Context
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, the Cathedral delivers a highly complex programme of corporate, commercial, cultural and civic events alongside daily worship and tourism activity. From major headline grabbing art installations, to classical concerts or pop gigs to awards gala’s.
Events at Liverpool Cathedral operate within a high-risk, regulated environment, requiring exceptional standards of safety management, safeguarding, operational planning and professional delivery, alongside strong commercial performance.
The Events Team operates within the Cathedral’s Enterprise function as a professional events business, balancing commercial performance with the Cathedral’s mission and values. Income generated through events underpins the ongoing care, operation and activation of the Cathedral, supporting its role as a place of worship, culture, encounter and welcome.
The range of activity makes Liverpool Cathedral one of the most exciting places to work for events professionals looking for a challenging and rewarding next step.
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, ensuring they are delivered safely, compliantly and to a consistently high professional standard.
Working under the direction of the Senior Events Manager, the postholder is operationally accountable for the safe and sound event management planning, implementation and delivery, including but not limited to production planning, safeguarding and overall compliance for their events, and for producing and maintaining all required professional event documentation.
The role also carries significant commercial responsibility, including delivery of a minimum of £200k turnover in the first year, and plays a key role in strengthening the Cathedral’s reputation as a premium events venue.
The team delivers a wide range of corporate, commercial and cultural events, working with clients from across the public, private and third sectors. While collaboration with colleagues across the Cathedral community is essential, this role holds high focus on outward facing, with a strong focus on client relationships, sales conversion and delivering a high-quality customer experience. The Events Manager acts as a key ambassador for the venue, representing the Cathedral with professionalism, confidence and warmth.
Experience of working within a faith-based organisation is not required. However, the role does require an understanding of, and respect for, the values and purpose that underpin the Cathedral’s life and work, and the ability to operate sensitively within a live, heritage environment.
The Events Manager is accountable to Chapter through the line management structure of the Senior Events Manager and Director of Enterprise. Day to day, the postholder works closely with the Enterprise team, Cathedral staff, volunteers, operations colleagues and the in-house caterer to ensure events are delivered efficiently, safely and to a consistently high professional standard for clients and visitors.
Objectives
* Commercial Performance
Drive, deliver and grow the external events business at Liverpool Cathedral, achieving a minimum of £200k 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 Senior Events Manager and H&S officer.
* Prepare, manage and maintain comprehensive professional event documentation, including but not limited to:
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. Ensure all external workforce and supplier documentation is in order and reviewed.
* 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 ensure 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 Senior Events Manager 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.
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FURTER DETAILS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION.
ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED ON SUBMISSION.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF SUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED.