Inkmill is the print, graphics and fine art production department of the wider Standard8 group, a creative design and build company specialising in exhibitions, museums, galleries, interiors and large-scale graphic environments.
Operating across two sites in Portslade, our combined capabilities span large-format print, fine art production, fabrication, signage, installation and bespoke build. We work across a broad range of creative and cultural projects throughout the UK, collaborating with museums, artists, designers, architects, agencies and commercial clients.
We are now looking for a Studio & Client Manager to help lead the next stage of Inkmill’s growth & development. This is a new and evolving role within the business, created to hand over the day-to-day organisation, client management and operational leadership of the department whilst helping to shape its future direction.
We are looking for somebody proactive, commercially minded and highly organised — someone who enjoys building relationships, creating structure, maintaining standards and helping grow a creative production business from within.
The role would suit somebody looking for genuine ownership and responsibility, and who is excited by the opportunity to help develop an already well-established production environment into something even stronger, more organised and more ambitious.
The Role
You would take day-to-day responsibility for the running, organisation and growth of the Inkmill department, working alongside an experienced and highly skilled production team. The role combines elements of client management, project coordination, operational oversight and business development, acting as a central link between clients, studio production and the wider Standard8 group.
A significant proportion of Inkmill’s current workload is generated through Standard8’s wider activities, providing a strong operational foundation and platform for future growth. An important part of the role will be helping develop new external client relationships and opportunities alongside this existing workflow.
We are looking for somebody capable of helping further improve structure, visibility, consistency and operational momentum across the department whilst contributing to its long-term growth. The successful candidate would initially work closely alongside the company director during a structured transition and handover period, with increasing autonomy and responsibility as the role develops.
Responsibilities
- Overseeing the day-to-day running and organisation of the Inkmill department
- Managing existing client relationships and developing new business opportunities
- Coordinating production schedules and workflow alongside the studio team
- Preparing estimates, proposals and project costings
- Managing projects from enquiry through to production and installation
- Liaising with suppliers, installers and external contractors
- Supporting collaboration and workflow between Inkmill and the wider Standard8 group
- Helping maintain high standards across studio organisation, workflow and client service
- Contributing to operational improvements, systems development and department growth
- Helping identify opportunities to improve efficiency, communication and workflow visibility
About You
We’re less interested in corporate management experience and more interested in finding the right person. You’ll likely come from a large-format print, graphics, exhibition, signage, creative production or related environment and feel comfortable balancing client communication with operational organisation.
You should be:
- Highly organised and dependable
- Commercially aware and proactive
- Calm under pressure and good at prioritising
- Confident communicating with clients and creative teams
- Comfortable working within a busy production environment
- Motivated by ownership, responsibility and growth
- Someone who naturally leads by example and helps create a positive, professional and well-organised working culture
- Capable of bringing calm leadership, structure and accountability to a creative production environment
We care deeply about the quality of both our work and our working environment, and we’re looking for somebody who takes genuine pride in helping maintain and improve both. A strong eye for detail, presentation and overall quality is an important part of the role.
Skills & Experience
The following experience would be highly advantageous:
- Large-format print or creative production experience
- Client/account management
- Project coordination and workflow management
- Estimating and job costing
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Clarity MIS/workflow software
- Onyx RIP software
- Production scheduling and operational organisation
What We Offer
- A genuinely influential role within a growing creative business
- The opportunity to help shape the future direction of Inkmill
- A highly varied workload across creative, cultural and commercial sectors
- Close collaboration with an experienced and skilled team
- Extensive in-house production and fabrication capabilities
- A non-corporate, collaborative and creatively driven working environment
- Significant opportunity for the role to evolve alongside the department and wider business
If this sounds like the kind of opportunity you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you.
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
