Office & People Operations Manager

Job title: Office & People Operations Manager

Location: Brighton

Salary: £30,000 - £38,000 (depending on experience)

*Requirements: Must be in the office 4 days a week (Monday – Thursday) with the option to work from home on Fridays. The role is required to open the office at 8:30am Monday – Thursday.

🌟 Join the Award-Winning Team at Man Bites Dog! 🌟

Do you excel in fast‑paced roles where no two days are the same? At Man Bites Dog, we’re looking for someone who can keep a busy workplace running seamlessly while helping nurture a positive, inclusive culture. If you’re highly organised, proactive, and people‑focused and excited by variety across office management, people operations, sustainability, and project work - this could be the perfect role for you.

About Us:

Man Bites Dog is an award-winning global B2B thought leadership and strategic marketing consultancy working with some of the world’s most exciting companies, including global leaders in technology, professional and financial services and engineering sectors. From sustainability and energy transition to AI and the future of work, our campaigns focus on some of today’s biggest issues and apply fresh thinking to fascinating subjects in order to deliver brand and sales impact for our clients.

Role Overview:

The Office & People Operations Manager plays a central role in ensuring the smooth, efficient, and well‑organised running of our workplace. At Man Bites Dog, we believe that caring for our people is paramount and in this role, you will be key to fostering a positive, inclusive, and high‑performing team culture. Acting as the key contact for office operations, facilities, supplier relationships, and everyday people administration, you’ll help create a smooth and supportive experience for team members wherever they’re based.

Alongside managing core HR processes and maintaining a high‑quality employee experience, you will play an active role in People & Operations projects that enhance engagement, strengthen organisational culture, and improve internal systems and processes.

This role is broad and dynamic, spanning office management, IT coordination, health and safety, recruitment support, sustainability initiatives, and events. Working closely with the Head of People & Operations, you’ll combine proactive planning with responsive problem‑solving to ensure seamless daily operations and the effective delivery of people, culture, and operational initiatives.

This is a high‑impact position that goes well beyond traditional office management. It’s ideal for someone who thrives on variety and ownership - someone who can anticipate needs, respond quickly to challenges, and switch confidently between day‑to‑day responsibilities and meaningful project work. You communicate clearly, solve problems swiftly, and take pride in creating an exceptional employee experience.

Responsibilities:

People & Operations Support

• Support the Head of People & Operations across initiatives, projects, and day‑to‑day operational needs.
• Provide occasional EA cover, including diary support for the CEO.
• Assist with COO‑led projects and cross‑team operational activity.

HR Administration

• Manage core HR admin, employee records, and HR reporting.
• Lead onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Oversee HR systems, data updates, and policy compliance.
• Support ad‑hoc HR projects and confidential research.

Sustainability & Accreditations

• Drive office sustainability initiatives and employee engagement.

Office Management

• Ensure a smooth, safe, and welcoming office environment.
• Oversee workspace maintenance, building management, supplies, and daily office readiness.
• Lead ongoing improvements to our workplace and employee experience.

Tech & IT Coordination

• Manage office tech, laptops, mobiles, and hardware allocation.
• Liaise with external IT support on troubleshooting and incidents.
• Procure equipment and maintain the fixed asset register.

Reception & Front‑of‑House

• Greet visitors and manage reception duties.
• Coordinate post, deliveries, and meeting room setup.

Supplier & Vendor Management

• Manage supplier relationships, contracts, and office service delivery.

Health & Safety

• Act as Health & Safety Lead across office and remote working environments.
• Coordinate fire marshals, first aiders, and compliance processes.

Events & Travel

• Lead internal events and support external event delivery.
• Manage logistics, travel, accommodation, and budgets.
• Prepare internal presentations and meeting materials.

Learning & Development Support

• Coordinate training, budgets, schedules, and learning resources.

Recruitment Support

• Manage job adverts, screening, interview scheduling, and ATS updates.

Employee Engagement & Recognition

• Support gifts, benefits, rewards, and culture‑enhancing initiatives.

Requirements:

Essential Experience

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in office management, operations, and people / HR support roles.
• Strong background managing day‑to‑day workplace operations in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience handling HR administration, onboarding/offboarding, and maintaining HR systems or employee data.
• Confident managing suppliers, facilities, and external service providers.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Highly organised, with strong time‑management and follow‑through.
• Strong multi‑tasking skills, able to juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball.
• Proactive and reactive - anticipates needs, responds quickly to challenges, and stays calm under pressure.
• Strong problem‑solver, able to think on your feet and find practical, effective solutions.
• Clear and confident communicator, able to build positive relationships across all levels of the business.
• People‑focused, with a genuine commitment to creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills - particularly Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Tech‑confident, comfortable managing hardware, troubleshooting basic issues, and coordinating with IT specialists.
• Process‑minded, with the ability to refine, streamline, and improve internal systems.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with sustainability initiatives or accreditations (e.g., EcoVadis, ISO 14001, ISO 9001).
• Health & Safety, fire and first aid training or experience acting as a H&S representative.
• Experience using an ATS or supporting recruitment processes.
• Experience working on a Mac or in mixed Mac/PC environments.

Why Join Us?

At Man Bites Dog, we believe that our people are our greatest asset. We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We invest in our team's professional development and well-being, ensuring that each member feels valued and empowered. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, and mutual respect, making it a great place to work and grow.

We offer great company benefits, including flexible working, healthcare, Wellness Wednesday, early finish on Fridays, individual training budgets, and a lively social calendar that includes our annual European weekender.

Man Bites Dog is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success, and our DEI&B group continually looks for ways to encourage every employee to express and believe in themselves.

If you are a proactive and organised individual with a passion for creating an efficient and welcoming office environment, we would love to hear from you! Apply now to join our innovative team at Man Bites Dog.