Front of House - Operations

PLEASE APPLY PROMPTLY AS WE MAY CLOSE EARLY SHOULD A SUITABLE CANDIDATE APPLY Looking for a career focused on shaping the world around you?  We’ve got just the thing.  

Literally. 

The built environment is streets, pubs, housing, schools, shopping centres, theatres, urban green spaces, places of worship, and more. 

It’s where you work. Where you live. Where you meet. Where you learn. 

It’s all around us. And it deeply affects how we all see the world. Everyone deserves a say in the built environment.  

Agree? Join us. 

The Role

We are seeking a new person for our Front of House and Operations team who will be responsible for making our visitors and clients feel welcome, promoting the Building Centre in a professional and outward thinking way. On a day-to-day basis you will be working together with other members of our Operations team to orient visitors, respond to queries, answer telephone calls and ensure all our visitors find the information and services they are looking for. You'll also actively support the organisation’s income streams by supporting the promotion and delivery of our commercial activities including Venue Hire, Co-working, and our Product Galleries.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be working with our Head of Learning to help deliver workshops and activities in support of our Education Programme. 

We want someone who is charming, brilliant with people and building relationships, very well presented with a smiley and positive can-do attitude. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking for a job with great scope, where they will learn lots of skills and gain fantastic experience and really build their CV in a dynamic and multi-faceted environment.

Working as part of a busy and diverse team, you will show a genuine passion for stakeholder satisfaction, the built environment and our activities. As a primary visitor and client contact, you will be answering questions, offering advice, solving problems and creating opportunities. 

Key Accountabilities

Reception:

• Welcoming and positively engaging with every visitor and client as they enter the
  Building Centre
• Answering calls, dealing with queries and giving helpful advice
• Managing digital queries for the organisation (Reception, Venue hire and Office email inboxes)

Venue Hire and Events support:

• Accurately inputting and overseeing digital diary system for booking spaces, cross checking data on several platforms
• Inputting and maintenance of in-house CRM system (Hubspot), creating quotes and liaising with catering and other partners ensuring accuracy of information.  Working directly with other team members to ensure and improve effectiveness and with the Events & Venue Hire Manager to deliver excellent service
• Direct client contact ensuring we have all details and that requests are updated and shared on our system. Undertake tours of the building for new clients. Also, making sure contact lists are up to date on our CRM
• Supporting event delivery as requested including set up, welcoming, delivery and breakdown

Learning Programme: 

• Supporting our Head of Learning to deliver workshops and activities within our building, working with young people, their teachers and families

Co-work support:

• Booking walk-ins, taking payments, and overseeing regular clients’ queries

Essential

• A proactive, approachable, people focused individual, able to interact positively with colleagues, clients and visitors
• An excellent communicator who is comfortable sharing and passing on knowledge to others and can tailor delivery style as required to different audiences
• Experienced in working closely with the public or with customers/visitors in a forward facing role
• Ability to 'think on your feet' and problems solve when faced with immediate challenges- managing clients' expectations
• Able to react confidently and sensibly to new or changing situations; managing and prioritising multiple tasks, and feeling empowered to do so
• Exceptionally detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Competent in general IT/AV skills with ability to troubleshoot basic hybrid/remote queries in support of client, and team, meetings and events
• A reliable, punctual, and trustworthy team player who understands the importance of working as part of a dynamic team to achieve common goals
• Fully proficient in Office 365 (word, outlook, excel)
• Curious about the built environment with a passion for learning more

Desirable

• Experienced in working in the charitable and/or cultural sectors
• Knowledgeable about Hubspot CRM system
• Experience or understanding of the built environment

The Details

• £28.4k Full time (35 hours per week) permanent

Benefits

• Generous employer contribution pension plan
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance option
• Employee Assistance Programme HELP@HAND – access to key support services including remote GP and mental health support
• Season ticket loan
• Eye Tests
• Leave – 25, plus Bank Holidays, plus additional Christmas building closure leave

Who we are 

Founded in 1931, the Building Centre started life as a building materials bureau at the Architectural Association with the aim of demonstrating to students and architects the best contemporary products and materials available. It was the first establishment of its kind. Ninety years later the Centre is run by the Built Environment Trust, an independent charitable organisation dedicated to inspiring, connecting, and empowering people to improve the quality of the built environment.  

Our public programme includes a rich calendar of free exhibitions and events which invite the public into an active dialogue about the key issues surrounding the materials and processes of our built environment.  

Our Product Galleries are home to over forty companies presenting products and materials to our audience. Our Platform space hosts faster-changing exhibitions presenting cutting-edge design innovation.  

The Building Centre also offers office spaces, co-working facilities, seminar spaces, and The Lower Fifth Café which is ideal for informal networking.  

By 2031, when the organisation celebrates its 100th year, we aim to be a leader in supporting people throughout the UK to improve the world we live in.  

In order to achieve this goal, we have developed an ambitious 10-year strategy and are now seeking to recruit talented individuals into key roles to support this aim. 

To apply for this role please send your CV and a covering letter outlining why you would like to join us via the button below.