Project/Studio Manager

A Practice for Everyday Life (APFEL) is a design studio based in London. Our work includes art direction, branding, books, exhibitions, type design, signage, and digital. We have built a reputation as an internationally renowned and sought-after collaborator through our work with art, architecture, design, and culture and we work with a conceptual rigour that ensures each design is meaningful and original. Our Type Foundry publishes a growing library of typefaces developed through visual, textual and experiential research. The Foundry also offers a bespoke type design service. Our online shop offers select products, publications and prints by our studio.

We are looking for a Project/Studio Manager. This is a key management role within our team in which the successful applicant will oversee coordination of the studio, leading on project management and design operations. As a key liaison in our design and business operations, you would be supporting the creative directors and design team and coordinating with clients. Design operations include all aspects of running a small but dynamic creative studio: project management, finance, business development and HR.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Operations

• Support the Creative Directors to define scope, budget and timelines for projects
• Take ownership of business operations and lead it with supervision from the Creative Directors
• Support the Creative Directors and Designers overseeing conversations with clients, prepare agendas as required
• Monitor and manage project scopes with the design team and clients
• Support the clients by ensuring that design solutions meet commercial requirements
• Monitoring and coordination of new business enquiries with Directors
• Handling studio supplies and equipment
• Overseeing IT and software requirements in coordination with our IT supplier
• Maintaining our website: adding products, adjusting stock/pricing with assistance from designers, and adding press activities
• Overseeing processing and packing orders from online foundry and sales, with assistance from designers

Project Management

• Manage projects from briefing to delivery, updating and monitoring design tasks as needed
• Develop and monitor Gantt schedules for each project
• Conduct regular project status meetings with designers and project reviews
• Monitor time-tracking in the studio's time tracking software and alert design team and clients as projects near time allocation
• Managing incoming project files
• Maintain confidentiality agreements

Financial

• Prepare and negotiate estimates and contracts with clients and suppliers
• Monitor and manage scope changes for projects
• Track project expenditure in order to meet agreed budgets
• Issue invoices and pay bills following agreed payment terms
• Prepare monthly management accounts and cash-flow report for the Creative Director (using Xero)
• Liaising with accountants on reconciliation, VAT return, payroll etc, reporting to Creative Directors.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Experience in a similar or comparable role, ideally 2–5 years experience in studio management, administration, project management, brand strategy, account management or similar
• Commercially astute with experience managing a business or people and negotiating contracts
• Hands-on operational experience
• Enjoy working collaboratively in a fast-paced studio
• Incredibly organised with the ability to manage complex schedules and overlapping deadlines
• Experience with managing clients
• A shared interest in APFEL's business and culture
• Calm, flexible, driven, self-motivated and punctual
• Occasional travel for external events required
• Strong presentation, written and verbal and communication skills
• Articulate and diplomatic manner
• Mac OS literate and high proficiency in MS Excel

SALARY

Salary depending upon experience.

This is a full time studio based role (5 days a week, 7.5 hours a day, 37.5 hours a week).