SKATE Duty Manager 2025-2026

Somerset House; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A cultural venue in London is seeking a Duty Manager for the SKATE event. Responsibilities include managing operations, ensuring visitor safety, and leading the Visitor Experience team. Ideal candidates should have experience in operational event management and strong customer service skills. This part-time, zero hours position runs from October to January, with variable shifts.

Benefits

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

5% employer pension contributions

Two complimentary SKATE tickets

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team to deliver an outstanding visitor experience.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations for both public and staff.
• Experience of operational event management.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day visitor experience and daily operations of SKATE.
• Responsible for daily operation of the onsite box office.
• Provide clear leadership to the Visitor Experience team.

Skills

Experience leading a team to deliver visitor experience

Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations

Operational event management

Current working knowledge of ticketing systems

Excellent proven customer service skills

Flexible in approach to work

Proactive hands-on approach

Ability to stay calm under pressure

Education

First aid qualified

Tessitura trained

Job description

SKATE Duty Manager 2025-2026

Application Deadline: 21 September 2025

Department: Visitor Experience

Employment Type: Zero Hours

Location: London

Reporting To: Visitor Experience Manager

Compensation: £17.28 / hour

Description

The Visitor Experience team works across the cultural programme at Somerset House, including commercial and live events, exhibitions, performance, talks and installations. We strive to provide a warm and friendly welcome for our visitors in a safe and secure environment.

Somerset House Trust is seeking Duty Managers to join the Visitor Experience department with primary responsibility for SKATE - hailed as one of the capital’s favourite winter experiences.

Contract Type: Fixed-term Casual Worker, 27.10.25 – 16.01.26 (except for Christmas Day).

Working hours: Hours of work are variable to support the operational delivery of SKATE. Shifts are between the hours of 7:30-23:30. Examples of shift types are: 7:45-15:30, 8:45-15:30, 9:15-15:30, 10:15-15:30, 15:00-22:15 and 15:00-23:15.

Successful applicants will be expected to attend compulsory training sessions on 30 October (10:00-18:00), 31 October (10:00-18:00), 3 November (10:00-18:00), 4 November (10:00-18:00), as well as on 5 November (14:00-22:00).

We are working hard to ensure our people, our onsite community, and our sector reflect, represent and include all of society. Somerset House Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace, so if you’re a suitably qualified applicant, we encourage your application whatever your age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

Key Responsibilities for the Duty Manager role:

• Welcome and knowledge
• Manage the day-to-day visitor experience and daily operations of SKATE at Somerset House.
• Be welcoming and attentive to the needs of our visitors, ensuring an exceptional and consistent level of service from the SKATE team.
• Be confident with customer complaint handling in line with Somerset House Policies and Procedures.
• Responsible for the daily operation of the onsite box office (Tessitura ticketing system) including opening and closure procedures, as well as managing any discrepancies that may arise including customer ticketing issues.
• Be the central point of contact for SKATE information, procedures, events and activities, with a good knowledge of all other events onsite.
• Have a clear understanding of the operational requirements of the rink and the importance of managing timeslots, ensuring the best experience for all our visitors.
• Provide clear and consistent leadership to the team of Visitor Experience Assistants, Ice Supervisors, and Ice Marshals.
• Daily brief Visitor Experience Assistants, Ice Supervisors and Ice Marshals on events, essential information and procedures.
• Gather and collate pertinent information to produce effective daily briefing sheets and distribute them to all relevant staff.
• Ensure staff are always punctual and presentable.
• Deal with staff performance issues and/or escalate to a Visitor Experience Manager or other relevant senior manager, if required.
• Edit the rota for any necessary amendments (shift swaps, lateness etc.).
• Work with key stakeholders including security, maintenance, cleaning teams and any third-party providers including bars and shops.
• Attend to visitor enquiries and complaints escalating where appropriate.
• Understand the impact of the rink on the rest of the Somerset House site - take responsibility and ensure a cohesive approach.
• Lead on the opening and closing of the rink.
• Ensure the delivery and smooth running of rink activities, including additional programming such as SKATE Lates, SKATE School, Kids Club, and wheelchair user sessions.
• Carry out other ad-hoc duties in line with the post which may be required.

Safety and Security

• Ensure that the Somerset House SKATE event site is safe and secure for our visitors and our staff.
• Maintain a good, up to date knowledge of Somerset House fire, safety and evacuation procedures and lead the evacuation of the ice rink in the event of an emergency.
• Report all incidents and accidents on site to Security and the Visitor Experience Managers or other relevant senior manager.
• Understand and carry out emergency procedures including evacuation in the event of an emergency.
• Lead on and work with the Ice Medic(s) and Security Supervisor(s) to ensure medical provisions are provided where necessary, including managing ambulance use.

Presentation

• Monitor the appearance of the site and ensure the required standards are upheld.
• Ensure that all staff are wearing the appropriate uniform and are well presented at all times.
• Work with third party partners including bars and shops to maintain the highest standards of presentation across the whole SKATE offering.
• Create temporary signage as required.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise for the Duty Manager role:

Required:

• Experience leading a team to deliver an outstanding visitor experience.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations for both public and staff, and experience of monitoring practices and leading in evacuation training.
• Experience of operational event management.
• A current working knowledge of ticketing systems.
• Experience of liaising and effectively communicating with a wide variety of people.
• Excellent proven customer service skills.
• Flexible in approach to work and hours including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
• Committed and focused approach to work.
• Must be proactive, with a hands-on approach.
• Innovative approach to problem solving.
• IT literate.
• Have the ability to stay calm under pressure and solve problems quickly and efficiently.

Desirable:

• First aid qualified.
• Tessitura trained.

Benefits

Mental Health & Wellbeing

• Access to our external Employee Assistance Programme (CiC) for free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where needed.

Pension

• 5% employer pension contributions *as long as criteria met.

Discounts, offers and free stuff!

Enjoy spending time on the rink with 2 complimentary tickets to the iconic SKATE at Somerset House.