Operations Manager
| Posting date: | 08 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 05 January 2026 |
| Location: | LN1 2JH |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Chiselwood |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
About us & the role
Chiselwood is a profitable, high-end, bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. After 35 successful years of operation, the company is going through a period of transformation, implementing digital tools and formal processes to enable sustainable growth.
The Operations Manager will be a pivotal new role, serving as the central operational hub of the business. The role is for 0.6x FTE.
This role is essential for streamlining workflows, automating administrative tasks, and reducing dependence on the founders, particularly taking on the business and administrative functions previously managed by one of the founders who has now retired. The primary goal of the role is to support the team as we increase efficiency and profitability while maintaining the fantastic and unique customer experience and high-quality standards that define the Chiselwood brand.
Key responsibilities
Digital Operations & Governance
System Ownership:
Act as the ‘super user’ and primary administrator for the new integrated digital project management system (Asana/ our bespoke CRM).
Information Management:
Help the team to maintain a single source of truth for all project information, records, and communication, replacing paper-based systems.
Process Implementation:
Continue our work on the adoption and consistency of new, efficient operational processes and digital workflows across the team.
Meeting Structures:
Manage the new structured meeting cadence (e.g., short daily stand-ups and weekly project reviews) to proactively identify and resolve project blockers and drive accountability.
Scheduling & Capacity:
Maintain the master company schedule and help to manage overall business capacity, ensuring projects remain on time and on budget.
Procurement:
Manage the ordering, purchasing, and supply chain processes for project components and appliances, currently handled by our designers. This includes chasing materials when they’re late due to things like shortages and long lead times.
Financial Coordination:
Support the finance team by configuring invoicing prompts from the project management system and integrating digital time-tracking data for payroll.
Design Support:
Take ownership of some delegate-able, administrative tasks, freeing up our designers’ time to focus on core design responsibilities.
HR Support:
Manage day-to-day people operations, including handling holiday requests, monitoring overtime for weekly payroll, and overseeing staff time-tracking (migrating from paper-based timesheets to a digital system).
Routine Admin:
Manage and track recurring administrative tasks, such as insurance renewals and health & safety compliance checks, potentially via a shared digital calendar.
Team Development:
Help onboard new staff and support the establishment of clear roles and responsibilities within the scaling team.
About you
- Operational Expertise: You have a proven background in managing detailed operations and workflows.
- Process Improvement: You're able to identify bottlenecks, simplify complex processes, and implement solutions that "stick" with the team.
- Digital Fluency: You have a strong aptitude for technology, including experience implementing or administering CRM systems and project management platforms.
- Data-Driven: You focus on quantitative measures and facts over opinions or "gut feelings," utilising data to track performance and support decision-making. Proficient in Excel.
- People-Centric Approach: You're highly personable, friendly, and collaborative, capable of managing personalities and leading change sensitively within a small, close-knit team.
- Proactive Problem-Solver: You have excellent troubleshooting skills, focusing on identifying and solving the root cause of systemic issues.
Requirements
The role is for 0.6x FT. The role is entirely on site at our offices and showroom in Saxilby and the exact working hours and days will be determined by mutual agreement.
To apply for this role, please send your CV and a covering letter as a single pdf document to millwill@chiselwood.co.uk by 23.59 on Sunday 4th January 2026. Applications received by any other means or after that deadline will not be considered. We are not looking to work with a recruiter at this time.
Chiselwood is a profitable, high-end, bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. After 35 successful years of operation, the company is going through a period of transformation, implementing digital tools and formal processes to enable sustainable growth.
The Operations Manager will be a pivotal new role, serving as the central operational hub of the business. The role is for 0.6x FTE.
This role is essential for streamlining workflows, automating administrative tasks, and reducing dependence on the founders, particularly taking on the business and administrative functions previously managed by one of the founders who has now retired. The primary goal of the role is to support the team as we increase efficiency and profitability while maintaining the fantastic and unique customer experience and high-quality standards that define the Chiselwood brand.
Key responsibilities
Digital Operations & Governance
System Ownership:
Act as the ‘super user’ and primary administrator for the new integrated digital project management system (Asana/ our bespoke CRM).
Information Management:
Help the team to maintain a single source of truth for all project information, records, and communication, replacing paper-based systems.
Process Implementation:
Continue our work on the adoption and consistency of new, efficient operational processes and digital workflows across the team.
Meeting Structures:
Manage the new structured meeting cadence (e.g., short daily stand-ups and weekly project reviews) to proactively identify and resolve project blockers and drive accountability.
Scheduling & Capacity:
Maintain the master company schedule and help to manage overall business capacity, ensuring projects remain on time and on budget.
Procurement:
Manage the ordering, purchasing, and supply chain processes for project components and appliances, currently handled by our designers. This includes chasing materials when they’re late due to things like shortages and long lead times.
Financial Coordination:
Support the finance team by configuring invoicing prompts from the project management system and integrating digital time-tracking data for payroll.
Design Support:
Take ownership of some delegate-able, administrative tasks, freeing up our designers’ time to focus on core design responsibilities.
HR Support:
Manage day-to-day people operations, including handling holiday requests, monitoring overtime for weekly payroll, and overseeing staff time-tracking (migrating from paper-based timesheets to a digital system).
Routine Admin:
Manage and track recurring administrative tasks, such as insurance renewals and health & safety compliance checks, potentially via a shared digital calendar.
Team Development:
Help onboard new staff and support the establishment of clear roles and responsibilities within the scaling team.
About you
- Operational Expertise: You have a proven background in managing detailed operations and workflows.
- Process Improvement: You're able to identify bottlenecks, simplify complex processes, and implement solutions that "stick" with the team.
- Digital Fluency: You have a strong aptitude for technology, including experience implementing or administering CRM systems and project management platforms.
- Data-Driven: You focus on quantitative measures and facts over opinions or "gut feelings," utilising data to track performance and support decision-making. Proficient in Excel.
- People-Centric Approach: You're highly personable, friendly, and collaborative, capable of managing personalities and leading change sensitively within a small, close-knit team.
- Proactive Problem-Solver: You have excellent troubleshooting skills, focusing on identifying and solving the root cause of systemic issues.
Requirements
The role is for 0.6x FT. The role is entirely on site at our offices and showroom in Saxilby and the exact working hours and days will be determined by mutual agreement.
To apply for this role, please send your CV and a covering letter as a single pdf document to millwill@chiselwood.co.uk by 23.59 on Sunday 4th January 2026. Applications received by any other means or after that deadline will not be considered. We are not looking to work with a recruiter at this time.