Office Manager & Project Support (9-12 Months Fixed-Term Maternity Cover) in Exeter

The Office Manager is responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of the office, providing administrative and project support to the Directors and senior staff. This is a fixed-term role for 9 months, with the possibility of extending to 12 months covering maternity leave, to maintain continuity within the business.

Shadbolt Group is a construction design consultancy offering Architectural Design, Civil and Structural Engineering, and Geo-Environmental services nationwide. With two offices: our main head office in Team Valley, Gateshead, and a southern office in Northamptonshire.

• Oversee the daily operation of the office, taking calls, welcoming visitors, maintaining meeting rooms, the main office, and the kitchen areas alongside the domestic assistant.
• Replenish office and kitchen supplies, print consumables, stationery, and staff uniform/PPE.
• Liaise with external suppliers such as HR, IT, Telecoms, and Energy Providers to ensure office systems run smoothly.
• Manage booking out and regular inspections of the shared pool car, ensuring rules are being followed by staff.
• Minute taking during meetings, typing up notes, and circulating action trackers.
• Assisting Human Resources administration, including recruitment, compliance documentation, and maintaining attendance records, holiday and sickness, supporting probationary reviews, as well as performance and disciplinary matters.
• Provide administrative support, as required, to the Directors, Finance Manager, and senior staff.
• Maintain office procedures, filing systems, spreadsheets, and internal administrative processes.
• Supporting project work, outsourcing 3rd party quotations, creating purchase orders, and liaising with clients to book in surveying works.
• Booking travel and accommodation when required.
• Lead onboarding arrangements for new starters, including workspace setups, uniform, and inductions.
• Organising office functions and seasonal events within the company.
• Creation of company documentation on Microsoft Word, Publisher, Excel, and PowerPoint Presentations. Ensuring that policies are up-to-date.
• Booking in of monthly CPD Training sessions, and any other required training.

• Experience with Adobe Photoshop, photo editing.
• Social Media.

• Previous experience in an office management, administrative, or similar support role.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a professional and approachable manner.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience in coordinating suppliers and managing Outlook calendars/diaries would be advantageous.
• Understanding of confidentiality, data handling, and professional standards in an office environment.
• Knowledge or previous working experience within the construction industry would be advantageous.

This is a fixed-term position for 9 months initially, with the potential to extend to 12 months, offered to provide temporary maternity cover. We're open to negotiating hours, with a minimum of three working days per week. Office-based only. Salary will be confirmed at the appointment stage.