Head of Building Operations and Project Delivery

JIM - Jobs In Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

JIM – Jobs In Manchester is seeking a Head of Building Operations and Project Delivery to lead at Co-op Live, the UK's largest live entertainment arena. In this pivotal role, you will oversee building operations, manage event planning, and ensure a world-class experience for guests and teams. You will need strong expertise in facilities management and a track record in project delivery to excel in this dynamic environment. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Employer pension scheme

Private Health Care scheme – Vitality

Life Assurance 4 x basic salary

Company sick pay scheme

Enhanced family friendly benefits

Team social events

Qualifications

• Experienced facilities leader in large, public-facing environments.
• Strong expertise in building operations and project delivery.
• Ability to manage major projects and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead building operations and maintenance strategies.
• Manage building projects to high standards.
• Oversee a team and contractors for operational success.

Skills

Building operations expertise

Project delivery

Team leadership

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Education

IWFM, NEBOSH, IOSH, PRINCE2

Job description

About The Venue

Since opening our doors to up to 23,500 fans per show, Co-op Live continues to attract world-class talent and events, drawing comparisons to and surpassing the world’s greatest live entertainment venues in show programming, sound, fan experience, premium hospitality, food and beverage, and more. The UK’s largest live entertainment arena is driven by a dedicated team of music and live event lovers, passionate about offering every visitor, fan, artist, and partner an unrivalled experience, before, during and after every event, as well as giving back to our local community and our planet.

Partnership is at our heart, with Co-op Live excelling through meaningful alliances with the likes of naming rights partner Co-op, united by a joint vision to be the very best. The first venue in the UK for owners and operators Oak View Group (OVG), Co-op Live spearheads expansion into Europe and rest of world, a jewel in the crown of a globally renowned portfolio.

Role Purpose

We’re on the lookout for a highly experienced Head of Building Operations and Project Delivery to help shape the UK’s biggest and most exciting live entertainment arena – Co-op Live.

This is a unique opportunity to lead building operations at a truly world-class venue. You’ll be at the heart of delivering exceptional fan experiences, managing major building and maintenance strategies, and creating a safe, sustainable environment for our guests, artists, and teams.

As a key member of our leadership team, you’ll drive the operational success of the venue, ensuring that every event, every project, and every element of the building runs smoothly, safely, and in line with our high standards.

Responsibilities

You’ll take ownership of building operations from top to bottom, from developing a robust maintenance strategy and embedding a safety-first culture, to leading complex building projects and delivering them to the highest standard.

Your day-to-day will involve managing a talented in-house team and multiple contractors, overseeing operational planning for events, and ensuring our venue runs seamlessly across all touchpoints.

You’ll be driving forward sustainability, maintaining our facilities to the highest level, and championing excellence in everything we do – all while keeping an eye on budgets, timelines, and compliance. Quite simply, you’ll be a driving force behind the UK’s best live entertainment experience.

What Co-op Live Will Give To You

Alongside the benefit of working with an awesome team of talented people, we want to help you get the best out of your work and have a work life balance.

• Provide you with development opportunities and regular one to ones
• Key objectives for you to succeed in your role
• Your general wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds, we understand the importance of balancing work and personal commitments
• This is an office base role, it’s really important we work together to mobilise the biggest music and live entertainment arena in the UK
  
  

Salary: £60,000 – £70,000 dependent on experience

Please note this role is working 5 out 7 days per week and supports our events, therefore weekend and late evenings are required.

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Employer pension scheme
• Private Health Care scheme – Vitality
• Life Assurance 4 x basic salary
• Eyecare vouchers
• WeCare Employee Assistance Programme to support you and your family 24hrs, 7 days per week when you need the service
• Company sick pay scheme
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• Office fruit & snacks
• Team social events
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

Joining the team, you will be an experienced and confident facilities leader who thrives in large, fast-paced, public-facing environments. With strong expertise in building operations and project delivery, you know how to balance the big picture with the fine detail. You’ll bring energy, resilience, and a can-do attitude – the kind that inspires teams, gets things done, and creates a positive, high-performance culture.

You’ll be commercially astute, strategically minded, and naturally collaborative, with a track record of managing major projects and budgets. If you have the qualifications to match (IWFM, NEBOSH, IOSH, PRINCE2 – even better), but above all, you’re someone who leads with integrity and purpose.

Our Inclusion Commitments

Our venue is for the fans, the artists, everyone! Attracting a diverse workforce which reflects our local community is what will make our venue the best music venue in the UK!

We understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens ourpeople, improves ourservice, and raises ourexcellence. We are committed to creating a great place to work amplifying voices from all different backgrounds. There is something for everyone at Co-op Live, come and get involved.

If you do require any additional support or reasonable adjustments to support your application, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure you have everything you need. We will consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the required skills necessary to fulfil the role.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

We recognise the importance of safeguarding, dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.

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