CityCo Manchester
Title: Office Manager
Location: 5th Floor, George’s House, Peter Street, Manchester, M3 2NQ
Reporting to: Partnership Director
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: c.£26,000 per annum

How to Apply

Please send a full Cover Letter explaining why you are suitable for the role, with your CV to alex.king@cityco.com by Friday 1st March.

Only applications with a Cover Letter will be considered.

Interviews will take place week 12th March. We look forward to hearing from you.

Background

Manchester is the second most visited city in England, attracting 40 million customers to the retail district every year. The city is an international tourist destination and recently featured in the ‘Top Travel’ lists of the New York Times, Lonely Planet and Conde Nast.

The ‘Bee Network’ is rolling-out across public transport systems, and the final phase of Manchester Airport’s £1.4bn development programme is due to complete in 2025. Hotels continue to be developed in numbers, and Manchester is a leading Business Conference city.

The city centre continues to be the main growth area of Greater Manchester. The current city centre population of 60,000 residents is growing. 100,000 students are in the city, with over 50% of graduates now staying in the area post-graduation.

Over the last 10 years there has been a pattern of building new, high-quality office space and new public realm areas. For example NOMA, Circle Square, Mayfield, St John’s, and Aviva Studios. Co-Op Live opens in the Spring.

Every success has a story to tell, and CityCo Manchester is part of the story.

CityCo Manchester

CityCo is The City Centre Management Company: the city’s main business membership organisation. We are central to the city’s renowned partnership approach to business. We help to build collaboration between businesses, and between businesses and the public sector.

Through our various networks, we bring together over 1500 companies. We work across every sector and represent the needs of businesses with partners such as Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Police, Marketing Manchester, and many others.

By all working together, we are continually striving to make Manchester a vibrant, successful, and exciting place to visit, work and live.

We are a small, passionate team, reporting to the company Chief Exec Vaughan Allen, and a board of business, civic and cultural leaders.

Business Improvement Districts

Business Improvement Districts are common in numerous cities and towns in the UK, and beyond. They are business consortiums that pay into a communal funding ‘pot’ (based on rateable value or a visitor service charge). Monies fund additional services, initiatives and projects that support the vitality of businesses, and the places they operate in.

In Manchester, CityCo has been running the City Centre Business Improvement District since 2013. It is a consortium of c.600+ retailers, leisure, and office operators. Manchester City Centre BID delivers Operational and Security services, City Hosts, Additional City Cleaning, City Intel, Training and Briefings and public events.

As of April 2023, CityCo is also a delivery partner for the city’s new Manchester Accommodation BID: a consortium of c.80 hotels. The ABID delivers support for hoteliers across similar areas to the retail BID, but also Tourism Marketing, Business Conventions, and public events.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Office Manager is responsible for supporting the activities of the busy CityCo offices. This includes the co-ordination of meeting and training rooms, liaison with the landlord and visiting contractors.

It also includes the general management of office equipment and contracts, cleaning services and arranging light catering and refreshments.

The role is responsible for communicating the wider team regarding planned activity in the office and any changes to procedures.

The Office Manager will also support the Chief Exec and the Senior Management Team where required with diary management, meetings, and general light administration, such as contact database management, desk-based research and managing a small office consumables budget.

Included in the duties will be a responsibility for elements of day-to-day office organization and presentation, including meeting all guests and ensuring safety procedures for staff and guests are followed.

Duties

• To co-ordinate the smooth running of the CityCo offices
• To ensure that all guests are warmly welcomed in the St George’s House foyer and brought to the office and any catering requirements are met
• To ensure all meetings are planned and delivered to a high standard, including room arrangements, AV presentations, housekeeping etc.
• To manage elements of the Chief Exec’s diary and to respond to any changes, rearrangements, and cancellations quickly and professionally
• To secure meetings with new members and stakeholders as required
• Keep up to date records of all meetings and outcomes within the CRM systems and other formats as directed
• Manage office communications, general enquiries, incoming telephone calls and post service
• As required, to support senior management team with diary co-ordination, including in-house and external meetings
• To organise all administration and preparation for executive groups, board meetings, AGMs and other high-profile meetings as required. To secure and confirm attendance
• To manage all office equipment and their contracts (photocopier, franking machine etc.) and ensure consumables are kept stocked and within budget
• To monitor the health and safety equipment and check it is good order
• To be responsible for the presentation of the office, and to develop new procedures as required.

Essential Competencies

• A level/equivalent English and Maths
• IT literate including social media
• Knowledge of executive diary management and scheduling
• Excellent time and information management/record keeping
• Experience of working in commercially confidential environment
• Management of office contracts such as domestic services/IT
• Professional appearance and attitude.

Desirable Competencies

• Flexible attitude and understanding of fast paced environment
• Ability to work unsupervised and manage workplace priorities
• Ability to learn new skills quickly
• Understanding of the wide business community and sector mix in Manchester.

General Information

The requirements of the business are such that a high degree of flexibility is necessary, and therefore evening and weekend working will be required on some occasions.

Staff will undertake any training as directed by their line manager or CEO. Staff will carry out duties in a safe manner in accordance with Health & Safety At Work legislation.

The role will be based at CityCo’s Head Office: St George’s House, Peter Street, Manchester, M3 2NQ. The role may require visits to external venues on occasion.

CityCo benefits include Life Assurance (immediate cover). After the probationary period, benefits will include AXA Private Healthcare, Pension Scheme, Salary Sacrifice for travel, and 26 days annual leave (with bonus ‘Birthday Day’ off).

This post is subject to a 12 week probationary period.

Equal Opportunities

CityCo is an equal opportunities employer. Personal information given as a part of the application process is necessary for recruitment of this post and will be held only for the statutory period. It will not be used for any other purpose. GDPR compliance information is at cityco.com.