your cover letter can be delivered in video or audio format – no longer than 5 minutes.