Head Of Events - National Theatre, South Bank | Full-Time / Permanent
£ excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.
Overview
The National Theatre, one of the UK's leading arts venues, reaches millions of people each year through live and digital programming, creating and sharing performances in London, across the UK and internationally. The organisation strives to be accessible, inclusive and sustainable. It empowers artists and craftspeople to make world-leading work, inspires young people, and works with communities. Based in the heart of London's South Bank, the venue is home to multiple performance spaces and is attended by over a million people annually, operating year-round to provide a welcoming space for audiences and visitors alike.
NT Food and Drink, a partnership formed between Levy UK & I (part of Compass Group), KERB Events and the National Theatre, enhances the experience of visitors to the NT. Through delivery of great hospitality across the building and with a wide range of venues from event spaces, cafes, bars and restaurants whether theatre-going or not, we're able to meet the needs of our guest and add to their experience of visiting this iconic venue.
Job Description
Reporting to the Sales & Events Director, you will be responsible for the planning and coordination of all events across multiple areas of the venue.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Line management of internal events manager, event coordinator and administrator
Event coordination
* Oversee all event planning activity including but not limited to:
* Communication with the client to determine event requirements including food and drink, AV & lighting, theming & décor and entertainment
* Production of comprehensive function sheets for all events with all agreed details, signed off by the client
* Communication of event requirements to relevant internal departments in accordance with booking deadlines
* Attend inter-departmental event planning meetings as required
* Update final quotes, ensuring prompt invoicing and payment received prior to event
* Allergen and dietary requirement management in accordance with the department policy
* Attend events to hand over to operations team, supporting with delivery as and when required
* Post event follow up and communication of feedback to relevant stakeholders
Finance
* Accurate and timely invoicing for all events
* Completion of commercial & internal event finance tracker with all charges and corresponding costs
* Updating all commercial event revenue, charges and payments received on Delphi
* Input of commercial event charges onto GoodTill
* Processing of all supplier and agency commission invoices
* Authorising of all supplier recharge invoices
Menus & packages
* Work closely with the Sales & Events Director, Head of Bars and Executive Chef to produce seasonal menu packs for commercial & internal events
* Work with the Sales & Events Director to produce seasonal packages including Summer, Christmas and Wedding.
* Create a calendar of creative theatre inspired ticketed events to supplement corporate event revenue
Supplier relationships
* Coordinate supplier tenders and establish commission agreements
* Produce add on packages for entertainment, theming and décor
Client and customer relationship management
* Account management of HNW event clients
* Maintain relationships with key repeat bookers
* Participate in familiarisation trips, networking events and client entertaining as required.
* Ensure the accurate maintenance of the customer relationship management (CRM) database.
Stakeholder management
* Foster strong relationships with partners, including KERB Food, National Theatre, and Compass Group/Levy.
* Maintain strong positive relationships with internal departments, including Food & Drink, planning, AV & lighting, development, support services and visitor experience management.
Other
* Support event sales team as and when required
* Support the event operations team in effective event delivery
* Promote and support NT Food & Drink's commitment to sustainability in event menus and management.
* Understanding of the internal event requirements, particularly for high level clientele and how these can be converted into commercial opportunities.
Personal Competencies & Experience
* Previous experience in events planning and management, preferably in the food and beverage industry within a cultural or heritage setting.
* Demonstrable experience of leading and developing a team of events or hospitality professionals.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain client relationships.
* Strong organisational and multitasking abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
* Familiarity with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, preferably Delphi.
* Experience of working with a range of budgets and financial acumen.
* Proficiency in contract negotiation, invoicing, and event planning.
* Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external partners.
* Flexible around the need to adjust working patterns within reason and as agreed with line manager, as relevant to business requirements from time to time.
* Excellent knowledge of the hospitality industry and current trends.
* High level of professionalism and ability to represent the organisation effectively.
* Ability to think outside the box and be creative.
What You Will Get In Return
* Competitive salary with bonus and full company benefits
* 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme
* Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments)
* Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
* Family benefits:
* 2 days additional leave after returning from maternity leave
* Day off for your babys first birthday
* Enhanced family leave
* Perks & discounts:
* Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts
* 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships
* Financial wellbeing:
* Pension scheme
* Life Assurance
* Preferred rates on salary finance products
* Development opportunities:
* Professional subscriptions
* Ongoing training and structured career pathways
* Meals on duty included
Why Join Us?
Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the worlds largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality.
We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.
Job Reference: com/1509/ / /SU #Levy UK
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength