Operations Manager
9 days ago
Oxford
Salters Steamers is a friendly, hardworking family company offering a wide range of services to the public, including: • Boat trips, • Boat hire Located on the River Thames and established since 1858, we pride ourselves on our extensive experience and professionalism. We are seeking a hands‑on and highly organised Operations Manager to join our team, reporting directly to the Managing Director. This is a key role focused on ensuring the smooth day‑to‑day running of our business, particularly during the busy summer season. The successful candidate will take ownership of operational planning and delivery, including: • Daily business operations, • Staff coordination and supervision, • Booking and scheduling management, • Supporting business growth through efficient processes This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in a well‑established tourism and hospitality business, with scope to shape and improve operational systems., • Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the business, ensuring efficiency across all services, • Manage schedules, and resource allocation (boats, staff, events), • Coordinate and support seasonal and permanent staff, including recruitment and training, • Ensure smooth delivery of events such as weddings, private charters, and corporate bookings, • Act as a key point of contact for customer enquiries, ensuring excellent service standards, • Work closely with the Managing Director to improve operational processes and performance, • Maintain high standards of health & safety and compliance, • Troubleshoot operational issues and respond proactively to challenges, • Support business development by identifying opportunities to improve capacity and service delivery, • Proven experience in an operations, office management, or similar role, • Strong organisational and multitasking skills in a fast‑paced environment, • Confident communication skills, both on the phone and in person, • Experience managing staff or willingness to take on leadership responsibilities, • A proactive, problem‑solving mindset, • Comfortable using standard office and booking systems, • Experience within tourism, hospitality, or events, • Familiarity with booking or CRM systems, • Experience coordinating events or managing schedules/logistics, • Ability to analyse processes and implement improvements, • Experience recruiting or managing seasonal teams, • Knowledge of health & safety procedures, • Understanding of pricing, planning, and operational strategy, • A professional and friendly telephone manner, • The ability to remain calm and efficient under pressure You will be responsible for: • Handling calls, emails, and booking enquiries, • Processing bookings and coordinating schedules, • Supporting the smooth day‑to‑day running of the business A sense of humour and team spirit are essential! • Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday, • Flexibility: Required, particularly during peak seasons - Assistance on busy weekend days to be discussed, • Location: Central Oxford (free on‑site parking available), • Company pension, • Free on‑site parking, • Extended Christmas shutdown, • Heavily discounted boat hire, • Seasonal flexibility (earlier winter hours), • Occasional work‑from‑home during off‑peak periods, • Opportunity to shape and develop operational processes, • A proactive and hands‑on Operations Manager who thrives in a small business environment, • Someone willing to take ownership and go beyond their job description, • Strong organisational and leadership skills, • A practical problem‑solver with attention to detail, • Ideally with a background in hospitality, tourism, or customer‑facing operations #J-18808-Ljbffr