London, UK
Production manager
at Jan Hendzel Studio
Jan Hendzel is seeking a production manager to join its team in London.
Production manager role at Jan Hendzel Studio
Jan Hendzel Studio is looking for a production manager to join our award winning team of furniture makers and designers based in Woolwich, South East London.
We create expressive furniture and objects that showcase impeccable design, craft and precision. We pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of what it means to work with wood, and are always rooted in sustainable practices with an emphasis on quality and longevity as luxury. Our work is varied and unique, ranging from bespoke commissions and commercial joinery, to public facing sculptures, artist collaborations and our own range of furniture collections that are shown and sold around the world.
We are looking for an experienced and dynamic production manager to help guide the exciting and steady growth of our business. You will take initial enquiries through to final delivery – liaising with clients, contractors and suppliers, as well as developing in-house organisational systems that ensure projects meet budgets, deadlines and client expectations. You will be service-oriented with excellent interpersonal skills, comfortable in both client facing and internal management roles.
You will assist the director in estimating costs and preparing budgets, and will improve our workflow systems to effectively manage project timelines and workers’ schedules. You will ensure that team members have the relevant information at every stage of production, from design and workmanship through to delivery and aftercare. We want to ensure that our exacting standards of craft are maintained and improved across the creative, technical and logistical journeys that each project follows.
At heart, the essential skills are excellent time management, organisation and communication, plus adaptability within a small team. A passion for furniture and an understanding of design is also key.
We are committed to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion and we encourage applications from groups underrepresented in the design and furniture making sector. If you don’t have all the attributes we are asking for, but feel you have something to offer us and this job excites you, we would still love to hear from you.
Salary circa £26,000 – £30,000 PA, depending on experience.
Please note this is not a job for someone wanting to make furniture in the workshop.
No agencies or recruiters please.
Key responsibilities:
- time-tabling projects from start to finish including design and fabrication, and keeping records of project costs and staff time
- liaising with management, workshop and studio teams to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow
- being our first point of contact for clients, customers and contractors
- implementing and improving project management systems
- ordering supplies and maintaining supplier/materials databases
- day to day organisation and maintenance of the studio
- assisting with the structured development and growth of the business
- assisting with project proposal and tender documents, pricing quotes and lead times
- diary and logistics management, organising transport and delivery of furniture worldwide
- managing Xero and Xero Projects software to create job quotes and invoice, and align project costs with staff time
- compiling weekly/monthly target reports to align cash flow with project scheduling
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helping to organise public events, exhibitions and studio/workshop visits
Skills:
- confident, self-driven and enthusiastic team member with a can-do attitude
- highly organised, proactive and efficient production manager
- excellent verbal and written communication
- good working knowledge of Office, Google workspace and project management software e.g. Trello or similar
- knowledge of bookkeeping software (we use Xero and Dext)
- confident at liaising with suppliers, contractors and clients
- understanding of a bespoke production focussed business
- personable team player and communicator in a busy (and sometimes noisy) work environment
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experience in partnering with various internal teams and external suppliers and in demonstrating critical thinking, attention to details and negotiation skills
Experience
Highly desirable:
- bachelor’s degree in production management or similar
- minimum two years production or operations management experience
- understanding of a production business working with natural raw materials
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experience working within the luxury bespoke market
Of interest:
- working on sustainably-driven projects
- a design background
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an understanding of timber products
What’s in it for you?
- a fully immersed experience with the director and the wider team into the wonderful world of bespoke furniture making
- we’ll support your ongoing professional development with bespoke learning initiatives and training opportunities in design and timber culture
- being part of a growing, ambitious and dynamic team, you will get the chance to help shape and contribute to our work culture
- we support you saving for your future, so you are automatically signed up to our company pension scheme, after a three-month probationary period
- we all prepare lunches for one another on rota
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social events including summer and Christmas parties as well as occasional full team activities
Please submit your CV and your availability/notice period to [email protected], along with your phone number and a few lines on why you’d like to work for us and what you can bring to the role. Please use ‘Production Manager role’ as the subject heading.
Due to the high level of response anticipated, we may not be able to respond to every application received but thank you for your interest in advance.
Closing date: 10 February 2023
Click here to see the job in our careers page.