Gallery and retail manager

Critical Playground LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Cockpit in London is seeking a Gallery and Retail Manager to lead a dynamic venue program, overseeing exhibitions, retail, and events. You will work closely with the CEO/COO and marketing teams to deliver a varied programme, ensure high-end presentation, and drive audience engagement with craftsmen and makers.

The role includes managing staff, budgets, and partnerships, with the ambition to grow footfall and celebrate contemporary craft in a public-facing setting.

Qualifications

• Essential: proven experience managing a gallery, retail space, or similar public-facing venue (min 2 years).
• Strong network in contemporary craft, design, or applied arts.
• Commercially minded with a track record in retail sales, stock and merchandising.
• Experience planning and delivering events or public programmes.
• Experience planning and executing marketing campaigns and content planning to promote exhibitions and programmes.
• Experience working with marketing teams.
• Confident line management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver rotating exhibitions with makers.
• Manage exhibition install and de-install to professional standards.
• Curate retail offer and manage sales targets, stock, merchandising and pricing.
• Plan workshops, talks and private views; deliver and host programme strands.
• Coordinate bookings, ticketing, supplier liaison and on-the-night delivery of events.
• Build relationships with local businesses and cultural organisations to grow footfall and engagement.
• Lead and develop gallery and retail staff; manage budgets and day-to-day operations.
• Oversee packing/shipping of stock and artworks; ensure premium presentation for purchases.

Skills

Gallery management

Retail management

Event planning

Marketing campaigns

Team leadership

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Budget management

Public engagement

CRM/EPOS familiarity

Tools

EPOS systems

CRM software

Photoshop

Social media tools

MS Office / M365

Job description

Cockpit is looking for agallery and retail manager to join its team in London.

Title: Gallery and retail manager

Contract type: 24-month fixed-term contract

Hours: 10:30am-6:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Salary: £38,000

Start date: 4 January 2027

Reports to: CEO and COO

Works with: head of marketing, head of development and youth and community producer

Main duties

Gallery programme:

• working closely with the CEO and COO to plan and deliver a rotating programme of exhibitions showcasing Cockpit makers, in collaboration with the wider Cockpit team and participating makers
• manage exhibition install and de-install to a white glove service level, including shipping, unpacking and packing, display, lighting and presentation, all to a professional standard
• develop relationships with makers, curators, the Cockpit team and the wider craft and design community to shape an ambitious, varied programme

Retail:

• curate and manage a retail offer of work by Cockpit makers, balancing commercial performance with creative integrity
• own sales targets, stock management, merchandising, packaging and pricing, working closely with the wider Cockpit team and makers
• monitor and report on retail performance, identifying opportunities to grow revenue

Events and programming:

• work with the CEO and COO to plan a regular programme of workshops, talks and private views, and take responsibility for the delivery and hosting of all programme strands
• manage bookings, ticketing, supplier and maker liaison and on-the-night delivery of events, including all necessary security measures for special events
• build relationships with local businesses, cultural organisations and audiences in the building and in the City of London to grow footfall and engagement

Team, marketing and operations

• manage and develop the gallery and retail assistant and any casual/freelance event staff
• working closely with the central marketing and communications team, implement strategies to drive new audiences to view exhibitions and attend private views, workshops, talks and demonstrations
• lead on content planning for the promotion of the space, working closely with the gallery and retail assistant and head of marketing, to ensure it aligns with the wider Cockpit strategy. Secure and share relevant assets to promote the space and programme
• oversee day-to-day operations of the space, including health and safety, security, opening hours and supplier and service provider relationships
• manage the space’s budget, working closely with Cockpit’s finance tea
• manage all shipping, unpacking and installing of stock and artworks for the retail space and rotational exhibition
• manage all packing and shipping of gallery purchases to the end client
• ensure a high-level, luxury feel to the packaging and presentation of purchased pieces to clients
• represent Cockpit’s mission and values to visitors, press, partners and the public

Indicative two-year programme:

• rotating retail display
• c.12 gallery exhibitions
• up to 24 private views, talks and demonstrations
• 15-20 distinctive workshops
• quarterly youth and community outreach activities

Person specification

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

• proven experience managing a gallery, retail space, or similar public-facing cultural/commercial venue (minimum of two years’ experience)
• a strong network in, or knowledge of, contemporary craft, design, or applied arts
• commercially minded, with a track record in retail sales, stock and merchandising
• experience planning and delivering events or public programmes
• experience planning and executing marketing campaigns and content planning to promote exhibitions and programmes
• experience working closely and collaboratively with marketing teams
• confident line management experience
• excellent written and verbal communication skills – equally comfortable with a maker, a corporate visitor, a funder, or the press
• highly organised, self-motivated and comfortable running a space with a high degree of autonomy
• ability to provide occasional out-of-hours support for private views and events where necessary
• a genuine enthusiasm for craft and supporting independent makers
• proficient in M365 suite of programmes

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:

• proficiency with standard office and retail/EPOS tools; experience with gallery or CRM software
• proficient in Photoshop
• proficient in social media scheduling tools (e.g. Later, Hootsuite)
• knowledge of project management software (e.g. Monday.com)