People Coordinator (Manchester)

Company Overview

Founded in 2007 by Mike and Alison Battle, Lapland began with a simple but powerful purpose: to honour the wonder of childhood at Christmas. Frustrated by the poor quality of festive experiences available for their own boys, the Battles set out to elevate this moment of childhood and reimagine the Father Christmas myth through original storytelling, meticulous set design, and emotionally resonant live theatre. Their groundbreaking immersive show opened in 2007 and immediately captured the attention and hearts of parents nationwide. Powered by their purpose, the couple partnered with Hollywood set designers and West End performance professionals to produce an experience of unprecedented quality and detail. With an NPS of 72, Lapland’s customer loyalty is second to none and has now welcomed nearly 2 million “believers”, with tickets selling out on release for what the press now terms “the Glastonbury of Christmas”. Today, the Lapland Group is a fast‑growing purpose‑driven entertainment business spanning the three pillars of Live, Product and Studios. In 2024, Lapland’s eCommerce revenues grew tenfold, driven by the launch of magical at‑home products such as personalised Letters from Lapland and an Advent calendar. These products extend the Lapland world into the home, deepening belief and connection beyond the physical experience. At the same time, our original story universe continues to scale through media. In 2023, Lapland launched its first podcast, Elfcast, which achieved No. 1 in the UK Family Charts and ranked in the global top 10 over Christmas. With plans to expand into audio and content year‑round, our IP and characters are reaching audiences in new and emotionally resonant ways. With immersive live experiences, high‑growth eCommerce and a rapidly expanding original content pipeline, Lapland is on a mission to become the definitive global Christmas brand anchored in belief, storytelling and the enduring magic of childhood.

Role Overview

As one of the People Coordinators you will play an essential role in supporting the departmental Operations Manager by handling administrative tasks, facilitating communication and ensuring the smooth operation of organising your allocated departmental workforce. You will be one of the team representing that department throughout the recruitment process, all the way to the end of the live event.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Working with the People Operations Manager and your departmental Operations Manager in processing new applicants, remaining on top of onboarding new hires and being the first point of contact on email.
• Assess staff availability and produce staff rosters for each new joiner.
• Maintain departmental inboxes and action any queries, forwarding to People Operations Manager for escalation.
• Produce daily call sheets for management once live, as well as liaising with Wardrobe where forward preparation is required.
• Shift scheduling and daily absence management & tracking.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that team attendance is high, managing absence in a timely and effective manner in accordance with company policy.
• Working closely with the People Operations Manager to ensure recruitment requirements both before and during the live event are at suitable levels to maintain shift coverage.
• Monitoring poor performance and attendance in a timely and effective manner, in accordance with company policy and in conjunction with seasonal managers.
• Working with Operations Managers to recognise and promote good performance and attendance through reward & recognition offerings.

• Ensure a safe and secure environment for both colleagues and guests.
• Assist the Management team in the co‑ordination of any emergency procedures, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of visitors and colleagues at all times.
• Report any health and safety accidents or near‑misses into Event Control, inclusive but not limited to trip hazards, emergency issues, cleaning, site repairs.

• Assist the delivery of role and venue‑specific training sessions, keeping track of attendance and ensuring time and attendance records are up to date for payroll.
• Following up with no‑shows for training sessions, topping up recruitment numbers if there is a large drop‑out.
• Be the first point of contact for workers arriving for classroom and site training, troubleshooting issues with onboarding to allow a smooth first shift on site.

• Address queries, escalating as needed to the People Operations Manager.
• Ensure HR policies are being upheld by departmental managers, and act as note‑taker in any recorded conversation during the live show period.
• Produce daily call sheets for managers & supervisors.
• Ensuring sufficient over‑book is scheduled for shifts, working as far ahead as possible.
• Taking daily absence calls, logging absence & monitoring shift coverage.
• Facilitating shift swaps for workers, but implementing a pause of shift swaps if it is unmanageable, to the discretion of People Coordinator.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Comfortable with being the first point of contact for your department’s staff on site and handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Windows & Microsoft applications, as well as being comfortable learning & using staffing software applications.
• Great organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• Confident with technology.
• Previous experience in an event capacity.
• Organisational skills and attention to detail.

Pay Rate – £15.50 per hour

Flexible hybrid working until early November, when the role is then based on‑site. Holiday paid at 12.07% at the end of contract. Free daily on‑site meal once based on‑site for the live show. Staff car parking & shuttle bus service.

Applicants must be authorised to work in the United Kingdom without the need for visa sponsorship. Lapland reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any time. Due to the high number of applications being received, we may not be able to respond to every applicant. Lapland is proud to be an equal‑opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.