Head of Venue chez Broadwick

Role: Head of Venue
Reports into: Spaces Director
Location: London
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent (42.5 hours per week / 5 days over 7)

Who we are:

Broadwick is a multifaceted international company with headquarters in London who create, develop, own and operate a diverse portfolio of spaces, events and experiences.

We believe in redefining spaces and how people experience music, art, culture and recreation by breaking down the traditional barriers. Our history and heritage is deeply rooted in music, building a portfolio of 20 global festivals before selling the portfolio in 2019 to focus on our growing portfolio of spaces that includes Printworks London, Depot Mayfield Manchester, Exhibition White City, Landing Forty Two and Magazine London.

Collectively we strive to push boundaries and disrupt the cultural landscape by combining big thinking, bold ideas and commercial intelligence to produce spaces and experiences for discerning audiences in inspiring locations. 

This role and team sits within Broadwick Spaces; a business with the company that manages spaces that host a multitude of events, including corporate events, and music and culture.

Our team: 

26 Leake Street and Broadwick Spaces is home to a passionate and dedicated team of event professionals who take immense pride in delivering world-class events in exceptional venues. Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impact on the thousands of guests we welcome. We are a close-knit team driven by excellence, working in a dynamic environment surrounded by like-minded, committed individuals.

26 Leake Street is one of London’s most distinctive urban event venues, set beneath Waterloo Station within the capital’s famous Graffiti Tunnel. Spanning 11,000 sq ft across two striking railway arches, and 2 additional spaces, it combines raw industrial character with cutting-edge facilities to host everything from music shows and brand activations to unique conferences and private parties.

The venue has undergone a period of exciting redevelopment, aimed at enhancing its flexibility, guest experience, and creative potential. This next chapter will see 26 Leake Street evolve into an even more dynamic, future-ready events destination, while continuing to celebrate its iconic street art heritage and bold, urban aesthetic.

What we’re looking for:

We are seeking a talented and ambitious business leader to drive the delivery of our Space strategy. This role offers the chance to lead a dynamic team and shape the future of Broadwick Spaces, working closely with both the Spaces Director and the Group Director of Spaces. The ideal candidate will bring vision, commercial acumen, and the ability to inspire collaboration across the business.

They will be accountable for the sales, operations and facilities management across the Space and line manage the venue’s lead sales and operations. 

Direct reports:

• Head of Sales & Events
• Senior Operations Manager 

What you’ll be accountable and responsible for:

Sales

(Head of Sales & Events at Drumsheds and 26 Leake Street will lead sales)

• Support the Head of Sales & Events in leading the whole Space team in defining and delivering successful sales strategies for corporate & brand events which include:
• Competitor analysis
• Identifying new events, opportunities, and markets
• Data segmentation
• Business development and proactive sales
• Relationship management
• Marketing initiatives
• Support the Live Music Booker in delivering a successful Space music strategy, which includes:
• Competitor analysis
• Refining the music shows financial model
• Identifying new opportunities and markets
• Relationship management
• Marketing initiatives
• Ticketing & partnership deals
• Ensuring all sales targets are achieved and KPIs are constantly monitored based on metrics adopted across the business.
• Ensuring the highest standards of sales operations across the space.
• Working with the line manager and Spaces & Stories to define and drive proactive sales strategies and tactics that best support the long and short term sales performance of the Space.
• Leading on converting and negotiating multi-year and high value contracts and the management of key high value clients as and when required.

Operations

• Ensure the Space meets its planning, licensing and other statutory obligations.
• Ensuring compliance with Broadwick group policies, procedures and metrics across the space.
• Defining and streamlining operational policies and processes, for both corporate & brand events, and music shows, and their execution, by ensuring best practice throughout the Space and supporting colleagues who might need guidance.
• Being the data guardian and quality controller for your Space.
• Educating your team in operations when required, ensuring they fully understand the expected standards and their role in delivering them.

