Centre Manager

We are looking for an exceptional Centre Manager to help us ensure that everyone who works in and visits our Centre is well looked after and has a fantastic experience. 

The role is based at our beautiful Grade 2 listed building in Southwark. We will consider either a full-time application for a period of maternity cover, or a part-time job share of the role, with the potential to extend beyond the initial period of maternity cover. On application, please detail your availability (and preferences) for working between 16 and 40 hours per week at our Centre. Working patterns can be flexed for the right candidate(s). Remote working is not appropriate for this role. 

Our Centre houses an amazing collection of 25,000 children’s books as well as being a training and event centre for teachers, publishers and everyone else who works with children’s literature and cares about children’s literacy.

This is an extremely interesting and varied job. In one week you could be doing any number of things from ensuring our teachers can access the right equipment for their training, to planning a book launch with our librarian, welcoming our trustees to a meeting, scoping and overseeing maintenance works around our building, or looking after a famous children’s author.

We have a friendly, talented and committed team working both from the building and remotely. We are looking for a special person to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently

Reporting to our Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), our Centre Manager will:

• Ensure efficient processes and quality facilities are in place to support the daily operations of our staff, our visitors and other organisations that share our building
• Maintain the building to ensure that the Centre can function as a public space that looks great, and is secure and safe
• Be a welcoming and generous host for visitors to our Charity and for event hires at the Centre
• Support the DFO in maintaining HR systems and processes that adhere to best practice
• Ensure our staff have the tools available to do their best work by overseeing the outsourced IT support company and maintaining our IT systems and assets.

The person we are looking for will have:

• amazing organisational skills and the ability to work and manage others under pressure
• excellent attention to detail and a commitment to evolving systems and processes that make everything more efficient
• excellent customer service skills and experience
• the ability to liaise and communicate effectively with a wide range of people within and outside of the organisation
• a good knowledge of building management and the ability to maintain clear and comprehensive records
• a willingness to engage, negotiate and hold suppliers accountable for quality service provision
• confidence working with (and supporting staff to work with) Microsoft Office and online platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Usual hours are within 9am to 5pm but the post requires occasional out-of-office hours and flexible working in order to fulfil event commitments. The Centre Manager is the first point of contact for any building issues that occur out of hours, supported by our security and external keyholder companies.

A generous holiday allowance is provided - 30 days a year for a full time position (rising to 35 after 5 years service) plus Bank Holidays and closure between Christmas and New Year.

If you are interested in being part of our team and taking on this key role, we’d love to hear from you. We are scheduling interviews as applications are received. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now with your CV and a statement detailing how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role.   Please aim to keep your statement within a one page document.