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- Tasks: Lead and manage events, ensuring exceptional delivery and client satisfaction.
- Company: Join The University of Manchester's dynamic Conferences & Venues team.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, pension contributions, and exclusive staff perks.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in events management and strong customer service skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced conference, events or venue professional ready to take the next step in your career? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy leading people, and take pride in delivering outstanding customer experiences? We’re looking for a Venue Manager to join our Conferences & Venues (C&V) team at The University of Manchester – a role offering real variety, responsibility and the chance to make a visible impact across a diverse portfolio of venues and events.
About This Role
As Venue Manager, you’ll play a pivotal operational role within our conference business venues, overseeing the day-to-day delivery of events while leading and developing a small, dedicated events and operations team. You’ll ensure conferences and events are professionally planned, smoothly delivered and consistently exceed client expectations, from initial enquiry through to post-event delivery. Working closely with colleagues across Hospitality, Estates, IT and academic partners, you’ll be at the heart of a highly collaborative operation that supports events of regional, national and international level. Due to the nature of events, working hours will vary (typically between 7am–7pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend working).
You’ll focus on:
- Providing supportive, motivational leadership to a small Events and Operations team, fostering high standards of service, professionalism and engagement
- Ensuring all venue facilities and services are planned, prepared and delivered safely, efficiently and to agreed quality standards
- Working closely with Sales and Hospitality colleagues to maximise space utilisation and identify opportunities to upsell services
- Supporting recruitment, induction, training, performance management and wellbeing within your team
- Overseeing and monitoring Health & Safety (H&S) requirements within your venues
About You
You’ll be a confident and organised events or venue professional who enjoys leading others and taking ownership of operational delivery. You’ll bring:
- A qualification in Events Management (or equivalent professional experience within conferences, venues or hospitality)
- Strong knowledge of the conference, events or hospitality sector, including current operational and commercial challenges
- Experience of leading teams and delivering high-quality customer service in a busy, customer-facing environment
- A sound working knowledge of Health & Safety requirements relevant to venue and event operations
- Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to work with a wide range of clients and stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
What you’ll get in return
You’ll feel valued as a Venue Manager at The University of Manchester, receiving access to exclusive rewards and benefits including:
- Generous annual leave, starting at 23 days (plus Bank Holidays)
- Annual closure for Christmas and New Year
- A pension scheme with generous employer contributions
- Subsidised car parking
- Access to a wide range of staff benefits, including discounts, wellbeing support, and development programme
Explore full benefits: www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/jobs/benefits-working-here
For any informal enquiries regarding this Venue Manager position, please contact Jane Pinder, Head of Conferences and Events. jane.pinder@manchester.ac.uk
Venue Manager in Manchester employer: The University of Manchester
Contact Detail:
The University of Manchester Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Venue Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, connect with fellow venue managers, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share examples of how you've motivated teams and delivered outstanding customer experiences. They want to see you in action!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you spot a venue or event that could use your expertise, reach out directly. A well-timed email can make all the difference and show you're genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are keen to join our team at The University of Manchester.
We think you need these skills to ace Venue Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Venue Manager role. Highlight your experience in events management and leadership, showcasing how you've delivered outstanding customer experiences in the past.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for our team. Mention specific examples of how you've led teams and managed events successfully.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your organisational skills and knowledge of Health & Safety requirements. We want to see how you can manage competing priorities while ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a seamless application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better!
How to prepare for a job interview at The University of Manchester
✨Know Your Venues
Before the interview, do your homework on the venues you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with their unique features, past events, and any recent changes. This will show your genuine interest and help you discuss how you can enhance their operations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in previous roles. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to deliver outstanding customer experiences. This is crucial for a Venue Manager role!
✨Understand Health & Safety Regulations
Brush up on relevant Health & Safety requirements for venues and events. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure compliance and safety during events, as this is a key responsibility in the role.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would collaborate with various departments like Sales and Hospitality. Prepare to discuss strategies for maximising space utilisation and upselling services, demonstrating your understanding of the operational side of the role.