Marketing

• Working with the line manager and central Marketing team to define data and evidence based marketing strategies across the space.
• Responsibility for the delivery of marketing strategies and targets, ensuring KPIs are constantly monitored based on metrics adopted across the business.
• Ensuring the highest standard of marketing operations across the space.
• Acting as brand guardian, growing the brand as agreed with the brand team.

Finance

• Ensuring compliance with Broadwick group policies, procedures and metrics.
• Owning the spaces’ P&Ls in terms of costs (incl. business rates), forecasting and reconciliation, reporting these figures to senior leadership.
• Working with the accounts team to reconcile the spaces’ P&Ls month to month.
• Providing reports to senior leadership.
• Overall responsibility for debt management.

Property Management

• Leading facilities management, ensuring delivery of targets and expectations ensuring focus stays on establishing the highest standard processes and execution to ensure profit maximisation through cost control, optimal performance and other portfolio wide initiatives.
• Adhering to the venue leases / management agreement, legal documentation, Health and Safety Documents, JV contracts and nuances.
• Educating the team on expectations and leading their day to day work.
• Collaborating with the Property Management team to ensure their guidance and strategies are integrated in the business effectively.
• Working with the Property Management team to educate your teams in property management as required, ensuring their full understanding of expected standards and their role in delivering them.

New Spaces

• Consulting and advising on new space acquisitions as and when required.
• Assisting the Group Director of Spaces in the delivery of new space activations as and when required.

Projects

• Planning, delivering, implementing and supporting a variety of projects with the aim of:
• Supporting Broadwick Group objectives and vision.
• Successful delivery of the Broadwick Spaces Business Plan.
• Developing and delivering the Broadwick Spaces regional space strategy.
• Supporting the development and Best in Class approach for the Broadwick Spaces business.
• Event Works / Hubspot - ensuring we have a Best in Class approach for all data entry / management in Broadwick Spaces.

Team

• Liaising with the people team and company payroll across salaries, new starters/leavers and management of the bonus in partnership with the line manager.
• Supporting the line manager with resource planning and leading on recruitment.
• Leading on the performance management and development of direct line reports.
• Managing People/HR proceedings as required.
• Identifying training needs and guiding team development, working with the line manager and other business directors.
• Creating a work environment that aligns with Broadwick values and principles.

Other

• Working with the space team to manage and develop key stakeholder relationships (landlords, responsible authorities and emergency services).
• Personal Licence Holder and potentially act as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) if required.
• Carrying out ad hoc duties when required to.

You’ll need to have:

• A proven track record of creating and executing business strategies for complex, multifaceted venues, which host corporate & brand events and music shows
• Previous experience of managing, influencing and inspiring teams that consist of sales, operations and facilities management professionals.
• Experience of working in a management position in a Broadwick Space or equivalent space in a Venue Lead or similar level position.
• At least 5 years of experience working within an event venue sales team or similar.
• Can demonstrate commerciality through experience of selling profitably, sales negotiations, maximising sales, achieving targets and writing sales strategies.
• A good understanding of event operations.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the local venue market and key venue finding agents.
• Ability to work with clients on all levels and with all areas of the business.  With a specific ability to stay calm and focused under pressure.
• Experience of producing, managing and delivering venue budgets, P+Ls and financial reports in conjunction with finance teams.
• Strong understanding of how to intelligently collaborate with marketing, brand and venue leaders to deliver evidence based marketing strategies.
• Ability to set, manage and monitor targets and KPIs for teams of sales, operations and facilities management professionals.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple venue projects simultaneously through effective prioritisation and multi-tasking.
• Full awareness of health and safety, compliance, and facilities legislation and codes of practice.
• Exceptional commercial acumen demonstrated through the alignment of business mission, strategies and objectives.
• An open, honest communication style.
• Endless positivity, and a proactive approach to your work.
• Excellent communication skills - you need to be great at communication to a wide range of people.
• Proficient in the use of Mac computers, G-Suite and Microsoft Office packages.

Nice to haves:

• Relevant H&S Qualifications (IOSH / NEBOSH).
• Proficient in the use of Event Works, Hubspot or similar CRM software.
• Proficient in the use of Monday.com or similar Project Management software.
• SIA qualification