Bar & Event Supervisor

We are looking to hire Bar & Events Supervisors to support the Exchange Team with delivering bar and catering services at events, to oversee the delivery of space hire, and act as hosts and facilitators for workshops and events organised for our Community Programme. Overall, this role is responsible for delivering reliable, high‑quality operational support across hospitality and events, contributing to the smooth functioning of Exchange and the wider Somerset House programme. In addition, you will provide essential support in event delivery, ensuring spaces are prepared to specification, rooms are set up and prepared for clients, AV requirements are met and facilitators, hirers, and guests receive appropriate on‑site support.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee bar and occasionally catering service at community and public facing events ensuring clients’ expectations and sales targets are met.
• Supervising team during events, including pre-event briefing, delegation of tasks, assigning breaks and ensuring break cover.
• Manage event bar set-up, take-down, and cleaning tasks which will include manual handling.
• Management of stock, storage and delivery arrangements.
• Managing event schedule, liaising with event stakeholders and clients, and responding to any issues or queries that may arise.
• Responsible for ensuring the licensing and H&S regulations, and internal policies and procedures are in place and adhered to at all time.
• Supervise space hire, act as the main point of contact during bookings, and ensure client satisfaction is met.
• Occasionally act as a host and facilitator of workshops and community events.
• Have a strong understanding of all the roles on the team and be ready to step in to cover them during breaks or busier periods.

General Duties

• Create an inclusive environment internally and externally.
• Act as a point of contact for attendees' questions and requests.
• Proactively look to address any challenges that may arise and seek to optimise operations.

Skills and Experience

Experience

• Experience in supervising café and bar operations and administration, including bar and catering services at events, and pop-up bars.
• Experience managing teams.
• Experience in successfully managing and delivering events, ideally in creative / arts organisations / communities with procedural and process development capacity.
• Experience in overseeing bookings of spaces (e.g for photo shoots, meetings, talks, workshops).
• Experience in working with artists and creative communities.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills and a people-oriented person.
• Proactive can-do attitude, flexible and adaptable to change.
• Up to date knowledge of Health & Safety, First Aid, licensing, and general rules and regulations for café/bar service.
• Confidence in managing event teams and making well-informed decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Confidence in engaging with events attendees and leading activities.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise own workload, multi-task, and deliver to deadlines.

Desirable

• Cocktail bartending skills & Cocktail curation skills.
• Barista skills.
• AV/Sound Engineering skills.
• Workshop facilitation skills.

Benefits

• Access 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 needed.
• 3% employer 5% employee pension contributions *as long as criteria is met.
• Discounts, offers and free stuff! The list is endless and includes tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sites.
• Discount to local leisure centres.