Liverpool Cathedral is a world-class, Grade I listed building and one of the UK’s most distinctive large-scale events venues. As a live place of worship, heritage asset and major visitor attraction, it delivers a highly complex programme of corporate, commercial, cultural and civic events alongside daily worship and tourism activity. From headline-grabbing art installations to classical concerts, pop gigs and awards galas, all operate within a high‑risk, regulated environment requiring exceptional safety management, safeguarding, operational planning and professional delivery, alongside strong commercial performance.
Job Summary
The Events Manager is a senior operational role within the Cathedral’s Enterprise and events function, responsible for the end‑to‑end planning, management and delivery of a diverse portfolio of internal and external events. Working under the direction of the Head of Events, the postholder is operationally accountable for safe and sound event management planning, implementation and delivery, including production planning, safeguarding, overall compliance and the production of all required professional event documentation. The role also carries significant commercial responsibility, with a target of at least £200 k turnover in the first year, and plays a key role in strengthening the Cathedral’s reputation as a premium events venue.
Objectives
* Commercial Performance – deliver and grow the external events business, achieving a minimum of £200 k turnover in year one while maintaining strong relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
* Safe & Compliant Delivery – ensure all assigned events are planned and delivered in full compliance with health, safety, safeguarding, licensing and Cathedral policies, with robust risk management and professional documentation in place.
* Operational Excellence – lead the successful delivery of complex events within a live, multi‑use environment, balancing commercial priorities with worship, heritage protection and public access.
* Reputation & Experience – consistently deliver a high‑quality client and audience experience that reinforces the Cathedral’s reputation as a trusted, professional and distinctive events venue.
Key Responsibilities
Event Delivery & Operational Management
* Lead the planning and delivery of a complex portfolio of corporate, commercial and cultural events from enquiry through to post‑event evaluation.
* Act as the operational event end‑to‑end lead for assigned events, coordinating all logistics, production and delivery activity.
* Take full ownership of event and project timelines, running orders, production schedules and delivery plans to ensure events run safely, smoothly and professionally.
* Provide on‑site leadership during events, responding effectively to operational challenges and incidents.
Event Safety, Safeguarding & Compliance
* Take operational responsibility for the implementation of health, safety and safeguarding arrangements for assigned events, in line with Cathedral policies and under the strategic oversight of the Head of Events and H&S officer.
* Prepare, manage and maintain comprehensive professional event documentation, including but not limited to:
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o Event Safety Management Plans (ESMPs)
o Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS)
o Production schedules and technical plans
o Load‑in / load‑out plans
o Emergency, evacuation and contingency plans
o Briefing documentation
o Site and venue plans, including dot plans
* Implement conditions and controls arising from internal risk reviews, licensing requirements and SAG processes, escalating issues where required.
* Ensure safe and suitable systems of work are followed by all contractors, suppliers and temporary staff, including inductions and supervision.
* Apply the Cathedral’s safeguarding policies in practice, particularly for events involving children, young people or vulnerable adults.
* Escalate safety, safeguarding or compliance concerns promptly in line with Cathedral procedures.
Commercial & Client Management
* Contribute to the growth of the Cathedral’s events business. Work with the Senior Events Manager to develop, implement and deliver a robust sales plan, supporting income targets, pipeline management and conversion rates.
* Lead the delivery of a diverse portfolio of commercial and corporate events, managing the full sales and delivery cycle from initial enquiry through to post‑event evaluation, with a clear focus on income generation, client satisfaction and repeat business.
* Manage key client relationships, acting as a professional ambassador for the Cathedral and ensuring the Cathedral consistently delivers an exceptional customer experience, positioning the venue as a premium, professional events destination and strengthening its reputation in the corporate and commercial markets.
* Convert enquiries into confirmed bookings through confident, solution‑led sales engagement.
* Identify opportunities to upsell and maximise commercial value while balancing the Cathedral’s mission, operational constraints and safeguarding responsibilities.
* Work with the Head of Events to manage sales pipelines, forecast income and deliver agreed financial targets.
* Ensure accurate event costing, pricing and margin control.
Stakeholder & Team Coordination
* Work closely with all internal departments such as Operations, Worship, Visitor Experience, Security, Catering and Volunteer teams to ensure events integrate safely and effectively into the wider Cathedral programme and operational logistics of events are delivered smoothly, supporting efficient turnaround, effective resource use and strong client outcomes.
* Provide day‑to‑day operational direction to project team where relevant, temporary staff and contractors during event delivery.
* Contribute to effective diary planning, ensuring commercial events are balanced within the daily life of the Cathedral.
Governance, Quality & Continuous Improvement
* Ensure events comply with Cathedral policies, insurance requirements and relevant legislation.
* Maintain accurate records and documentation to support governance, audit and risk management.
* Participate in post‑event reviews, identifying lessons learned and opportunities to improve systems, processes and standards.
* Contribute to the ongoing development of event procedures, templates and ways of working.
Undertake other duties commensurate with the role and aligned with the Cathedral’s commercial and operational priorities.
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