Head of Commercial Services

Head of Commercial Services

Location: Milton Keynes

Contract: Permanent - Full-time (37.5 hours a week)

Salary: £38,000 per annum

The purpose of this role is to ensure that MK gallery has a diverse range of commercial services that contribute to the financial security of the Gallery and its charitable activities.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic development

• Work collaboratively at a senior level to ensure the delivery of an exceptional, first-class visitor experience.
• Work alongside the Deputy Director in the development of a commercial growth strategy and improvement initiatives, updating when appropriate.
• Use trends in the feedback to inform operational changes and staff and volunteer training.

Leadership and team management

• Lead, motivate, communicate, and develop the Catering and Events Team to ensure that they are fully engaged to achieve best performance to meet the needs of the Gallery
• To be accountable for delivery against agreed financial and service targets and for the effectiveness and efficiency of commercial services.
• Evaluate the performance of each of the departments within commercial service, feedback to the Deputy Director and supporting with evidence for Executive reporting.
• Establish external and internal benchmarks and appropriate KPIs as the basis for demonstrating the quality of commercial services provided.

Catering

• Manage all aspects of the MK Café ensuring it is open to the public with a dynamic food offer during opening times.
• The café and catering services achieve 5 food hygiene standards.
• Effectively manage the catering supply chain to ensure quality and cost management of supplies.
• Rota management

Event Hire

• Oversee the Gallery's room booking system and coordinate all internal and external events safeguarding the best use of spaces in and out of opening hours in cooperation with other departments.
• Ensure front of house/events staff have comprehensive events schedules that enable them to organise appropriate resources and staffing.
• Support the Events Co-ordinator in generating private hires (Conferences, private events, weddings, room hires, community hire) to ensure maximum profitability.
• Work alongside the Deputy Director in developing private hires into Corporate Memberships and Sponsorship opportunities.

Retail

• Develop new product lines to include exhibition merchandise, MK Gallery specific merchandise, unique gifts and children's arts and crafts materials.
• Work with local makers to produce a line of artist products on a sale or return basis.

Operational

• Lead on the recruitment and training of new staff and volunteers across the Commercial Teams in accordance with the organisational policy and procedures.
• Work with the Marketing and Audience Development Team to ensure that all commercial activities are accurately represented and advertised.
• Ensure Risk Assessments, Standard Operating Procedures and Safety Management Systems are in place across all Commercial areas with a focus on safety first and food and hygiene safe working practice.
• Ensure stock management and POS systems are in place and managed accordingly and work with the Finance Manager to ensure robust systems and processes are in place in accordance with the policies and procedures.
• Work with the Finance Manager to establish and maintain budget setting and management across commercial activity.

General

• Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required by the Head of Catering and Events.
• Carry out responsibilities with due regard to all MK Gallery policies and procedures including Security, Health and Safety, Child Protection and Equality & Diversity.

Person Specification:

Experience

• Experience of event management at a senior level with demonstrated experience of delivery, administration and evaluation of large-scale complex events.
• Experience of developing and a corporate events programme to engage local business.
• Experience of project co-ordination involving multiple stakeholders, visitors, staff, and suppliers.
• Experience of managing sales targets and being responsible for driving income.
• Experience of managing venue hire on behalf of external clients.
• Experience of running an online shop.

Skills and abilities

• Excellent organisational skills with ability to work to tight deadlines and multi-task when under pressure.
• Excellent business and finance acumen - confident with budget project with budget management, budget projections and financial processes.
• An entrepreneurial outlook - an enthusiasm for generating income through innovation.
• Strong communication skills with a wide range of people - in person, in writing, and on the phone.
• Well developed negotiation and relationship management skills.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, licencing and other licencing and legal/statutory requirements.
• Good technical knowledge including AV, PA systems and lighting.

Personal

• Flexible team member with the ability to cooperate and support other colleagues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

General

The role will involve some evening and weekend working, as well as occasional early morning and late evenings, depending on the event requirements for which time of in lieu will be given.

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