Hires and Events Manager

Key information

Reports to: Hospitality Operations Manager

Pay: £30,500 per annum

Working hours: 37 hours per week with availability for evenings and weekends (essential)

Annual leave: 25 days (FTE) plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part time)

Place of Work: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA

Benefits: 30% discount at BALTIC’s shop and discounted menu at BALTIC’s Café/Bar, Discount at Local Retailers, Pension Scheme, Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 11.59pm on Friday 2nd October 2026

Job Purpose: 

Hires and Events Managers play a key role in Baltic's commercial success by leading the venue hire and events function, managing a high-performing Front of House team and generating income that directly supports the charity's purpose. Through excellent event delivery, strong client relationships and supporting commercial activity, the role helps ensure Baltic remains both financially sustainable and culturally impactful.

The Hires and Events Managers are responsible for leading the successful front-line delivery and commercial performance of Baltic's venue hires and events programme. Working within the commercial arm of the charity, the postholder will support the generation of income that supports Baltic's charitable mission, artistic programme and public engagement activities.

Working across two teams the Hires and Events Managers are responsible managing the end-to-end operation of internal and external hires and events, from enquiry and booking through to planning, delivery and evaluation. The postholders lead a team of Front of House Assistants, ensuring exceptional customer service and operational standards across all a Baltic's Hospitality offer.

The Hires and Events Managers proactively manage client relationships, assist with converting enquiries into bookings and identify opportunities to increase commercial income. They also devise, develop and deliver self-generated events and experiences that maximise revenue, increase venue utilisation and contribute to Baltic's long-term sustainability.

Key Outputs and Accountabilities

Hires and Events Management

•  Lead the planning, coordination and operational delivery of all internal and external hires and events across Baltic.
• Ensure the successful delivery of all Hires and Events, including corporate events, private hires, weddings, receptions, conferences, cultural events, fundraising activities and internal organisational events.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients and stakeholders throughout the event lifecycle.
• Support the creation of detailed event plans, operational schedules and delivery briefs.
• Ensure events are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standards of customer experience.
• Work with internal teams and external suppliers to coordinate all operational requirements.
• Manage event budgets, resources and staffing requirements effectively.

Operational Delivery

• Set up, deliver and take down of a range of venue hires and events. 
• Front line operational service of food and beverage for Hires and Events.
• Ensure all hires and events comply with health and safety, licensing and safeguarding requirements.
• Undertake risk assessments and ensure appropriate control measures are implemented.
• Monitor quality standards and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Produce reports on commercial activity, performance and client feedback.
• Ensure efficient use of venue spaces and resources to maximise commercial return.

Commercial Development and Income Generation

• Drive income generation through venue hire, events and commercial activities.
• Maximise conversion of enquiries into confirmed bookings through proactive sales activity and relationship management.
• Identify new commercial opportunities that align with Baltic's values and strategic objectives.
• Devise, develop and deliver self-generated commercial events and experiences that generate additional earned income.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities for growth.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of commercial income targets and business plans.

Leadership and People Management

• Line manage and develop Front of House Assistants, creating a high-performing and customer-focused team.
• Recruit, train, coach and support team members to achieve operational and commercial objectives.
• Manage staff rotas and deployment to ensure effective event coverage.
• Set clear expectations and monitor performance standards.
• Foster a positive, collaborative and solution-focused team culture.
• Lead by example in delivering exceptional customer service.

Client Relationships, Enquiries and Bookings

• Build strong relationships with clients, partners and suppliers, ensuring a high level of repeat business.
• Manage venue show rounds and client meetings.
• Ensure enquiries are responded to promptly and professionally.
• Undertake booking administration and sales activity during periods when not engaged in operational event delivery.
• Support with quotations, proposals, contracts and client communications
• Maintain booking systems, event records and commercial reporting processes, where required.

Person Specification

 Essential Experience

• Significant experience of managing and delivering events, venue hires or commercial operations.
• Experience of leading and managing staff in a customer-facing environment.
• Experience of planning and delivering events from enquiry through to completion.
• Experience of generating income through venue hire, events, hospitality or related commercial activity.
• Experience of managing customer enquiries, bookings and client relationships.
• Experience of achieving sales, income or commercial targets.
• Experience of managing customer enquiries, bookings and client relationships

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and business development skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong customer service ethos and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of health and safety and licensing requirements within event environments.
• Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends

Desirable Experience, Skills and Knowledge

• Experience within the arts, culture, charity, or visitor attraction sectors.
• Experience developing and delivering self-generated revenue-generating events.
• Understanding of venue hire, hospitality and event sales.
• Competence in booking, CRM and event management systems

Must have eligibility to work in the UK.

