The Opportunity
Abley Letchford is a trusted development planning and infrastructure consultancy, delivering high‑quality services to clients across the UK. With offices in Hungerford and Reading, our diverse, friendly, and collaborative team values professionalism, innovation, and individual strengths. As we continue to grow, we are investing in the operational and compliance functions that support our business.
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Office Manager to join our Reading office. This is an experienced, hands-on management role with responsibility and autonomy for the effective day-to-day operation of our Reading office. The postholder will be trusted to identify priorities, make sound operational decisions within agreed authority, resolve issues proactively and escalate material risks appropriately.
As part of the wider Business Operations team, you will report directly to the Assistant Business Manager, and will work closely with the Reading Director, Senior Leadership Team and colleagues across the business to maintain a safe, efficient and professional office environment while supporting our operational, quality and health & safety objectives.
This opportunity would suit an established Office Manager or business operations professional who enjoys balancing day-to-day delivery with compliance, governance and continuous improvement.
Role Requirements
As an Office Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring the efficient running of our office, supporting our team, and handling a range of administrative tasks. Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Office & Administrative Management
- Act as the first point of contact for staff, clients, and visitors, ensuring a professional and welcoming environment.
- Take ownership of the safe, efficient and professional day-to-day operation of the Reading office.
- Proactively identify operational needs, resolve routine issues and escalate material risks appropriately.
- Manage facilities, equipment, office supplies, contractors and supplier relationships.
- Provide comprehensive administrative support to the team, including document handling and formatting, diary coordination, meetings, and reporting.
- Deliver high-quality administrative and project support to the Reading Director and Senior Leadership Team.
- Monitor office standards and implement practical improvements.
People and HR Administration
- Manage and coordinate local onboarding, inductions, training administration, holiday records and absence administration in accordance with company processes.
- Maintain accurate and appropriately confidential employee records.
- Act as an approachable first point of contact for routine office and policy enquiries, escalating HR matters where appropriate.
Finance and Systems Administration
- Manage timesheet and staff expense administration and follow up incomplete or overdue submissions and approvals.
- Coordinate accurate sales invoicing, purchase ledger processing.
- Maintain accurate records and provide routine operational information and reports.
- Liaise with finance colleagues and escalate discrepancies promptly.
Health & Safety (Office Lead – Reading)
- Champion a proactive, positive safety culture across the office.
- Maintain and update H&S policies, procedures, and documentation.
- Act as the first point of contact for H&S queries and incidents, investigating and reporting as required to ensure corrective actions are implemented.
- Monitor and report on safety performance, incidents, and improvements
- Coordinate risk assessments, DSE checks, incident reporting, and office‑based audits.
- Support the Assistant Business Manager on hazard mitigation and safety improvements.
- Oversee H&S training, inductions, and awareness programmes.
- Maintain accurate H&S records and performance data.
Quality and Business Management System (BMS)& ISO 9001
- Act as the Reading office Quality Lead, coordinating local implementation of the Business Management System and working with the Hungerford Quality Manager to maintain consistent company-wide standards and ensure compliance with ISO 9001.
- Coordinate and support internal audits, external assessments, document control, and process adherence.
- Maintain BMS records, templates, trackers, and controlled documents.
- Champion continuous improvement and promote consistency across teams.
- Act as a key point of contact for BMS queries within the Reading office, and liaise with the Hungerford office Quality Manager to ensure consistency.
- Support teams in understanding and applying processes, standards, and policies.
- Identify opportunities to streamline and improve business processes.
- Collaborate with the Assistant Business Manager on cross‑office initiatives.
IT & Equipment
- Manage day‑to‑day office IT flows.
- Coordinate and manage new starter equipment setup.
- Liaise with IT support providers as required.
General Duties
- Responsibilities reasonably required within the scope of the role at the request of Directors or the Assistant Business Manager.
- Maintain a flexible, can‑do approach, delivering and coordinating high-quality support to the wider business.
Skills & Experience Required
- We are looking for a highly organised individual with:
- Substantial experience in an Office Manager, Business Operations or similar autonomous role.
- Demonstrable experience of independently managing office operations, priorities, compliance requirements and stakeholder relationships.
- Practical experience of applying H&S requirements in an office environment (IOSH Managing Safely desirable, or willingness to work towards).
- Experience maintaining an ISO 9001 quality management system or another formally controlled management system.
- Sound judgement regarding what can be resolved independently and what requires escalation.
- Excellent organisational, time‑management and multitasking skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication abilities.
- High attention to detail and a methodical approach to work.
- Experience handling commercially sensitive and personal information appropriately.
- Strong written communication, including producing clear records, reports and controlled documentation.
- Confidence working with senior leaders and colleagues across different functions and locations.
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Confidence in adopting and improving systems.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Benefits
We provide a positive working environment and staff wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, with training and career paths tailored to the individual. Our Reading office is located at Reading Bridge House, with excellent transport links and close access to everyday amenities.
o Salary: £34K -£38K depending on experience.
o Annual Leave: 25 days plus statutory bank holidays, plus an extra day off for your birthday.
o Pension Scheme: Employer contribution of 4%.
o Life Assurance: 4 x basic salary.
o Generous Social Budget: Including Summer and Christmas events.
o Employee assistance Programme.
o Salary sacrifice employee health insurance scheme, cycle-to-Work Scheme, Home & Tech scheme and Car Scheme.
o Health Cashback Plan.
o Discounted Health Assessments
o Flexible Working: Early finish at 4pm on Fridays.
Hours
Full Time – 36 Hours - Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm (4pm early finish on Friday) with 1 hr for lunch
To Apply
If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your CV and a covering letter to:
Sam Bull @ [email protected]
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £34,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Office Management: 2 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
