Head of Live Programming

The Columbo Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited guest list and tickets

50% discount on food and drink

Work from home Wednesdays

Pension plan

Regular team socials

Job summary

The Columbo Group is opening The Rex, a 2,000-capacity venue in East London. We’re seeking a Head of Live Programming to own the ticketed events diary from enquiry to show day, coordinating with agents, promoters and our in-house teams.

You’ll shape how the venue is programmed, build relationships, drive sales, and collaborate with senior leaders to deliver a varied calendar of music, comedy and live formats.

Qualifications

• Experience in live events bookings or programming across music and other formats.
• Strong network with agents, promoters and managers.
• Proactive outreach and ability to convert interest into bookings.
• Excellent organisation with diary and pipeline management in-venue.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of deal terms.
• Motivation to build a new venue's reputation from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Own ticketed events diary from enquiry to show day.
• Manage holds, confirmations, cancellations with agents.
• Coordinate with General Manager on deliverability, from tech spec to staffing.
• Brief Marketing on confirmed shows for maximum lead time.
• Gather post-show feedback to encourage repeat bookings.
• Proactively build relationships with promoters and agencies.
• Develop pipeline and pitch meetings; arrange site visits.
• Collaborate with CEO and Columbo Music on programming direction.
• Work with sales for private hires.

Skills

Live events experience

Bookings & programming

Agency relationships

Diary management

Pipeline development

Sales outreach

Commercial awareness

Team collaboration

Tools

CRM systems

Ticketing platforms

Job description

We're looking for a Head of Live Programming to join our team - This role is for our new venue at The Columbo Group - The Rex

The Columbo Group is the team behind some of the UK's most loved music, nightlife and hospitality brands, including Jazz Cafe, The Blues Kitchen, Phonox, The Old Queen's Head and The Parakeet. Alongside them sit festivals and events including Maiden Voyage, Eastern Electrics, Jazz Cafe Festival, plus Columbo Music, our live promotions and touring business.

We're looking for a Head of Live Programming to own The Rex's ticketed events diary, from first enquiry through to show day. Our new 2,000-capacity music and events venue in East London is opening next year and it will be built through proactive outreach: you'll go after the bookings, win the trust of agencies and promoters, and get people excited about the venue. This is a chance to shape how one of London's most exciting new venues is programmed and experienced from the ground up.

What You'll Do

Diary & Show Operations

• Own every ticketed event at The Rex across music, comedy and other live formats, and manage the diary from first enquiry to show day.
• Manage holds, confirmations, cancellations and changes with agents and promoters, keeping the diary accurate at all times.
• Work with the General Manager so every confirmed show is deliverable, from technical spec to staffing.
• Brief Marketing early on confirmed shows so they can be promoted with maximum lead time.
• Gather feedback after each show and act on it, so promoters see the venue improve and return.

Partnerships & Process

• Be the venue's point of contact for promoters and agents and set up a clear, consistent process for enquiries, holds and show-week information.
• Support the CEO with delivery on ticketed event deal terms.

Business Development & Pipeline

• Proactively approach agencies, promoters, managers and tour bookers across music, comedy and other live formats to introduce the venue.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of relationships, tracking every lead from first contact to confirmed date.
• Arrange site visits and pitch meetings and make sure every visitor leaves knowing what The Rex offers.

Programme and Internal Collaboration

• Balance formats and dates so the calendar reflects the venue's ambition and its revenue targets.
• Work with the CEO, Head of Electronic Music and Head of Programming at Columbo Music on live music bookings and overall programme direction for The Rex.
• Bring agency and promoter relationships into programme planning, and build comedy, podcast and other arts formats into the venue.
• Collaborate with the corporate sales team on venue programming for private hires.

What We're Looking For

• Industry experience in live events, ideally in bookings, programming or agency relationships across music and other live entertainment such as comedy, podcasts and other live ticketed formats.
• A good understanding of or having current network of agents, promoters and managers and the confidence to build new relationships from scratch.
• A proactive approach. You start conversations, follow up without being chased and turn interest into booked dates.
• Excellent organisation, with strong diary and pipeline management skills (in-venue experience).
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of deal terms and what makes a show work financially.
• Enthusiasm for being involved in building a new venue's reputation from the ground up.

What To Expect

• Competitive salary - paid monthly.
• A senior role with real ownership over a new venue's diary and programme from day one.
• A fast-paced working environment where no two days are the same.
• The chance to work alongside an experienced team in Brand, Marketing and Bookings across some of London's most respected music venues.
• Opportunities to develop and grow within the business as The Rex establishes itself.

Why You'll Love Working With Us

• Unlimited guest list and tickets across Columbo Group events.
• 50% discount on food and drink across all venues.
• Work from home Wednesdays.
• Regular team socials.
• Pension plan.
• Working in a creative environment surrounded by passionate, music-driven people launching one of London's most exciting new venues.