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- Tasks: Manage daily operations, events, and facilities for a vibrant literary organisation.
- Company: Join the Society of Authors, the UK's largest trade union for writers and illustrators.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team making a real impact in the literary world.
- Qualifications: Experience in operations or office management with strong organisational skills.
- Other info: Diversity is key; we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 49000 £ per year.
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £35,000 per annum
Location: Office based, London WC1R 4EH
The Society of Authors (SoA) is the UK's largest trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators. We’ve been advising authors and speaking out for the profession since 1884. We’re currently looking to welcome an Operations Manager to our team. Our offices are based on Bedford Row / Theobalds Road in Holborn, London.
The role of the Operations Manager ensures all building facilities run smoothly on a day-to-day basis. They are responsible for the efficient daily operations of our offices and the building, ensuring these are cost-efficient, environmentally conscious and proportionate for a small, not-for-profit organisation. The Operations Manager is an integral part of the Operations Team, playing an important role in ensuring the smooth running and welcoming atmosphere of our offices, directly supporting both internal teams and tenants.
This is a multifaceted role. The successful candidate will need to be able to think on their feet, have good time management skills and enjoy wearing more than one hat.
Key duties and responsibilities
- Front of House / Event Management
- Welcoming all visitors to the SoA building at Bedford Row.
- Managing the post/packages into and out of the building.
- Responsible for managing the Front of House/Operations Assistant and Groups Administrator, including day to day supervision, absence management and ongoing development.
- Responsible for managing the Events Space bookings calendar.
- Managing all events for tenants and external hire from inception to completion including catering as agreed with the client, cleaning team and room set-up of the Events Space.
- Working with the SoA Events Team for internal and member events ensuring that the logistics for room set up and cleaning are in place.
- Acts as a central point of contact for all staff for various Ops/logistics issues.
- Facilities Management
- Maintain compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation and best practice, including fire safety, COSHH, RIDDOR and DSE assessments.
- Ensure all checks, risk assessments and remedial actions are implemented in a timely manner.
- Providing health and safety training to all new joiners.
- Ensure the office maintenance plan is kept up to date and all regular maintenance/services are booked, and any identified issues are resolved.
- Organise the maintenance and PAT testing of all electrical equipment.
- Fire Warden/First Aider for the ground floor (training will be arranged if required).
- Proactively ensuring the office facilities remain safe, clean, fully‐equipped and operational.
- Point of contact for all staff and tenants in relation to office and building issues and queries.
- Responsible for managing office contracts, negotiating the renewal of existing and new contracts.
- Obtaining quotes for any maintenance/repairs works required and carrying out due diligence checks on all new contractors.
- To have a key role in the organisation's sustainability policy ensuring the purchase of all office provisions considers cost and any environmental and ethical impacts.
- IT Coordination
- Liaise with external IT support providers as necessary ensuring SLAs are adhered to and effectively resolve IT issues.
- Maintain a laptop register and prepare and maintain an annual rolling plan for renewal of old equipment.
- To oversee the migration of SharePoint data to the new CRM system in 2026.
- To be involved in any IT projects that need to integrate with our office systems (O365, SharePoint and One Drive).
- To be responsible for IT support for the office laptops and office systems (windows, O365, One Drive and SharePoint) ensuring that there is a maintenance contract in place and this is reviewed on a regular basis.
You will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support business requirements as requested.
Person specification
Essential skills and experience
- Proven experience in operations or office management
- Strong organisational skills
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills
- IT Literacy including Microsoft 365, One Drive and SharePoint
- Experience of organising events
- Knowledge of health and safety legislation
- Knowledge of data protection legislation
- Ability to work in a team and independently
Desirable skills and experience
- First aid qualification
- Fire Marshall training
- Experience of the not for profit or charity sector
- Experience of the publishing industry
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our values - we endeavour to tackle structural discrimination and prejudice wherever we see it. Part of this commitment means we are looking to increase the diversity in our organisation at all levels. We strongly encourage applications from a broad range of social, cultural, educational and underrepresented backgrounds.
Financial assistance
The Book Trade Charity offers financial help to applicants (particularly those under the age of 30) looking for jobs in the book trade, including help with interview costs, affordable housing and accommodation.
Society of Authors offers in return
As a progressive and ethical not-for-profit organisation, we offer a range of benefits to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. We’re a London Living Wage and Disability Confident – Committed.
Benefits include
- Competitive salary
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service benefit
- Employee assistance programme
- Flexible hybrid working practices
- Family‐friendly, disability‐confident inclusive culture
- Generous annual leave, including bank holidays
- Salary exchange pension scheme
- Interest‐free annual travel card loan
- Office closure over Christmas
Colleagues can work over the Christmas period, although the building is closed. For those who wish to take additional time off, this will be deducted from your annual leave allowance.
As an employer, we nurture a working environment in which staff can grow and develop and there may be opportunities to take on increased responsibility as experiences grow. We recognise the value of flexibility in the way we work with a positive culture of hybrid working practices. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you.
If this sounds like your next opportunity, apply today with your CV and a covering letter.
Closing date: 14th Jan 2026
First interview: online w/c 26th Jan and second interview in person w/c 2nd Feb.
Operations Manager in London employer: HR Solutions Ltd
Contact Detail:
HR Solutions Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company before your interview! Research the Society of Authors, their values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on how your skills in operations management can directly benefit the SoA.
✨Tip Number 3
Dress the part! Make sure you look professional and feel confident. First impressions matter, especially in a front-of-house role like this one.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the position. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in operations and office management, and don’t forget to showcase your organisational skills and IT literacy!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for the SoA. Mention your passion for supporting writers and how your skills align with our values.
Showcase Your Event Management Skills: Since this role involves managing events, be sure to include any relevant experience you have in event planning or management. We want to see how you can contribute to creating a welcoming atmosphere at our offices!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and stands out to us!
How to prepare for a job interview at HR Solutions Ltd
✨Know the Organisation
Before your interview, take some time to research the Society of Authors. Understand their mission, values, and recent initiatives. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
✨Showcase Your Multitasking Skills
As an Operations Manager, you'll need to juggle various tasks. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed multiple responsibilities. Highlight your time management skills and how you prioritise tasks to ensure smooth operations.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think about potential challenges you might face in this role, such as managing events or handling facilities issues, and prepare structured responses on how you'd tackle them.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions ready. Inquire about the team dynamics, upcoming projects, or how the organisation measures success in this role. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the organisation is the right fit for you.
