Assistant Centre Manager

Fareham Innovation Centre is the gateway of the engineering, marine, and aerospace industries in Hampshire. Discover outstanding workspace to create, inspire and innovate among some of the brightest minds in the business, with our flexible office space, coworking and workshop units in Fareham. Founded by the Oxford Trust in 1987, Oxford Innovation Space (OI), is the UK's leading provider of innovation centres, supporting the growth of early business stages through flexible and affordable workspace – office, workshop or laboratory – and a network of Innovation Directors providing information and guidance.

The Assistant Centre Manager is a key role in enhancing the sales, community engagement, operational and ultimate financial performance of the centre. Oxford Innovation Space operates a network of innovation centres that provide flexible workspace including offices and workshop facilities and business support services to companies throughout the UK. Our clients are start-ups, high growth SMEs, investors and also public sector organisations that contract with us to deliver innovation centres and programmes to business.

The Assistant Centre Manager will report to the Centre Director and will be supported by Customer Experience Assistants. The Assistant Centre Manager should expect to work directly and closely with the Centre Director and other members of the centre team including the Innovation Director.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Operational

• Assist with setting, monitoring and developing the standards of the building's presentation, including cleanliness, health and safety and security.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and mandatory obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Maintain and deliver the Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) schedule.
• Assist in Procurement and management of Contractors, Suppliers and Consumables.
• Implement the agreed standard operating procedures and monitoring criteria with the centre team.
• Maintain Centre Asset register & Contract Database.
• Manage all maintenance of the centre and oversee the works through to completion.
• Manage assets, stock and inventory and replenish consumables where required.
• Assist in setting up, reporting and maintaining in-house IT systems.
• Ensure information is dealt with in accordance with GDPR and Money Laundering Regulations.
• Maintain records and documentation to comply with our Quality Management System ISO9001:2015 & ISO14001.
• Develop a culture of quality service and customer care by encouraging open and honest feedback from staff and tenants, assisting with regular tenant surveys and staff coaching.
• Promote and build the centre's reputation for exceptional standards of customer care.
• Ensure an appropriate competent employee is always on duty and able to deal with emergency procedures in the absence of the Centre Director.

Financial

• Support the Centre Director with Financial Management Information including invoicing customers and debt management.
• Assist in budget planning and monitoring of expenditure and cost.
• Assist in financial reporting and demonstrate an understanding of Profit and Loss.
• Raise purchase orders.
• Reconcile invoices and ensure compliance for audit.

Team Development

• Manage Reception staff and temporary cover.
• Assist with recruiting and coaching the centre management team to ensure high levels of customer service.

Sales and Marketing

• Support the Centre Director in promoting available space in the centre on pre-agreed commercial terms.
• Assist in generating revenue from various products available in the centre.
• Identify additional revenue creating opportunities.
• Promote Oxford Innovation Space's range of services, projects and expertise to partners and clients.
• Develop a community of entrepreneurs within the centres.
• Maintain an awareness and interest in the centre clients' business performance and problems and signpost to help.
• Assist in preparation for conferencing, events, meetings and catering for the centre.
• Ensure the centre is fully exposed to the market to maximize revenue opportunities.
• Assist in preparation of marketing material and initiatives suitable for the centre.

Experience:

• Experience in the operational running of an asset of the size, character and quality of the relevant centre.
• Previous experience in a letting office environment preferred.
• Management skills to manage a team within a service environment, ensuring overall performance is maximised.
• Evidence of negotiation skills within previous roles.

Personal Competencies:

• Attention to detail/completer finisher.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills, tactful and persuasive.
• Highly self-motivated and proactive with a desire to contribute to the company more widely.
• Client and customer services focussed.
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask.
• Motivate, lead and delegate tasks to team.
• Team player and team leader.
• IT literate.

What's in it for you?

• Salary of £28,500 to £31,500 per annum, depending on experience.

• 25 days' holiday plus Bank Holidays, pro rata.

• Flexible benefits package comprising:

• Contributory pension.

• Ability to increase or decrease amount of annual leave.

• Ability to increase or decrease amount of life assurance cover.

• Private medical and dental insurance.

• Health screening.

• Bicycle purchase.

• Charitable Giving.

If you think you could be a great member of team and would like an exciting opportunity in return, then this is the role you have been looking for – click ‘apply' today to become our new Assistant Centre Manager or to find out more information about the role. We would love to hear from you!

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we would advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.