Office Administrator

Bernard Quaritch Ltd., dealers in rare book and manuscripts since 1847, is looking for a part-time administrator to join our small and friendly team.

About the role

We are seeking an Office administrator to handle the day-to-day administrative needs of the company. The role is part time, approx. 20–25 hours per week, working flexible hours within our opening hours of Monday–Friday 9am–6pm. The role is based at our premises in Bloomsbury. Pay is commensurate with experience, starting at £25,000 per annum, pro rata.

Key responsibilities 

• Coordinate office operations to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the company.
• General clerical duties as needed, including data entry, filing, document preparation, accurate record-keeping.
• Act as point of contact for utilities suppliers and other support staff, liaising by phone and email, as well as in person.
• Manage and maintain inventory of office supplies, including stationery, sanitary supplies, kitchen essentials, and office equipment.
• Manage company correspondence, including phone calls, emails, letters, and packages.
• Oversee company events, assisting with planning and coordination.
• Keep track of shared diary and calendar, monitoring staff rota.
• Assist colleagues with administrative tasks where necessary, providing support for ad hoc projects.

About us

Founded in 1847, Bernard Quaritch Ltd is one of the oldest antiquarian and rare book dealers in the world. We specialise in rare books and manuscripts in a wide range of subjects, including early printed books and medieval manuscripts; English literature and history; European literature; the human sciences; Islamic manuscripts and books on Asia; music; science, medicine, and gastronomy; travel; photography and photobooks; as well as art and architecture, and posters and propaganda. We exhibit at the world's leading book and photo fairs throughout the year and our staff regularly speak at conferences and book fairs, as well as contributing to scholarly publications. We work with an extensive range of both private and institutional clients in the UK and globally, our valuations department provides formal valuations for probate or insurance purposes, and we also negotiate private-treaty sales of archives in many fields, as well as handling auction commissions in all specialisms.

About you

• Good attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working by yourself and managing your own workflow and responsibilities
• Excellent time management skills
• Comfortable using basic office IT software (MS Office)
• Fluent/native English, both spoken and written
• Right to work in the UK
• Previous experience as an Office administrator, office assistant, or other relevant role

Previous experience of office administration is preferred; experience of working in the rare books field is not. Any industry-specific training will be provided as required.

To apply for the role, please send your CV and a short cover letter to rarebooks@quaritch.com with the subject line ‘Administrator Job Application’. Deadline for applications is 31st January 2024.