Head of Venue Operations

Harris Hill Charity Recruitment Specialists; England; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic arts and culture charity in the UK is seeking a Head of Venue Operations to oversee multiple site operations. Responsibilities include managing Venue Managers and teams, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and enhancing customer experience. Ideal candidates will have significant venue management experience and a commitment to community-focused values. This permanent role offers flexibility in salaries based on experience and expertise, along with a part-time schedule of 32 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing complex venues, bars, or late-night operations.
• Strong understanding of licensing and compliance.
• Experience in arts, charity, or community sectors preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Venue Managers and teams across multiple sites.
• Oversee licensing, health & safety, and compliance.
• Ensure excellent customer experience and venue atmosphere.
• Manage budgets, staffing costs, and financial reporting.

Skills

Venue management

Staff leadership

Health & safety compliance

Financial management

Customer experience

Job description

Harris Hill is delighted to be working with a dynamic, values-led arts and culture charity to recruit a Head of Venue Operations.

Permanent | 32 hours per week (4 days) | London (multi-site)

Salary: Circa £45,000, with flexibility for exceptional candidates

This organisation is known for transforming spaces into vibrant, community-focused cultural venues, supporting artists, experimental programming and inclusive night-time culture across London. The Head of Venue Operations will play a critical role in ensuring these venues operate safely, sustainably and to a consistently high standard.

The role

Reporting to the senior leadership team, the Head of Venue Operations will have strategic and hands‑on responsibility for the organisation’s public‑facing venues, including cafés, bars, event spaces and late‑night cultural sites. Managing a team of Venue Managers, you will oversee day‑to‑day operations, compliance, staff leadership, financial performance and guest experience across multiple locations.

A key early priority will be leading the operational launch of a new venue, acting as interim Venue Manager during its establishment phase before transitioning to a permanent management structure.

This is a senior operational role requiring both strong systems thinking and an ability to lead from the front in busy, public environments.

Key responsibilities

• Leading and line‑managing Venue Managers and operational teams across multiple sites
• Embedding consistent operational systems, policies and procedures
• Overseeing licensing, health & safety, safeguarding and late‑night compliance
• Ensuring excellent customer experience and inclusive, welcoming venues
• Managing budgets, staffing costs, stock control and financial reporting
• Supporting live events, performances, nightlife and community programming
• Playing a central role in opening and launching new venues
• Championing staff wellbeing, development and inclusive working practices

About you

You will bring significant experience managing complex venues, bars, cultural spaces or late‑night operations, with a strong understanding of licensing and compliance. You will be a confident people manager, comfortable leading multi‑site or large teams, and able to balance commercial awareness with community and artistic values.

Experience within the arts, charity or community sectors is highly desirable, as is a genuine commitment to accessibility, inclusion and grassroots culture.

For more information, please send your CV to [e-mail].

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever‑improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.