This is a key, commercially focused role, driving sales and marketing, as well as managing and enhancing the operational and financial performance of the centre.
The EpiCentre is a purpose built innovation centre, home to a community of ambitious innovators, creatives and businesses in South Cambridge. 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.
Background:
The Centre Manager will report to the Commercial Manager and will be supported by an Assistant Centre Manager, Customer Experience Assistant, Laboratory Supervisor and Innovation Director.
Major objectives of the role:
- Profile and Reputation: Act as a figurehead for the Innovation Centre locally, regionally and nationally, creating success, selling and marketing the product offering whilst enhancing its reputation for excellence
- Commercial Excellence: Overall management control and accountability for the financial and commercial performance of the centre, and to deliver all aspects of sales, marketing, and operational activities for the centre to attract new customers and ensuring the retention of existing occupiers
- Relationship and Account Management: Cultivate the working partnership between Oxford Innovation and our client (building owner, Jaynic Property Group), the onsite Café operator (Pinch) along with other partners to identify and develop areas of collaboration and joint initiatives
- Operational Excellence: Deliver a world class service to the Innovation Centre community in facilities, support and collaborative connections and the training and development of centre staff
Main duties and responsibilities:
Sales and Marketing
- Promote available space in the centre on pre- agreed commercial terms
- Target potential customers by networking with influencers, public sector and inward investment bodies as required
- To promote and generate revenue from various products available in the centre including the onsite cafe
- To ensure the centre and service offering is fully exposed to the market to maximize revenue opportunities
- Liaison with Oxford Innovation Space Marketing Team to assist in preparing marketing collateral suitable for the centre
- Identify, recommend and implement local marketing initiatives
- Identify additional revenue creating opportunities to optimise financial performance
- Maintain an awareness of Oxford Innovation Space's range of services, projects and expertise and promote appropriately to partners and clients
- Be an ambassador and develop a destination with an ethos in the centre that supports customers to connect, collaborate and create a sense of community
- Maintain an awareness and interest in the centre clients' business performance and problems and signposting to the Innovation Director as necessary
- Develop and maintain links between the centre and organisations in the local economy, both public and private
- Liaise with the centre's sponsors where appropriate
Financial
- Provide Financial Management Information to include monthly billing, revenue collection and financial reporting, demonstrating a good understanding of P & L reports and managing costs
- Compile financial targets across all revenue lines with close management of expenses against budget
- Control cost lines in the business within budgetary guidelines. Make recommendations on OPEX (operational expenditure) cost savings.
- Present annual budgets with recommendations on price increases, proposed local strategies and CAPEX (capital expenditure) requirements.
- Recommend and implement potential areas where additional revenue can be generated.
Team Development
- Centre team management of three members of staff and any temporary workers
Operational
- Set, monitor and develop the standards of the building's presentation, including cleanliness, health and safety and security, by implementing the agreed standard operating procedures and monitoring criteria with the centre team.
- Develop a culture of quality service and customer care in all areas by encouraging open and honest feedback from the staff and tenants, through regular tenant surveys and staff coaching
- Promote and build the centre's reputation for exceptional standards of customer care
- Ensure that an appropriate competent employee is always on duty and able to deal with emergency procedures
Experience:
- Proven track record of exceeding sales targets and driving revenue growth in the operational running of an asset of the size, character and quality of an Innovation/Business Centre
- Evidence of excellent negotiation skills within a previous role
- Developed and executed sales and marketing plans to achieve centre objectives
- Excellent account management, and delivering on contractual obligations and KPIs
- Refined networking skills demonstrated through the ability to maximise revenue opportunities
- Clearly identifiable leadership skills in order to manage a team within a service environment, ensuring overall performance is maximised
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
What's in it for you?
- Salary of up to £43,000 pa, depending on experience
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Attractive flexible benefits package
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; we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.