Assemble Office Manager Job Description We are looking for an Office Manager to join our design practice as a member of the team. The role focuses on the ongoing management of the design practice Assemble and workspace business Assemble Workspace based at Leaside Yard, in Bow, East London. We cook lunch for each other every day (all dietary requirements catered for) and have office wide design reviews once a week. At Assemble, you will also have access to the Leaside Yard workshop facilities, bench space and secure bicycle parking. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our practice. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. We welcome applications from people requiring flexible working arrangements and from anyone with any professional or educational background. If you have any questions about our working environment please get in touch. About Assemble Assemble are an award-winning art, design and architecture practice based in London. Our work focuses on using design as a tool to improve social and cultural life in the built environment. Assemble were the recipients of the 2015 Turner Prize. Our work covers activities including design, brief development, organising events and hands-on construction, all of which is underpinned by the belief that broader involvement creates richer results. In 2023 we moved our studios and workshop to Bow. It is a large studio building called Leaside Yard which we designed and built. We manage the ongoing leasing of the building and have around 55 tenants. Our tenants are a diverse range of skilled makers and artists including carpenters, stonemasons, printmakers, textile designers and musicians. Please visit our website at www.assemblestudio.co.uk to find out more about our work. Here are some articles about us and our work: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jun/05/ultimate-eco-building-salt-sunflowers-recycled-urine-atelier-luma-architecture https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2015/may/12/assemble-turner-prize-2015-wildcard-how-the-young-architecture-crew-assemble-rocked-the-art-world How Assemble Works Assemble is a partnership that currently has 17 active partners. One partner is based in Bristol, one in Coventry and the rest are based in London. The partnership manages two companies, a design company called Assemble Design, a workspace management company called Assemble Workspace. At Assemble our management structure is organised into distinct groups: HR, Finance, General Operations, Business Development, Project Management and Workspace. Each group nominates a representative to attend weekly management meetings, where items requiring input from other groups are discussed and addressed. Minutes are then circulated to all partners. The Role Working with the Assemble management team and the Assemble Workspace Manager, your role will primarily focus on the ongoing management and continuous improvement of Assemble Design. Assemble Administration Office Administration Handle basic enquiries and manage ongoing communications as needed Organise and file physical and digital documents to ensure they are easily accessible Schedule key meetings and supporting documentation Manage the office phone, front door and post Review management items ahead of weekly meetings Support IT department with software management Organise quarterly management meeting agenda, presentations, minutes, & actions Undertake quarterly hours declaration checks & reporting Procure office supplies Review & renew insurance annually Housekeeping & Culture Coordinate social events (e.g. AGM, Christmas party) Monitor and manage Social Value, EDI and Environmental Policy frameworks and data collection Ensure security, data protection, & privacy in the office Ensure the company’s ongoing compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) and fire safety legislation Work collaboratively with the housekeeping team to support the upkeep and general maintenance of the office and office equipment Project Management and Resourcing Create new project numbers and input project data with assistance from partners Arrange monthly partner meetings to review project invoicing, deadlines & resourcing Maintain project pipeline forecasting Coordinate collaborative design reviews Coordinate quality assurance policy and processes Finance Working with the Assemble Finance Team Submit monthly payroll Coordinate R&D Claims with accountant and consultants Assist in production of annual accounts & daily financial management Manage expenses app users & expenses HR Working with the Assemble HR Team Employee Management & HR Maintain central policies and employment contracts Maintain and update the Partnership and Employee Handbooks Administer grievance & whistleblowing procedures Attend annual reviews, pay consultations, & HR meetings Develop & oversee new policies as needed Manage holidays, TOIL, and office calendars Recruitment Oversee recruitment processes Manage equity & diversity monitoring Oversee induction & onboarding of new employees Ensure data protection in recruitment & employment Business Development Working with the Assemble Business Development team New Work Be the first point of contact for design enquiries (email, phone, in-person) Provide administrative support for tenders and expressions of interest Populate and circulate the talks digest each week Communications Manage and record requests to publish Assemble images Allocate press and academic requests among employees Handle exhibition requests for Assemble images and objects Manage Assemble’s social media accounts (Instagram & LinkedIn) Develop press releases, newsletters, website, and social media content Archive Manage shipping requests from buyers, curators, and galleries Assemble Workspace Working with the Assemble Workspace Team Manage new enquiries, application process, and waiting list Assist Workspace Director with tenant communications where required Assist the Workspace Team in managing Health and safety matters related to Assemble’s office and studio space e.g. model making area Contract type: 5 days per week permanent contract with a 3 month probationary period Hours: Time to be taken in full or half days Monday – Friday 9am - 6pm with one hour for lunch Salary: £35,000 pro rata Annual Leave: 25 days holiday entitlement, excluding bank holidays. Our office is closed between 25 th - 31 st December inclusive and this does not count towards your holiday allowance. Location: Assemble, Leaside Yard, 30 Hancock Road, London E3 3DA Applications: Please upload your CV on 1 side of A4 and a short covering letter (up to 300 words) to this google form. Please note we will only accept digital applications. Deadline: 5pm on 12 th September 2025 Start date: We are looking for you to start in November 2025 but can be flexible Interviews: Interviews will be offered during the week commencing 29 th September 2025. Any candidates with restricted availability during these times should indicate this clearly in your application. Your Skills and Experience: Required: Prioritisation and time management skills coupled with the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines Organised and motivated with an ability to take initiative and work as part of a team Proactive with development and improvements to the studio Experience in Office Administration and Management Knowledge of general HR policies and procedures Experience of managing press IT literacy in Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive and Dropbox Experience using Xero or similar accounting software Desirable: CIPD Level 5 or training towards the qualification Experience using Harvest or similar project management software We request no enquiries by phone or in person. We are not able to offer visa sponsorship for applicants. This job will not lead to working on design projects in the practice. This role is dynamic and may evolve over time, with responsibilities and tasks subject to change based on organisational needs. Equality Monitoring Form Assemble are committed to creating a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and free to work without fear of discrimination. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our practice. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. We welcome applications from people requiring flexible working terms and from anyone with any professional or educational background. If you’ve got any questions about our working environment please get in touch. In order to help us pursue our ambition of reaching all sections of the community, please fill in our Monitoring Form here – Completing this form is voluntary. The information you supply on the Monitoring Form is kept securely and will remain confidential and separate to your application and contact details. We will not retain this or any other personal information beyond the duration of the application process.