Baltic is committed to the goal of building a diverse workforce. We are inviting people with different skills, experiences, backgrounds, gender, orientation, and neurodiversity to apply for this opportunity. We encourage applications from those who consider themselves as having a minority representation in this field. 

Getting a Job at BALTIC – Guidance Notes for Applicants 

These notes are designed to help you participate fully in our staff recruitment procedures, and to assist you with providing all the information we need in order to understand how you meet the requirements of the job. Please read these notes carefully before completing the application form.   BALTIC is one of Europe’s leading contemporary art organisations and provides a challenging and rewarding environment in which to work to fully develop your personal potential.    If you like working with people, enjoy hard work, and welcome responsibility then you will be interested in working for BALTIC. These Guidance Notes will help you achieve your ambition.     

Equal Opportunities Statement 

BALTIC is working towards achieving diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.    BALTIC fully accepts and welcomes the fact that society consists of many diverse groups and individuals, and that this diversity is an asset to BALTIC.   As an arts centre dependant for its success on the full involvement of users and visitors and as an employer, BALTIC recognises that it has a moral and legal responsibility to promote equal opportunities. In addition, BALTIC recognises that the pursuit of equality of opportunity is essential for a productive and professional working environment.   This policy states BALTIC’s commitment to being an equal opportunities employer and is an integral part of every aspect of our activities. It is based on the most recent legislation and represents BALTIC’s commitment to tackling inequality, discrimination and disadvantage.   Our goal is equality of opportunity for everyone who uses, visits, works in and works for, BALTIC and we will provide services and develop employment practices accordingly.   In particular, BALTIC is committed to making sure that:   There is equality of opportunity in terms of access to BALTIC and its services, and that this reflects, and is appropriate to the needs of the diverse communities using and visiting BALTIC.   Prospective and present employees are afforded equal and fair treatment in relation to recruitment, selection, terms and conditions of employment, training and promotion.   BALTIC will work to actively combat discrimination and make sure that prospective or present employees, and those who wish to use and visit BALTIC, are not treated less favourably on the grounds of protected characteristics.   BALTIC is committed to making sure that we provide equal opportunities in employment, and that we do not unfairly discriminate against any job applicant for any reason. BALTIC, therefore:    Welcomes job applications from all sections of the community and will consider applicants for jobs on the basis of their relevant experience, qualifications, skills and abilities.   Welcomes job applications from under-represented groups - in particular, people with disabilities, and minority ethnic applicants.   Will make sure that we do not discriminate unlawfully when we decide who to employ and that selection decisions for jobs are based solely on people’s merit and ability to do the job, to enable us to appoint the best people to work for BALTIC.   Will make sure that any qualifications or conditions or requirements applied to a job are relevant and justifiable in terms of the job to be done.   Aims to create a suitably skilled workforce that includes employees who may be under-represented.   Will conduct regular monitoring data collation and analysis in order to identify and address barriers to equality of opportunity.    

Completing your Application  

The purpose of completing this application form is to enable you to be shortlisted for interview. Completed applications are matched against the requirements set out in the Job Profile to create a shortlist of candidates who will be invited for interview.   You should study the Job Profile carefully before completing your application form. Whether or not you are shortlisted for interview will depend on how well you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria listed in the Job Profile.   The following tips are designed to help you complete the application form as effectively as possible:   Study all the information you have been sent about the job and the application form carefully before you begin to complete the form. Ensure that you are clear about what you are being asked to do.   Make sure that your application is specific to the job you are applying for. A standard application form, which you have prepared before, may not address all of the items in the Job Profile.   BALTIC does not accept CVs in lieu of a completed application form.   Think about the extent to which you possess the experience, skills, knowledge and interests necessary to do the job. You should then provide relevant information which addresses all of the items in the Job Profile. If possible, try to do so in the order in which they are listed.   Give examples of your experience, knowledge and skills and write in a positive way. Remember to write about those things which you have personally been responsible for.   Make sure that you complete all sections of the application form.   Select those aspects of your experience, skills and interests that are relevant to the job. Remind yourself of your qualities and skills that you may take for granted.   Remember to consider relevant experience, knowledge and skills acquired outside of paid work – for example, experience gained from community or volunteer work, or in your leisure interests.   When listing your previous jobs, ensure that dates are correct and in the right order, stating your most recent employment first.   Make sure that you complete your application before the closing date.   If you have a disability which makes completing this application difficult or impossible, it is possible that the application can be completed in a different way. If you have such difficulties, please contact us.      

