Front Office & Customer Experience Executive

Location: Chennai, India

Role type: Full-Time | In-person at CPB Darkroom & Lighthouse, Kottivakkam

Working Hours: Monday to Saturday – 10 am to 7 pm with 1-hour lunch break

Remuneration: ₹25,000–₹30,000 per month (based on experience)

Reporting to: Darkroom Operations Head (Ajay)

Working closely with: Associate Director – Exhibitions (Ranga)

About The Role

The CPB Darkroom and Lighthouse are active, public-facing spaces where photography, community programs, and day-to-day operations come together.

As the Front Office & Customer Experience Executive, you will be the first point of contact for everyone interacting with the space — whether in person, over the phone, or online. You play a central role in ensuring that the space runs smoothly, customers are responded to promptly, and operations are handled efficiently.

This is a hands-on role that requires punctuality, organisation, and consistency. The work is varied and often fast-paced, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities calmly and reliably is essential.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Commerce, Arts, or a related field (preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both Tamil and English.
• Basic understanding of office administration, bookkeeping, and customer service practices.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• 1–3 years of experience in a front office, administrative, hospitality, retail, studio operations, or customer service role.
• Knowledge of photography and analog is a plus.
• Experience managing customer interactions across multiple communication channels (phone, email, WhatsApp, and in-person).
• Experience coordinating vendors, deliveries, procurement, and office operations.
• Familiarity with handling petty cash, maintaining records, and supporting routine administrative tasks.
• Experience assisting with events, workshops, or hospitality operations is an advantage.
  
  

Preferred Personal Attributes & Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with a welcoming and professional approach.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Punctual, dependable, and takes ownership of responsibilities.
• Proactive and able to anticipate operational needs.
• Calm and composed while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Solution-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing operational requirements.
• Team player with a collaborative attitude while also capable of working independently.
• Trustworthy and able to handle confidential information and financial responsibilities with integrity.
  
  

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Customer Experience & Communication

• Manage all incoming communication across WhatsApp, email, and phone lines
• Handle walk-in customers: film drop-offs, pickups, camera and merchandise sales, and general inquiries
• Maintain clear, polite, and responsive communication across all channels
• Support basic marketing communication through customer interactions and in-store awareness
  
  

Front Office & Daily Operations

• Open the space at 9.30 am and close at 7 pm daily
• Supervise housekeeping staff and ensure cleanliness throughout the day
• Reset spaces at the end of each day for the next day’s operations
• Ensure darkroom cleanliness and readiness
• Conduct basic safety checks (fire safety, health kits, etc.)
  
  

Administration & Office Management

• Manage petty cash and support basic bookkeeping
• Track bills, receipts, and routine expenses
• Coordinate office procurement (consumables, cleaning supplies, gloves, food supplies, water, etc.)
• Handle Amazon and other vendor purchases
• Coordinate maintenance vendors (AC, electrical, water supply, etc.)
• Support basic banking tasks (cheque deposits, cash withdrawals)
• Coordinate team hospitality (tea/snacks, workshop days, etc.)
  
  

Logistics & Deliveries

• Manage courier pickups and deliveries on a daily basis
• Track shipments and follow up with logistics partners (Bluedart, Delhivery, DHL, etc.)
• Coordinate local logistics (Porter bookings, dispatch support)
  
  

Residency & Community Support

• Manage residency room bookings, check-ins, check-outs, and billing
• Ensure rooms are prepared and cleaned before arrivals
• Maintain stock and hospitality standards for residents
• Support workshops and events with setup, coordination, and logistics
• Assist in managing Lighthouse bookings for external events
• Coordinate vendors for events (catering, cleaning, additional staff)
  
  

What You Can Expect

• A central role in the functioning of a unique cultural and community space
• Exposure to operations, customer interaction, and event coordination
• Opportunity to grow into larger operational responsibilities over time
  
  

How to Apply

Please Write To Us With

• Updated CV (PDF)
• Portfolio (if applicable)
• Short cover note (max 300 words) explaining why you’d like to work at CPB Darkroom
  
  

to: [email protected]

Subject Line

Application: Front Office & Customer Experience Executive – [Your Name]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

FELLOWSHIP TESTIMONALS

My time at CPB has been one of the most unique and enriching experiences of my professional life. I remember when the lab was just a shared vision that all of us worked to bring to reality and now our darkroom has become a go-to resource for analog enthusiasts not just in Chennai but all of India. I’ve had the opportunity to share the experience I’ve gained from a career working in analog media while also learning something new on every step of this journey. It is an experience that I’ll cherish for years to come.

• Gautami
  
  

Working at the CPB Darkroom is a wonderful opportunity to work with a team of experts in the field. The infrastructure and facilities provided have allowed me to experiment freely with processes such as wet plate collodion, black and white reversal processing and large format photography. The vivid life of the darkroom is something I will always cherish through the rest of my career.

• Anshul
  
  

My time as part of the darkroom team at CPB was instrumental in my analog journey. It offered unique learning experiences and resources that allowed me to indulge in various alternate processes and experiment with my practice.

• Indu Liza Benny
  
  

The CPB Darkroom Internship has deepened my understanding and appreciation of alternative and analog photographic processes. The resources available such as cameras, enlargers, film, lab equipment, and most importantly the expertise of the team have helped me grow as an artist.

• Ayuj