Venue and Programming Manager

University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Sydney is seeking a Venue and Programming Manager for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to oversee daily administration, program masterclasses, VIP and community events, and collaborations with external partners.

You will supervise venue operations, develop marketing materials for events, manage budgets and invoicing, and support venue systems. A tertiary qualification in business administration or arts administration, or equivalent experience, is required.

Qualifications

• Experience in venue management and event delivery
• Tertiary qualifications in business administration or arts administration or equivalent experience
• Ability to identify new relationships with potential users/hirers of the venue
• Understanding of audiences and ability to build repeat visitation and community presence
• Experience in developing event schedules and managing technical aspects of events in a musical/arts org

Responsibilities

• Manage daily administration activities and provide guidance to staff and students
• Coordinate masterclasses, VIP events, recitals, and community engagements
• Develop event marketing materials and digital advertising for SCM display screens
• Manage payments, invoices, budgeting and debtor control with Finance Officers
• Provide specialist venue/event delivery support for Macquarie Street campus and other USYD venues

Skills

Venue management

Event delivery

Stage management

Concert production

Technical theatre

WHS delivery

Front-of-house management

Budgeting

Stakeholder relations

Education

Business/Arts administration degree

Job description

Full-time Continuing position, located at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney

Contribute and manage overall operation of the Conservatorium rooms and performance venues, across the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Base Salary HEO 7, $117,133 p.a. + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (SCM) is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia. It is a distinctive part of Sydney’s arts and educational nucleus. The SCM is renowned for its exceptional commitment to music, innovative programs and partnership programs with Australia’s major music organisations. Since its inception in 1915, the Conservatorium has played an important role in shaping Sydney’s cultural identity.

Key Responsibilities

• manage the delivery of daily administration activities and services, providing guidance to colleagues on the ongoing activities of the work area, ensuring high quality and efficient administrative support is provided in a pro-active manner to staff, students, clients and visitors develop opportunities with key stakeholders, arts organisations, local community groups, performers and musicians to program activations and performances in the venue an efficient high-quality communication/coordination and liaison point with staff in the University and key external stakeholders such as performers, clients and guests work closely with the Conservatoriums staff to program masterclasses, VIP events, special events, recitals, schools and community engagement and in the space provide sound policy and procedural advice to a range of stakeholders exercise and build collaborations, initiatives and judgement in resolving sometimes complex problems associated with key accountabilities and related to the work area work closely with SCM Parramatta technical team, develops strong competence with venue systems, maintaining staff user guides for a range of event scenarios identify opportunities and the development of event marketing materials including branded event invitations, post event surveys and digital advertising for SCM display screens manage payment and invoice management for contractors in liaison with the School’s Finance Officers, including budgeting, invoicing and debtor control.
• act as an additional specialist venue and event delivery resource for activities and events held at the Macquarie Street campus, Footbridge Theatre and other USYD venues when required.

About you

• We are seeking an exceptional Venue and Programming Manager, who possesses: experience in venue management and event delivery with demonstratable skills in any number of disciplines including stage management, concert production, technical theatre operations, WHS delivery or FOH management.
• tertiary qualifications in business administration or Arts, and/or equivalent relevant experience in arts administration previous experience in designing and delivering unique, and/or recurring artistic programs in a theatrical or concert environment
• the ability to identify and develop new relationships with potential users and hirers of the venue
• an understanding of audiences and how to build rapport with audiences to keep repeat visitation and high profile community presence
• experience in developing and implementing event schedules, coordinating performers and managing technical aspects of events in a musical or arts organisation
• preferred excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and providing excellent customer service ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks to meet tight deadlines
• experience in financial management including managing budgets and controlling income and expenditure
• understanding of sound systems, IT infrastructure and event technology
• a driver’s licence would be preferrable.

Work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment. This position is designated as involving child-related work. To undertake or remain in this position, you are required to apply for and obtain a Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

Applications

Applications Close Thursday 17 September 2026 11:59 PM

Want to know more about working at the University of Sydney? https://www.sydney.edu.au/about-us.html