Shortlisting 

Shortlisting will take place shortly after the closing date and is always undertaken by at least two people, one of whom will be the vacant job’s line manager. When shortlisting we are making an assessment of how closely your application meets the criteria set out in the Job Profile. We will go through your application in detail looking for specific evidence that you have the experience, knowledge and skills required to undertake the job successfully. It is unlikely that you will be selected for interview if you haven’t provided specific evidence, supported by relevant examples.  Due to the high number of applications we receive, it is not possible for us to respond to every application. If you have not received an invitation to interview within 4 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.    

Interviews and Other Selection Methods 

The purpose of an interview is to identify the best candidate for the job. A panel of two or three people, including the job’s line manager, will normally interview you. The length of the interview will depend on the level of the post but, on average, it will last for about 30 to 60 minutes. For most of the time the interviewers will ask you questions which relate to the requirements listed in the Job Profile. At the end of the interview, you will be given some time to ask a few questions yourself. It is advisable to have a few questions already prepared.   If you are short listed for interview, we will normally contact you by letter to invite you to interview. The letter will give full details of what the selection process will involve.    In addition to an interview, BALTIC may also use other methods to help choose the best candidate for the job. Common selection methods include work related tests to examine your IT, organisational, team-working or presentational skills. For certain jobs you may be asked to give a short presentation. If additional methods are to be used you will be notified in advance, when we invite you for interview.   If you have a disability and need any adjustment to be made in order for you to participate in the selection process, please contact us immediately on receipt of our letter inviting you for interview so that we can accommodate your needs.     

Offers of Employment 

Offers of employment will only be made by a senior member of staff authorised to do so. All offers of employment are made subject to receipt of satisfactory references, successful completion of a probation period and where appropriate disclosure of information by the Criminal Records Bureau (Police checks). Successful candidates are normally appointed at the first point of the salary range for the job.     

Recruitment Monitoring Questionnaire 

Please complete the separate questionnaire to enable us to monitor the effectiveness of our recruitment policy and processes, so that we can ensure recruitment and selection are carried out fairly. The information you provide will also help us to identify any barriers to recruitment. Your answers will be treated in the strictest confidence and used for statistical monitoring purpose only. Your completed form will not be seen by those responsible for short listing and will not, therefore, form part of the selection process.      

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974 

Please provide details of any unspent convictions or cautions you have under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974. Offences resulting in driving licence endorsements should be disregarded, unless holding a clean licence is a specific requirement of the job. Failure to disclose such information may result in dismissal or disciplinary action by BALTIC. This information will be treated as confidential and will not necessarily disqualify you from employment with BALTIC.      

General Data Protection Regulation, & Asylum and Immigration Act 

The information that you provide as part of your application will be used in the selection process. All information about you will be securely held, with access restricted to only those involved in dealing with your application. Unless you are the successful candidate, your data will be kept for 12 months and then destroyed.   By signing and submitting your Application Form and Recruitment Monitoring Questionnaire, you are giving your consent to your data being stored and processed for the purposes of the selection process. Data will be processed and stored in-line with the General Data Protection Regulation’ and BALTIC’s Privacy Policy which can be found at http://baltic.art/privacypolicy.   Under the terms of the Asylum and Immigration Act, 1996 we will require proof of your legal right to work in the United Kingdom.      

The Employer 

The Contract of Employment is with BALTIC Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust, an independent charitable company, governed by a Board of Trustees.    BALTIC meets its running costs through grant-in-aid from Arts Council England, Gateshead Council and from trading and sponsorship.     

If at first you don’t succeed……………… 

BALTIC is a popular choice for applicants and competition for jobs can be strong. If you are not successful first time round, please do consider trying again.   Keep an eye on our web site, local and national press for future job opportunities. Review your knowledge and experience and take advantage of any opportunities to learn new skills, which may help you in future applications.   

Good luck and thank you for your interest in working at BALTIC.