“Fi! There’s a bird flying in the sanctuary! Oh no, it’s now stuck above the kitchen ceiling!”
Let me give you a little insight into what a “day in the life” as the QP Operations Manager can look like. It is hard to capture it all, as no two days are ever the same, but this should give you a flavour of what my days can involve. My responsibilities cover a wide range of operational areas, including buildings and facilities management, personnel management, office management, financial and HR systems, communication and events coordination. Although these areas are distinct, on any given day my time is often split between them all.
As most of you will know, the office is located at The Point. Some days, I’m the first one there, so I open up the building, check the heating has come on (it can be temperamental), check for leaks or funny smells, and unlock the front door. From that moment on, you never know who will be ringing the bell throughout the day.
Once at my desk, I check what’s on the calendar for the day. We have regular external bookings at The Point, alongside our own Babyplay/Playtime, Renew Wellbeing Café, Life and Soul, etc. Corrin, the office volunteers and I catch up and make sure the rooms are ready for the groups coming in.
Once we are happy with what we know lies ahead for the day, I can begin to focus on my own work. I try to dedicate time to reading and replying to emails as early as possible, before the office gets too busy.
A big part of my day involves building management. We are blessed to have two magnificent buildings. However, they can cause problems and can keep you awake at night. I am so thankful for the Enabling Group and the Fabric Group for their support and work, as I couldn’t do it without them. Very often, I meet with a contractor to discuss an issue or get a quote for a specific repair or building project. Most of the time, it is for the Camphill building, so I walk over and enjoy some fresh air. There, I am met by our Church Officer, Davood, who is in Monday to Friday taking care of our building. We catch up, look at what’s happening during the week or weekend, and plan accordingly. The Camphill building also has regular events throughout the week, such as The Gathering, the Ladies Fellowship, the English Conversation Café, Park Run Café and an external dance class group. I make a note of supplies that need topping up and order from a range of suppliers. Weekly, during term time, we can have over 500 people at Camphill and 200 people at The Point. That’s a lot of tea bags, milk, toilet rolls and cleaning products.
Back in the office, I review risk assessments, focus on a specific aspect of our operational strategies and try to refine it, talk to our insurance broker, manage contracts with third party suppliers/contractors, and ensure bills are forwarded to the Finance Team to be paid. I’m regularly on the phone to our plumber to fix an issue with one of our nine boilers or toilets. One minute, I can be talking about sludge or air build-up, and the next I’m organising a games night for Global Focus. I catch up with our volunteer coordinators, and we plan events, message volunteers, discuss cleaning rotas, etc. Lunch gets squeezed in either in the kitchen or outside on a sunny day. Then with the rest of the staff team, we plan the weekend events/services and catch up every day. I’m also in touch weekly with the Enabling Group (part of the SLT). We review quotes, talk about projects, repairs and prioritise accordingly.
A final check in with Corrin and those around and just like that, it’s time to go home, via nursery, and enjoy some quality time with the family.
Like in any job, there are always unforeseen events or incidents, such as a bird making its way into the sanctuary a few hours before a big event and then getting stuck above the kitchen ceiling. There are also unwanted rodents visiting the sites, far too many pigeons, and the occasional invasion of ladybirds up in the gallery.
My goal every day is to make sure that our office runs smoothly, that our buildings are safe, and that every person who enters is welcomed and loved. Multi-tasking is key, and each day requires flexibility and focus, from the big things right down to the smallest details. Again, I couldn’t do it without the support and hard work of our amazing staff team and volunteers. On a daily basis, I am reminded of the words of Paul in Romans 12: 4 “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
We are all part of the same body, and it is a privilege for me to play my part as the Operations Manager. Even on the busiest or most unexpected days, I am grateful to see how each person’s contribution matters, and how together we strive to make QP a welcoming and caring place to encounter God.
Fiona
A Day in the Life
