Operations Manager

6-Month Fixed-Term Contract

Location: London, full time in office Monday through Thursday. Occasional requirement to work additional days (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) subject to business needs.

Salary: £60,000 per annum (pro rata - £48k 4 day week)

Start Date: Immediate

Reporting to: Director of Production & Operations

Our client, an award-winning independent production company is seeking an experienced and hands-on Operations Manager on a 6-month fixed-term contract.

You will be responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the office, supporting key business operations, leading workplace projects including an office relocation, and acting as the central point of contact for day-to-day IT and HR matters.

This is a pivotal, hands-on role at an important moment for the business: over the course of the contract, you will lead our office relocation from planning through to move-in, making sure the transition is well-organised and causes minimal disruption to the teams working around it. Given the scale and timing of this project, candidates must bring hands-on experience of having led a similar office move or workplace relocation before - this is essential to the role, not simply desirable.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive and solutions-focused individual with experience managing office environments. They will be highly organised with excellent attention to detail, confident managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, and comfortable working in a fast-paced creative environment.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the office, ensuring a safe, professional, and efficient workplace.
• Manage and support the Office Assistant / Front of House function to maintain high workplace standards.
• Monitor office budgets and manage operational expenditure.
• Ensure office facilities, equipment, meeting rooms, and resources are fully maintained and operational.
• Drive workplace initiatives that enhance employee experience, engagement, and company culture.
• Act as the primary point of contact for IT, managing relationships with external support providers and coordinating issue resolution.
• Oversee IT equipment, software licences, and technology requirements for new starters, leavers, and office projects.
• Lead and deliver the office relocation project, managing timelines, budgets, risks, and stakeholder communications.
• Coordinate landlords, contractors, suppliers, fit-out teams, and removals providers to ensure successful project delivery.
• Manage office fit-out, IT infrastructure, business continuity planning, and post-move transition activities.
• Lead Health & Safety compliance, including risk assessments, workplace inspections, fire safety, and emergency procedures.
• Act as the first point of contact for HR administration, escalating complex matters to external advisors where required.
• Manage employee benefits, onboarding, offboarding, policy updates, wellbeing initiatives, and HR record keeping.
• Build strong relationships across the business and act as a trusted contact for workplace and operational matters.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on operational performance, project progress, risks, and recommendations.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in an Operations Manager role or similar.
• Essential: proven, hands-on experience leading an office move or workplace relocation project from planning through to completion - this is a core requirement of the role.
• Experience managing change communications and keeping staff engaged through periods of organisational change.
• Confident negotiating with landlords, contractors, and suppliers to secure favourable terms and manage costs.
• Comfortable acting as the first point of contact for IT queries and coordinating with external/managed IT service providers.
• Experience managing day-to-day HR administration, including benefits, wellbeing, and policy management, ideally with experience working alongside external HR or legal advisors.
• Strong knowledge of Health and Safety regulations and workplace compliance for an office environment; a NEBOSH or IOSH qualification is desirable, given sole responsibility for office Health and Safety in this role.
• Experience overseeing facilities management and office operations.
• Experience coordinating with IT teams or managed service providers.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.