JPA Design is hiring a studio manager to join its team in London as maternity cover.

Location: Hackney

Contract: fixed-term maternity cover 12 months

Start date: August 2026

Working pattern: 3 days (24 hours) a week, based at our design studio

Role overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised studio manager to join our London-based design consultancy on a maternity cover contract. This is a pivotal role supporting the day-to-day operations of a busy creative studio, ensuring the team, environment and business functions run smoothly and efficiently.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience working within a London design consultancy or creative agency environment and will bring strong studio management capability alongside practical HR administration and people-support experience.

You will act as the operational backbone of the studio, balancing people, processes, facilities, culture and administration while supporting the wider team.

Key responsibilities

Studio and operations management:

oversee the daily running of the studio and maintain an efficient, professional and welcoming environment
manage studio facilities, suppliers, office services, maintenance and health safety compliance
coordinate IT, equipment and workspace requirements with external providers
support finance administration, including invoicing coordination, expenses and purchase orders
maintain studio systems, policies and operational procedures
organise internal meetings, events, team activities and client hospitality

HR and people support:

manage onboarding and offboarding processes for employees and freelancers
coordinate recruitment logistics including scheduling interviews and liaising with candidates
maintain holiday requests and tracking
support employee wellbeing initiatives and studio culture
assist directors with performance review processes and HR administration
liaise with external HR advisors where required
ensure policies and procedures remain compliant with UK employment practices

Team and project support:

assist with resource planning and studio scheduling
support project teams with administrative and operational requirements
help maintain effective communication across teams and leadership
contribute to a positive, collaborative studio culture

Candidate profile

We are looking for someone who is:

experienced working within a London-based design consultancy, architecture practice, branding agency or creative studio
confident managing a fast-paced creative studio environment
highly organised with strong attention to detail
professional, approachable and proactive
comfortable balancing operational, people and administrative responsibilities
calm under pressure with excellent problem-solving skills
an effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills

Essential experience and skills:

pevious experience as a studio manager, operations manager or office manager within a design consultancy or creative agency
demonstrable studio management experience in London
experience supporting HR administration and employee processes
strong organisational and multitasking skills
excellent written and verbal communication
proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
experience coordinating suppliers, facilities and office operations
understanding of HR best practice and confidentiality requirements

Desirable:

experience supporting creative or design-led teams
familiarity with freelance and contractor coordination
knowledge of basic finance administration
experience organising studio events and activities

What we offer: £50,000 full time equivalent (FTE) salary

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short cover letter outlining your relevant experience within design consultancies or creative studios via the ‘apply for job’ button below, with the subject title: Studio Manager (Maternity Cover). The deadline submission date is 15 June 2026.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

JPA Design

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Studio manager – maternity cover