Community Hires and Events Manager

Community Hires and Events Manager

Application Deadline:

3 October 2025Department:

Residents Team (creative community)Employment Type:

Full TimeLocation:

LondonCompensation:

£35,000 - £37,000 / yearDescription

As the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House connects creativity and the arts with wider society. By merging worlds, minds and talent, it intensifies creativity and multiplies opportunity, driving artistic and social innovation at once. Our creative community is at the heart of our mission, with over 600 organisations based in the building (known as Residents).The Residents Team manage part of this dynamic, expansive creative network. We foster a mutually supportive community through resident collaboration, digital engagement and facilitated opportunities within our ecosystem and wider networks, our charitable mission, and the wider cultural programme. This ongoing cycle of collaboration and innovation takes young businesses and developing creatives in ever new directions.The Community Hires and Events Manager will lead on events and venue hires for residents of Somerset House, responsible for delivering a sustainable and high-quality service for our community of over 600 creative businesses. This role will provide artists, freelancers, and creative organisations flexible access to spaces across our busy site. From photo shoots to cultural sector conferences, creative workshops to tech hackathons, you’ll be unlocking opportunities for resident projects and cultural innovation activities that help enable business engagement and development.As a manager, you’ll be expected to take a lead on the service, setting business development objectives, demonstrating leadership and strategic thinking, measuring impact, recommending budgets, developing marketing plans, making operational improvements, delivering on targets, and ensuring an overall high-quality resident experience.We’re seeking an experienced event sales and management professional to join our dynamic and creative team. You’ll have a proven track record of selling venue spaces and coordinating events. You’ll be passionate about supporting small to medium-sized creative and purpose-driven businesses.Experience in the arts and culture sector would be an advantage but is not essential. The Community Hires and Events Manager will be excited by the potential of our spaces and passionate about the contribution your success will make to Somerset House’s charitable and commercial objectives.Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Business DevelopmentLead on the strategic development of the resident community hires and events service, ensuring alignment with Somerset House’s organisational goals and maintaining competitiveness in the creative workspace marketCultivate and maintain relationships with resident organisations to foster engagementCollaborate with Somerset House departments and onsite operators, ensuring a consistent and joined-up approach to promotion, pricing and delivery of space hires and related servicesOversee the creation of marketing and promotional assets to enhance visibility and uptake of the resident community hire offerMaximise use of the resident community platform and digital channels to promote, manage and streamline hires and eventsIdentify and pursue new business opportunities, including partnerships, products, and packages—that deliver added value to residents and Somerset HouseWork closely with the Senior Community Manager to develop and deliver the Community Strategy, taking a lead on relevant areasSales and BookingsManage the full sales and booking lifecycle, acting as the main point of contact for incoming resident hire enquiries, converting leads into bookings.Conduct and coordinate site visits, space hire tours, sales calls, and planning meetingsManage the contractual process from initial quote to final agreementDevelop and execute targeted sales strategies to increase revenue and optimise space utilisation, including offers and promotionsTrack sales data, maintain accurate financial records, and produce regular status updates and reportsReview and improve existing sales and booking processes, automating and streamlining processes to ensure a user-friendly customer experienceEvent Planning and DeliveryOversee all aspects of resident community events planning, delivery and on-site operationsSupervising events staff, ensuring the team is supported to offer a consistent and high-quality resident experienceCoordinate with other departments and subcontractors to ensure residents'' needs are met, including onsite bars, security, and cleaning teamsEnsure all events comply with health and safety, licensing, heritage requirements, and GDPRManage all resident queries and resolve any logistical issuesOperations and FinanceBudget management, including forecasting, analysis, and reportingFinancial administration including raising sales and purchase orders, debt chasing, and reconciling accountsLead the implementation and optimisation of the event management system (DIESE), driving process improvements and operational efficiencyIdentify potential cost savings and efficiencies, working across departments to create proposals, ensuring a joined-up approachEvaluation and ImpactEvaluate the service, setting objectives, creating regular reports, and actionable insightsIdentify and produce case studies demonstrating the broader value and impact of the events and cultural projects supportedIdentify and develop opportunities for added community value or benefitSkills, Knowledge and Expertise

ExperienceVenue hire management, ideally within a workspace and/or creative communitySales experience, including making and exceeding financial targetsDemonstrable events management experience with clients and/or subcontractors to a superior levelBuilding and managing strong relationships with clients and meeting customer needsBudgetary responsibilities including forecasting, managing PandLs, reconciling accounts and financial administrationManagement experience either as a line manager or working with project teamsExperience with Event Management Systems (EMS) or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systemsSkillsCommercial awareness and business negotiation skillsMarketing and communications skillsAbility to lead and motivate a teamProblem-solving skills, with ability to identify and address issues before they ariseAbility to meet deadlines and take personal ownership to achieve team goalsIT literate with ability to learn new systems and software quicklyEvaluation and reporting skillsBenefits

Mental Health and WellbeingAccess to our external Employee Assistance Programme (CiC) for free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where neededMental health support and guidance from our in-house trained Mental Health First AidersHybrid working based on having 3 days in the office per week (pro rata if part-time)*Contribution towards eye tests and glassesTrust life insurance schemeWe offer winter flu vaccination vouchers* dependent on the needs of the roleHoliday

Enhanced annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata)Birthday leave - additional day leaveCelebration day - to celebrate anything of your choiceOther Leave

Sick leave – 20 days full pay, followed by 20 days half pay (pro rata and following 3 months service)Emergency dependent care – option to use 25% of paid sick leave for emergency care of a dependent (pro rata and following 3 months of service)Enhanced maternity payBenefits

8% employer pension contributions, no employee contribution required* After 3 monthsOption for salary sacrificeSeason ticket loanCycle to Work schemeDiscounts, offers and free stuff

The list is endless and includes tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sitesDiscounts in Somerset House cafes and restaurantsDiscounts with various high street retailers and restaurantsDiscounts to local leisure ..... full job details .....