Operations Lead

£50k-65k plus benefits (dependent on working pattern and experience). The full job description covers all associated skills, previous experience, and any qualifications that applicants are expected to have. 37.5 hours per week (typically 9am-5pm Monday to Friday).

Matthew Cox is a B Corp furniture and lighting company looking for a proactive, versatile operations lead to keep processes running smoothly and safely. You will hold the systems that keep production moving stock, purchasing and scheduling as well as looking after the team: health & safety, HR, 1-2-1s and learning and development. You will also sit on the management team, bringing simplicity to complex situations and playing a key role in B Corp and industry compliance.

This role suits someone from any production environment who is genuinely engaged with the products and the people making them, and who would rather coach teams to take ownership than manage everything directly. Helping build our team culture as the business grows matters just as much here as the day-to-day operations. Experience in a luxury production setting is an advantage, since consistency at the point of delivery is what our reputation is built on.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Keep stock, purchasing and workflow moving smoothly across the making and finishing teams.
• Bridge workshop and studio, keeping every process connected and the working environment efficient and fulfilling.
• Coach teams to own their quality checks, planning and day-to-day decisions, building independence rather than centralised control.
• Champion consistent quality across every product category, closing the gaps that form between teams.
• Run BrightHR, overtime and rotas, and hold regular 1-2-1s and performance reviews.
• Grow the team through training and development, building technical skill alongside confidence, communication and resilience.
• Support recruitment and navigate people matters with care and confidentiality.
• Look after health, safety and wellness in the production environments, keep statutory compliance on track, and manage relationships with maintenance contractors and service providers.
• Handle financial administration in Xero (purchase orders, supplier invoicing, cost tracking), liaising with finance on payroll and month-end reporting.
• Turn productivity and cost data into sharper processes, efficiency gains and pricing decisions.
• Drive B Corp evidence-gathering and other industry standards.

ESSENTIAL FOR ROLE

• Genuine commitment to purpose-led business.
• Empathy and a talent for building teams.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven commercial and strategic thinking.
• Understanding and interest in B Corp and/or other sustainability standards.
• Strong grasp of production accounting including Xero software/apps.
• Enthusiasm for technology and innovation.
• Interest in design/craft.
• Background in furniture or luxury manufacturing.
• Highly proficient with spreadsheets, organisational software and AI tools.

OUR VALUES

• Positivity - We fulfil our roles in an engaged, enthusiastic and empathetic way.
• Simplicity - We engage in continuous improvement to simplify and enhance efficiency in our work. We communicate with clarity and kindness to build understanding and collaboration within the team.
• Quality - We consistently commit to doing the right thing, even in the small details, to create a supportive environment and help everyone succeed.
• Purpose - We carry out our roles with clarity and purpose. We're each clear on what we would like to do more of/less of/none of in the future.

Matthew Cox is a B Corp company of designers, makers, curators and innovators creating furniture to last over a hundred years. As a third-generation antique dealer, Matthew distils his knowledge into a collection of made to measure and bespoke pieces which complement our ever-changing selection of antiques.

We work in Stamford, Lincolnshire which is regularly named as one of the best places to live in the UK. The studio is located in a 17th century townhouse and we make our furniture and lighting in and around an original 1930s Dutch barn with views of Rutland's fields.

Always out of the ordinary is the guiding principle for our company, and although that line was conceived with furniture design in mind, it applies to every part of our company. Diversity, originality and authenticity are intrinsic to everything we do. As are the principles of fairness and open-mindedness.

Building a positively diverse team means encouraging applications from underrepresented groups including minoritised/marginalised ethnic groups, all gender identities and expressions from the LGBTQA+ community, candidates with a disability and those who practise different faiths and beliefs. If you're not a British or Irish citizen you'll need permission to work in the UK.