Venue Manager

Location: The Beacon, Wantage
Salary and grade: Grade 6 £42,576 to £48,530 pa
Duration of role: 18 months fixed term
Hours per week: 37 hours per week, including evenings and weekends on a rota basis

Closing date: 3rd December 2024

About the role and what we’re looking for

The Beacon is a community arts centre in Wantage, managed by the Vale of White Horse District Council. The centre offers multi-purpose spaces which are suitable for a range of hire activities, classes, meetings, as well as a host of professional performances including dance, theatre, music, comedy, conference and cinema.

We are seeking a self-motivated, creative, commercially minded and responsible person to lead both the day-to-day operation of The Beacon and, working with the wider Community Arts team, support its development and growth as an important community and cultural asset.

About you

Your essential skills, knowledge and experience

• At least 3 years’ experience of managing a mixed usage venue of similar size
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences
• Good IT skills including Microsoft word, excel and email electronic booking systems
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload and meet deadlines, with limited supervision
• Experience of managing cash and a good understanding of budget management
• An ability and willingness to use your initiative to work effectively and pro-actively as an individual and as part of a busy and committed team
• Personal licence holder and an understanding of the licensing laws (if not an existing personal licence holder you must achieve this qualification within 3 months of appointment)
• Ability to lift and carry equipment
• Experience of managing a bar or catering function, ordering stock and overseeing contracts
• Experience of operational responsibility for a building, including health
• and safety compliance
• Effective delegation and decision-making skills
• Understanding of health and safety procedures and risk assessments
• Experience of managing and coordinating events and activities
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Experience in staff line management

Your essential qualifications

• 3 A’ levels or equivalent qualification/experience
• Personal licence holder (and willingness to act as Designated
• Premises Supervisor)

If you have the following experience or qualifications – it’s a bonus

• First aid (if not an existing first aider this qualification must be achieved
• within 6 months of appointment)
• Electronic booking and/or ticketing systems
• Understanding of lighting and sound equipment, preferably in a theatre style environment
• Partnership skills including the ability to consult and liaise effectively, and to build relationships and networks · Experience of running a public venue or bar
• Understanding of food hygiene regulations
• Knowledge and understanding of working in a local government setting Your style and behaviours
• Work flexible as shifts can include evenings and weekends
• An enthusiastic and proactive approach to work, with a friendly welcoming manner and an ability to work with a wide variety of people
• Commitment to customer service and continuous improvement
• Commitment to valuing diversity and equality; respecting customers and colleagues in all relationships and service delivery.

The Benefits We Offer

• A basic 25 day annual leave per annum, rising to 30 days after five years. You also have all the bank holidays to look forward to and time off between Christmas and New Year.
• Flexible working and annualised hours – a flexible approach to work that our employees love
• Salary pay awards – most jobs give scope for a pay increase after six months or the following April (depending on your start date) and we also review salaries each April.
• A generous career average pension scheme which includes life insurance of three times your salary
• The opportunity to purchase a bike through Cyclescheme (cheaper than directly through a store) so that you can cycle to work
• Various schemes to keep you healthy (reduced gym membership, free swims, free eye tests for DSE users and more)
• We give you two days per year to volunteer within the local community.
• A range of resources, support, and activities to help you maintain your wellbeing including a monthly wellbeing hour in addition to annualised hours (the ability to work flexibly as long as, over the course of the year, you complete your contracted hours) and annual leave.

You may also have experience in the following: Front of House Manager, Visitor Services Manager, Arts Centre Operations Supervisor, Customer Experience Supervisor, Event Operations Coordinator, Venue Operations Manager, Performance Venue Supervisor, Arts Centre Duty Coordinator, Guest Services Coordinator, Theatre Operations Manager, etc.

REF-(Apply online only)