Senior Operations Manager

Broadwick Live; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment company in London is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to oversee event operations at Drumsheds. This role requires a strategic leader with a passion for live music and strong operational skills to ensure seamless event delivery, manage stakeholder relationships, and maintain high operational standards. Candidates must have proven experience in the live events industry and excellent communication abilities. This position is full-time and based on-site.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role within the live events industry.
• Knowledge of UK licensing regulations and operational best practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills for managing stakeholders and promoters.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of events at the Drumsheds venue.
• Manage show operations from end-to-end including pre-production and delivery.
• Produce essential event documentation and risk assessments.

Skills

Operational leadership

Stakeholder management

Crisis management

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Tools

GDrive

Excel

Google Docs

Slack

Event management tools

Job description

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Role: Senior Operations Manager
Reports into:Director of Live Operations - Entertainment
Location: London
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent, hours per week

Who we are:

Broadwick Live is a multifaceted international company with headquarters in London who create, develop, own and operate a diverse portfolio of venues, spaces, events and experiences.

We believe in redefining spaces and how people experience music, art, culture and recreation by breaking down the traditional barriers. Our history and heritage is deeply rooted in music, building a portfolio of 20 global festivals before selling the portfolio in 2019 to focus on our growing portfolio of venues that includes Printworks, Drumsheds, Exhibition and Magazine in London, Depot in Manchester and Brooklyn Storehouse in New York.

Collectively we strive to push boundaries and disrupt the cultural landscape by combining big thinking, bold ideas and commercial intelligence to produce spaces and experiences for discerning audiences in inspiring locations.

Our team:

Broadwick Live are home to a passionate and dedicated team of event professionals who take immense pride in delivering world-class events in exceptional venues. Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impact on the thousands of guests we welcome. We are a close-knit team driven by excellence, working in a dynamic environment surrounded by like-minded, committed individuals.

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking for an exceptional and highly organised Senior Operations Manager to join the Broadwick Live team and take a lead role in shaping and delivering operations at our flagship venue, Drumsheds, setting the benchmark for operational excellence across the portfolio and the wider industry. Reporting directly to the Director of Live Operations, you will be a key operational lead responsible for planning and delivering live events at scale, ensuring seamless coordination across internal departments, external promoters, and suppliers.

You’ll manage show operations from end-to-end – from pre-production and build, through to live delivery and break – while leading a team of direct reports, producing detailed documentation, and maintaining a culture of safety, efficiency, and excellence throughout. You’ll be central to the continuous improvement of operational processes and post-event reporting, playing a vital part in shaping the experience for artists, guests, and teams on site.

What you’ll be responsible for:

Event Operations – Drumsheds/Flagship Venue

• Lead the planning and safe delivery of all events at Drumsheds in collaboration with the Director of Live Operations.
• Oversee site readiness and infrastructure planning, ensuring the venue is operationally prepared ahead of every event.
• Deliver and lead key event briefings and debriefs, ensuring teams are aligned and feedback is actioned.
• Act as a key contact on site for suppliers, tour managers, production teams, and contractors.
• Support in the enforcement of licensing conditions and safety standards as outlined in the Premises Licence and Event Safety Plans.
• Be on-site throughout build, live and break, leading the operations team in real time.
• Manage pre-event planning sessions and contribute to SAG and external stakeholder engagement as required.
• Drive constant operational improvements and proactively identify efficiencies and improvements to enhance guest experience and operational resilience.

Documentation & Reporting

• Produce and maintain essential event documentation including operational plans, build and break schedules, staff briefs, and supplier briefs.
• Own and develop comprehensive event and venue risk assessments, licensing documentation, and safety plans in line with evolving regulatory standards and best practice from the industry.
• Collate and deliver detailed post-event reporting and learnings to the Director of Live Operations and broader senior team.
• Line manage members of the operations team, supporting their development and ensuring clear role delegation during show cycles.
• Foster a team culture that reflects Broadwick Live’s values: collaborative, accountable, resilient, and forward-thinking.
• Recruit, brief, and manage freelance and casual operations staff as required per event.

Suppliers & Stakeholders

• Manage day-to-day supplier coordination across security, traffic management, medical, bars, cleaning, production, and site crew.
• Support in supplier procurement, briefing, and delivery oversight to ensure operational standards are met or exceeded.
• Act as a senior liaison with local authorities, community stakeholders, and licensing partners, representing the venue in external forums as needed.
• Ensure supplier costings align with pre-agreed budgets and flag variations or risks early.
• Assist the Director of Live Operations in monitoring operational spend, identifying cost efficiencies where possible.
• Contribute to supplier budget planning, ensuring services are scoped and contracted in line with event needs.
• Understand commercial goals of the venue and ensure that operational decisions support both guest experience and financial sustainability.

You’ll need to have:

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role at a large-scale venue or within the live music/events industry.
• Knowledge of UK licensing regulations and operational best practices for music and cultural events.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills — particularly with promoters, local authorities, and emergency services.
• A passion for live music, combined with strong commercial and customer-service acumen.
• Excellent crisis management, multitasking, and decision-making under pressure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; confident with internal briefings and external representation.
• High proficiency in GDrive, Excel, Google Docs, Slack, and event management tools.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and extended periods on site during shows.

Nice to have:

• Familiarity with electronic music events and youth culture audiences.
• Experience managing documentation for licensed premises or outdoor events.