Senior Operations Manager

Independent Cinema Office; Greater London; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Independent Cinema Office is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to lead festival operations, overseeing rights, screening logistics, finances and stakeholder relations to ensure activities are delivered safely, efficiently and on time.

You will manage venues, collaborate with the Festival Producer on risk, compliance and delivery, and drive operational planning during events and festivals across multiple venues.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong financial judgement including budgets and cash flow.
• Excellent organisation, communication and stakeholder-relations skills.
• Ability to deliver under pressure with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership translating priorities into annual plans and timelines.
• Oversee festival delivery including screenings, talks and special projects.
• Lead oversight of film rights, bookings and licensing with accurate records.
• Oversee print management, DCPs and archive formats.
• Manage venue relations and senior delivery during events.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Asana

Festival experience

Tools

Asana

Job description

Salary: £38,000 full-time equivalent; £22,800 a year at three days a week

Hours of employment: Approx. 3 days a week (but more time required during festival time)

Contract type: Initial six-month fixed term, with extension subject to funding and performance

The Senior Operations Manager is the principal operational lead, overseeing systems development and project management, and ensuring activities are delivered safely, efficiently, on time, and within budget. The role oversees rights, screening and venue logistics, finances and stakeholder relationships while supporting the artistic vision of the Festival Director and Board.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic leadership. Translate artistic and organisational priorities into annual plans, develop detailed systems and timelines, performance reporting, including BFI requirements.
• Festival delivery. Lead operational planning across screenings, performances, talks and special projects; maintain schedules, running orders, guest logistics, briefings and contingencies; and act as senior operational lead during events.
• Film rights. Lead oversight of film acquisition, bookings, permissions and licensing, maintaining accurate records and ensuring obligations are fulfilled.
• Print management. In collaboration with the Festival Producer, oversee receipt, testing, secure tracking and return of DCPs, files and archive formats. The Producer may handle day-to-day tracking; the Senior Operations Manager retains senior oversight and accountability.
• Venue management. In collaboration with the Festival Producer, oversee liaison with Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Beacon, Watershed and other venues. The Producer may manage routine communications; the Senior Operations Manager retains the senior relationship and resolves contractual, budgetary or delivery issues.
• Financial management. Maintain operational and event budgets, rolling cash flow, committed-cost records and break-even scenarios; monitor expenditure, ticket income and variances; manage controls, procurement, suppliers and funder reporting.
• People. Coordinate with Festival Producer re : freelancers, contractors, seasonal staff and volunteers and work placements, with clear roles, training, realistic workloads and supportive accountability.
• Risk and compliance. Lead practical arrangements for health and safety, safeguarding where applicable, insurance, licensing, incident reporting, data handling, accessibility and operational resilience.
• Stakeholders and evaluation. Maintain relationships with guests, rights holders, archives, venues, funders and sponsors; support partnerships and income; and turn post-event evaluation into improvements.

Person specification

• Experience managing complex projects, substantial budgets, teams, volunteers, contractors and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong financial judgement, including budgets, cash flow, break-even analysis and early action on variances.
• Outstanding organisation, project management, communication and stakeholder-relationship skills.
• Evidence of independently owning delivery, making sound decisions and managing competing deadlines without close supervision.
• Working understanding of event risk, health and safety, accessibility and inclusive practice.
• Calm problem-solving, attention to detail, integrity, flexibility and resilience under pressure in a festival-type setting.
• Competence with Asana or comparable project tools, ticketing reports and financial spreadsheets.
• Film-festival or screen-sector experience, including holding complex project management strategies.
• Some experience in festivals, arts, cultural institutions or comparable multi-venue live events.
• Experience of BFI or comparable funding processes and governance, grant compliance, sponsorship or earned income.
• Knowledge of Bristol’s cultural sector, film exhibition, heritage cinema, accessibility, audience development and environmental practice.

This is an opportunity to shape one of the UK’s most distinctive and creatively successful film festivals, work with leading cultural organisations and contribute to its future sustainability. We are looking for a collaborative senior leader with initiative, sound judgement and a commitment to inclusive, accessible and excellent audience experiences.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 14th October 2026, with interviews taking place on 23rd October 2026

The closing date for this position is 13/10/2026 at 23:59