We are looking for a highly organised, proactive and confident individual to support our Joint Managing Director, who has over 40 years of industry experience and is at the heart of our sales, customer relationships and purchasing activities. The hours are Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.30pm (40 hours per week). Some flexibility around start and finish times will be considered for the right candidate.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the Director's day-to-day activities while helping to improve business processes, strengthen communication and ensure valuable knowledge is captured and shared across the business.
This is not a typical PA role. We need someone who can bring structure, organisation and process improvement whilst building a trusted working relationship with a highly respected and successful Director.
You'll be responsible for managing diaries, coordinating meetings and customer visits, organising emails and communications, preparing quotations, recording customer information, and helping ensure valuable business knowledge is captured and shared across the company.
The role will involve accompanying the Director on customer visits, learning our systems and processes, setting up new systems, supporting purchasing activities, liaising with colleagues across the business and identifying ways to improve efficiency and communication.
The role will also include supporting business improvement projects as required. This may involve researching and introducing new systems to streamline the business, as well as helping improve areas such as quality systems, procedures and record keeping. You will work closely with managers and the wider leadership team to help put agreed improvements into place.
We're looking for someone who is:
- Exceptionally organised and detail-oriented
- Confident, resilient, and able to work on their own initiative
- Patient, diplomatic and able to build strong relationships
- Comfortable introducing structure and new ways of working
- Professional and respectful of extensive industry knowledge and experience
- Strong with Microsoft Office, Outlook and business systems
- A quick learner who can understand new systems, products and processes
- Interested in and experienced in improving processes and driving efficiencies
Key Responsibilities:
- Managing the Director's diary, meetings and travel arrangements
- Organising and prioritising emails and communications
- Supporting customer account management activities
- Preparing and issuing customer quotations
- Attending customer visits and recording key information
- Assisting with purchasing and supplier communications
- Capturing and maintaining accurate business records
- Liaising with colleagues to coordinate activities and reduce interruptions
- Identifying and implementing process improvements
- Supporting business improvement projects as required in other departments
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity, building strong working relationships and making a genuine impact on how a business operates.
About Somerlap
Somerlap Forest Products Ltd has been manufacturing timber products since 1981 and has been proudly employee-owned since 2023. Based on our 5-acre site in Mark, Somerset, we manufacture quality timber pallets, crates, boxes and garden products, as well as providing pallet repair and reconditioning services. As an employee-owned business, everyone plays a part in our success and shares in our future.
Our Values
- We're in it together – We listen, support and grow together.
- We do things properly – We take pride in doing things the right way- safety, professionally and with care.
- We act responsibly – We share responsibility for each other, our business and the world around us.
Benefits
- 20 days' holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with long service
- We are Employee Ownership Trust with eligibility for profit share upon successful completion of probation
- Training and development opportunities
- Company pension and life assurance
- Employee Assistance Programme with health support and retail discounts
- Long service and birthday rewards
- Company discounts
- Onsite parking
Pay: £33,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Highbridge TA9 4NR: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
