Project Associate

Showcase group; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design and project management firm in London is seeking a Project Associate to support the Project Director. You will manage client relationships, oversee project delivery, and ensure adherence to budgets and timelines. The ideal candidate has experience in the Office Furniture or Design Industry, excellent organisational skills, and proficiency in Microsoft tools. This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with a focus on creating inspiring spaces.

Qualifications

• Strong ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels.
• Creative mindset with a keen eye for design and aesthetics.
• Able to work unsupervised and on initiative.

Responsibilities

• Support the Project Director in managing projects within budget.
• Ensure positive client relationships and satisfaction.
• Manage day-to-day project operations and meetings.
• Raise issues promptly with the Project Director.
• Monitor project performance against targets.

Skills

Experience within the Office Furniture or Design Industry

Strong understanding of working within Commercial projects

Strong team player

Excellent presentation skills

Excellent organisational skills

Skilled in Microsoft Excel

Skilled in PowerPoint

Skilled in Word

Job description

JOB TITLE: Project Associate

LOCATION: London

WORKING HOURS: 9:00am – 17:30 Monday to Friday

Main Purpose of Role

Our mission: - To deliver an on-brand experience, evoking emotions & creating inspiring spaces.

The Project Associate supports the Project Director by coordinating and managing the delivery of assigned fee-based projects on time and within budget.

They ensure adherence to Showcase’s 4-Stage Delivery Process and 5 Customer Commitments, acting as the key communication link between the Project Director, Project Support, and delivery team.

The Project Associate is responsible for daily project coordination, supplier communication, and ensuring quality and consistency across all project documentation and activities.

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Client Management

• Develop and maintain positive and professional client relationships.
• Serve as the main point of contact for top clients, ensuring high levels of client satisfaction.
• To be fully familiar with the key terms of the contract and to ensure that these are adhered to throughout the duration of the project.
• To attend weekly internal project meetings with the internal project team, ensuring that projects are on time, dealing with any escalations if any.
• Support the introduction of Account Managers or Key Account Managers post-delivery.

2. Project Delivery

• Manage the day-to-day running of allocated projects.
• Lead internal project meetings as well as external client, designer or other project consultant meetings, ensuring all actions are recorded and followed up.
• Work alongside the Project Director to manage client relationships and ensure project satisfaction.
• Liaising with Project Director to ensure pricing is checked and negotiated
• Raise red flags or supplier issues promptly to the Project Director.
• Oversee the project's master programme and ensure all deliverables are on schedule.
• Manage project budgets, ensuring delivery within agreed financial parameters.
• Coordinate procurement activities, ensuring supplier pricing is fair, competitive, and auditable.
• Maintain complete project records, approvals, and communications.

3. Supplier Relationships

• Managing the supplier and project team relationships throughout the project.
• Maintain positive and professional relationships with suppliers
• Motivate suppliers and safeguard Showcase’s objectivity at all times
• Managing the allocated resource to deliver the projects and where applicable the 4-stage process.
• Act as an escalation point for supplier issues and drive resolution.
• Conduct supplier debriefs and maintain supplier engagement for future work.
• To offer all unsuccessful suppliers competing for large elements of the project a face to face debrief.

4. Reporting & Forecasting

• Monitor account performance against targets.
• Ensure the project comes in below budget after all fees have been accounted for.
• Propose improvements or refinements to processes to the Project Director.
• To be responsible (where relevant) for ensuring that the clients procurement process is adhered to and is auditable.
• Analyse client trends, feedback, and market intelligence to influence internal strategy.

5. General

• Maintain safe working practices whilst undertaking your duties at all times
• To act in accordance with the company’s Health, Safety and Environmental policies, procedures and practices highlighting any issues appropriately
• Work flexibly and be receptive and adaptable to a changing environment within a fast-expanding Company
• Undertake any other reasonable tasks as directed by management

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

1. Experience withing the Office Furniture or Design Industry
2. Strong understanding of working within Commercial projects
3. Strong team player and ability to communicate confidently with people of all levels
4. Creative mindset with a keen eye for design and aesthetics
5. Excellent presentation skillsincluding client facing presentations where appropriate
6. Excellent organisational skills for self and in co-ordinating team activities
7. Able to work unsupervisedunder own initiative
8. Skilled and efficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word (demonstrable at interview)