Head of Venues North
The Head of Venues North is a senior operational and strategic leadership role within Freemans Event Partners, responsible for driving performance, growth, and relationship management across Scotland and the North of England.
Based at Murrayfield Stadium, the role serves as FEP’s senior on-site representative for its key partner, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), and works closely with Elior’s director‑level leadership. You will also be required to travel to our head office in Gloucester at least once a week.
The Head of Venues North ensures high‑quality operational delivery on major match days and leads continuous improvement in venue standards, processes, and team capability.
The role also provides leadership, coaching, and development to the region’s Venue Managers, ensuring they are equipped to deliver exceptional operational performance and uphold FEP standards.
A key focus of the role is regional growth, mapping the northern events landscape, identifying new venue opportunities, supporting business development efforts, and creating a structured expansion plan for the region.
This role works closely with Freemans internal teams, including Operations, Commercial, F&B, Brand Partnerships, Food Service, Marketing, and FEP Pay, to ensure regional alignment with company‑wide objectives.
Job Requirements
Essential Criteria
Experience
* Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
* Experience working within venues, events, hospitality, or large‑scale operational environments
* Proven ability to support and develop operational teams
* Experience dealing with high‑profile partners or rights holders
* Experience contributing to regional planning, growth, or business development activities
Skills & Knowledge
* Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify new business opportunities
* Skilled in building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships (SRU, Elior, etc.)
* Highly organised and proactive, able to deliver long‑term regional development plans
* Able to work effectively under pressure on major match days and large events
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the region
Personal Attributes
* Hard‑working, reliable, and solutions‑focused
* Honest, authentic, and able to build trust quickly
* Positive attitude with a willingness to lead from the front
* Enjoys a fun but professional working environment
* Ambitious and motivated to support the growth of FEP in the North
Desirable Criteria
* Experience developing multi‑venue operational plans
* Understanding of the events landscape within Scotland or the North of England
* Experience supporting commercial tenders or new venue acquisition
* Knowledge of cross‑divisional event operations (catering, bars, concessions, partnerships)
* Experience improving operational standards across complex or high‑volume venues
Job Responsibilities
Leadership & Partner Management
* Act as the senior FEP representative at Murrayfield Stadium
* Build and maintain strong relationships with SRU, Elior, and other venue stakeholders
* Represent FEP in a professional, engaged, and trustworthy manner
* Lead operationally on major match days, ensuring best‑in‑class delivery
Support & Development of Venue Operations
* Work closely with the Venue Manager on planning, operational goals, and team development
* Develop, coach, and mentor Venue Managers across all northern venues
* Help improve standards, processes, and performance across the Murrayfield operation
* Identify and resolve operational pinch points
* Support the development of a cleaner, more organised, and more effective venue operation
Northern Region Growth & Planning
* Map the events landscape across Scotland and the North of England
* Identify new venue opportunities, potential partners, and commercial growth avenues
* Develop a structured regional growth plan with clear milestones
* Support business development with insight, introductions, and regional knowledge
Collaboration & Internal Alignment
* Attend HQ in Gloucester every Monday during the first year to support integration with central teams
* Work closely with Operations, Commercial, Catering, Bars, and Concessions divisions
* Collaborate with Brand Partnerships, Food Service, Marketing, and FEP Pay
* Support cross‑divisional initiatives to strengthen brand presence, revenue opportunities, and customer experience
* Provide consistent communication to senior leadership on progress, opportunities, and risks
Job Benefits
* 28 days holiday allowance, plus bank holidays on top.
* Life cover, company pension scheme and employee assistant programme.
* Access to our healthcare cash plan reimbursing the costs of dental treatments, optical and more!
* The opportunity to earn some extra cash by using our refer a friend programme.
* We also have fortnightly lunches and regular social activities, plus the opportunity to be involved in some of the UK’s most prestigious sporting events and festivals
#J-18808-Ljbffr