Office Manager (Part Time) in Crawley

This is an office-based position at Unda's own premises, Oak Cottage — a distinctive Grade II listed building in County Oak, Crawley. The office provides a professional, well-equipped environment designed to support close collaboration, mentoring and technical delivery. The location offers convenient transport connections, including proximity to Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport railway stations, as well as access to major road links. Local amenities, shops and green spaces are within walking distance, providing practical day-to-day convenience.

Applicants must already have the unrestricted right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

About Unda: Unda is a specialist flood risk and drainage consultancy operating across England and Wales. We deliver detailed, site-specific advice across a wide range of services, including Flood Risk Assessments, Surface Water Drainage Strategies, Foul Water Drainage Strategies, SuDS design, Sequential and Exception Tests and flood modelling. Our work extends beyond planning submissions. We undertake Flood Risk Assessments for planning applications at all stages, as well as for insurance, land acquisition, due diligence, conveyancing and business continuity purposes. We prepare drainage strategies from early scoping and feasibility through to detailed design and discharge of conditions, integrating drainage solutions into wider development proposals. In addition to private-sector consultancy, we support Local Planning Authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities, assisting with flood and drainage responsibilities and providing technical input into regulatory processes. We also coordinate complementary services such as surveying and geotechnical investigations where required, ensuring clients receive coherent, end-to-end technical support. We are a focused and agile consultancy made up of motivated, technically strong individuals who take ownership of their work. Our approach combines technical rigour with practical thinking and direct communication, allowing us to deliver high-quality outcomes efficiently.

The Role: As Office Manager, you will oversee the administrative and operational functions that support the day-to-day running of the consultancy. The role combines financial administration, staff coordination, office management and general business support. Working closely with the directors, you will maintain the administrative systems that support the consultancy, including invoicing, bookkeeping support, staff administration and supplier management. You will interact with consultants, clients and external suppliers while maintaining the administrative structure that enables projects to be delivered efficiently. The role may also involve supporting routine marketing administration, including assisting with website updates and coordination of digital marketing activities. The position suits someone organised, practical and comfortable managing multiple responsibilities within a small professional team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Finance & Bookkeeping Support
  • Preparing and issuing client invoices
  • Recording supplier invoices, expenses and payments
  • Maintaining bookkeeping records in accounting software (e.g. Xero)
  • Reconciling transactions and monitoring outstanding payments
  • Preparing financial information for the company accountant and payroll provider
• Staff Administration
  • Maintaining employee records and employment documentation
  • Managing holiday and sickness records
  • Supporting recruitment administration and onboarding of new starters
• Office Administration
  • Handling incoming calls and general enquiries
  • Managing correspondence and maintaining organised filing systems
  • Ordering office supplies and coordinating meetings and administrative activities
  • Assisting with document preparation and formatting where required
• Operations & Facilities
  • Managing relationships with office suppliers and service providers
  • Organising maintenance and general office requirements
  • Supporting insurance renewals and maintaining basic compliance and health and safety records
• Business Support
  • Supporting proposal preparation and general business administration
  • Providing administrative support to the directors and consultancy team
  • Supporting marketing administration, including website updates and coordination of digital marketing activity where required
  • Using digital systems, including AI-assisted tools where appropriate, to support administrative efficiency while maintaining oversight and accuracy

What We're Looking For:

• Essential
  • Previous experience in an office management or administrative role
  • Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple responsibilities and changing priorities
  • Excellent IT literacy and confidence using modern office and digital systems
  • Professional telephone manner and confident communication
  • Professional demeanour when interacting with clients, staff and suppliers
  • Trustworthy and able to handle confidential information appropriately
  • Careful, methodical and attentive to detail
  • Able to work independently and take ownership of administrative systems
• Professional Attributes
  • Commercial awareness of how administrative systems support consultancy work
  • Ability to maintain and improve internal processes without constant direction
  • Sound judgement and practical decision-making in day-to-day situations
  • Calm and organised when managing competing demands
• Desirable
  • Experience supporting bookkeeping using accounting software (e.g. Xero)
  • Experience managing HR administration such as holiday and staff records
  • Experience working in a professional services or consultancy environment
  • Familiarity with document management systems, CRM tools or digital workflow platforms
  • Awareness of AI-assisted tools and ability to use them appropriately while applying judgement to outputs
  • Experience assisting with marketing administration, including WordPress website updates, basic SEO management or coordination of PPC campaigns

Working Environment & Culture:

• A specialist, close-knit consultancy Unda operates as a focused flood risk and drainage consultancy with a small, cohesive team. Everyone works closely together, and individual contribution is visible. There is no separation between "junior" and "senior" teams — collaboration is part of how projects are delivered.
• Agile and responsive structure We are structured to respond quickly to changing client requirements and evolving policy. Decision-making is direct and proportionate, allowing us to maintain momentum and deliver efficiently without unnecessary layers of management.
• High standards and technical integrity We take pride in producing robust, defensible reports that withstand regulatory scrutiny. Peer review, open technical discussion and attention to detail are embedded in day-to-day delivery. Quality is non-negotiable.
• Collaborative and accountable Team members are encouraged to challenge ideas constructively, contribute to technical discussions and take ownership of outcomes. Support and accountability operate together — individuals are trusted with responsibility and expected to deliver to a high standard.
• Commercially aware and outcome-focused We recognise that our work must be technically rigorous while also commercially viable and practical for clients. An understanding of project outcomes, timeframes and client objectives underpins our approach.
• Strong team cohesion Regular team days and activities help maintain alignment, collaboration and shared direction as the business grows.

Reward & Financial Benefits:

• Competitive salary, reviewed annually