Office Manager – Fulham Design Studio
Higham Furniture · London, England, United Kingdom
Tailor my CV for this job — freeHIGHAM FURNITUREOffice Manager – Fulham Design Studio
For more than 20 years we have designed in our Fulham studio and made everything in our own Hampshire workshop. We are proud of the relationships we build with clients, the quality of what we deliver and the considered way we work.The RoleThis is the role that keeps our Fulham studio running. You will be the first person a client speaks to, the person the design team relies on to keep projects moving, and the one who makes sure orders, deliveries and paperwork are right first time.It suits someone with a couple of years of office or studio administration behind them who is ready for more responsibility. You will work closely with the founder, the design team, our project manager and the workshop, and you will see every project from first enquiry to final installation.Beyond the day-to-day, we want someone who takes an interest in the whole business: who notices what is happening across people, projects and priorities, joins the dots and makes sure nothing falls between the gaps.We are moving to a new business system, Odoo, and a big part of this role is helping us get the most from it. We are a small business, so the job has real room to grow. If you have the aptitude and the appetite, we will invest in you, and we would like you to take on more of the day-to-day operations of the studio over time.What You Will DoEnquiries and clientsBe the first point of contact for phone and email enquiries, and respond to every new enquiry the same working day.Log each enquiry in Odoo, book design consultations and follow up so that no lead goes quiet.Keep clients informed throughout design, manufacture and installation.Projects and ordersTrack orders for bought-in items and materials, and chase suppliers on delivery dates.Check delivery notes and supplier invoices against purchase orders, and resolve any discrepancies.Work with the design team and project manager to schedule and confirm deliveries and installation dates with clients.Stay in regular contact with the workshop so the studio always knows where each project stands.Studio and administrationProvide diary and administrative support to the directors.Help with invoice processing in Xero.Run the studio day to day, keeping it organised, stocked and ready for clients.SystemsBecome the day-to-day owner of Odoo in the studio: keep the data accurate, build the reports the team needs and help colleagues use it well.Work with our implementation partner as we extend the system to more of the business.Spot where a process could be simpler or automated, and help put the improvement in place.What We Are Looking ForTwo or more years in an office, studio or project administration role. We care more about aptitude and attitude than a long CV.Curious about how the whole business works. You notice what is going on around you and speak up when something looks wrong.Accurate, careful work with orders, figures and written detail. In our business a wrong order means a delayed kitchen.Clear, warm and professional communication, written and spoken, with clients who are making a significant investment in their home.Organised and calm when several things need attention at once. You set your own priorities and do not wait to be asked.Confident with business systems, and able to show us something you set up or improved yourself. We use Google Workspace, Xero and Odoo.An interest in how AI and automation can take routine work out of the day.Happy working on site in a small, open studio where the team relies on you being present and focused.Helpful, But Not EssentialExperience in kitchens, interiors, joinery, construction or property.Experience supporting a design or sales team.Experience of Odoo, or of another CRM or ERP system.Bookkeeping experience or a qualification.How We WorkWe are a close-knit team that takes pride in craftsmanship and in doing things properly. Standards here are high and detail matters, because our clients notice and so do we. The people who do well here care about getting things right, say so early when something is going wrong, and follow through without being chased.Why Join Us?A respected, established company with a reputation for quality and integrity.A talented, friendly team of designers, makers and project managers.A design-led studio in Fulham.Real scope to shape how things run, and to grow the role as you do.How to ApplyPlease send your CV and a short covering note.Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview at the studio, which includes a short practical exercise based on the day-to-day work. If you need any adjustments to take part, just let us know.