Candidate Brief PROGRAMME MANAGER
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WELCOME TO BELFAST WATERFRONT AND ULSTER HALL LTD.
NORTHERN IRELANDS PREMIER CONFERENCE & ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.
Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd is a new arm’s length company responsible for the operation and commercial growth of the Waterfront and Ulster Hall on behalf of Belfast City Council.
As Northern Ireland’s leading event venue management organisation, we are focused on delivering complete customer satisfaction and ensuring excellent and memorable experiences for all our customers.
Across both venues, we host a compelling and unique programme of events from international conferences & exhibitions to rock, pop, and comedy and everything in between!
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BELFAST WATERFRONT
The original Belfast Waterfront Hall was opened in 1997 and became an award-winning purpose built conference, arts and entertainments venue. It was a key project in the riverside regeneration and redevelopment in Belfast City Centre. In April 2016, a £29.5m extension project was completed and has transformed Belfast Waterfront into a world class venue.
The integrated exhibition and conference centre provides 7,000m2 of flexible space including two new interconnecting multipurpose halls, three large meetings rooms, a new 660m2 dedicated riverside entrance. The venue can accommodate up 5,000 people for conferences and entertainments events. The newly refurbished Belfast Waterfront will compete in the global conference market with other international conference venues in attracting major events with the target of generating £100m for the city over the next five years.
The venue aims to attract 50,000 annual conference delegates (35,000 of these being out of state) by 2020 and host an average of six International Association Conferences and six large National Association Conferences each year. In addition it is aiming to reach a high level of Customer Service, with 95% or more of clients indicating the venue and service provided as ‘exceeded their expectations’.
The Marketing and Sales Teams have recently been expanded with exciting new plans to ensure the Belfast Waterfront exceeds the challenging income targets. A new brand, website and client focused sales strategy are in the process of being rolled out. Indeed interest in the newly extended venue is extremely positive with Conference targets already exceeded for 2016/17 and a wide range of entertainment programmed for our first year.
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THE ULSTER HALL
Built in 1862, this beautiful Victorian building is now considered a cultural icon in Belfast with a firm place in the hearts of music lovers, both rock and classical, and boxing fans alike. Undergoing a £7m refurbishment in 2009, this historic building accommodates up to 1,700 patrons in the Grand Hall and also includes the Group Space used for exhibitions and events.
The Ulster Hall hosts over 150 performances across a range of genres each year, as well as a number of local and national conferences, gala dinners and weddings. The venue has played home to MTV, Snow Patrol and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to a few as well as our very own comedy club.
A key strategic vision is to further develop the public access to the Ulster Hall, ensuring the venue remains a key icon in Belfast’s future. In this regard the venue has plans to work with key promoters and festivals to develop a bespoke programme attracting a wide range of audiences, as well as further developing the box office function to ensure a customer focused approach in line with new technologies.
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Programme Manager
Belfast Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall already have an excellent reputation for hosting world class events and we intend to build on this success. With the recent establishment of an arm’s length, we have now greater commercial freedom to fully realise our potential in this highly competitive and fast paced market.
We are looking for a high performing, motivated and experienced Programme Manager to join the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall team with specific responsibility for developing a creative and innovative artistic programme of events in accordance with BWUH’s strategic objectives.
With a new staffing structure implemented, our team of 61 permanent staff, and the large pool of casual staff, are working to deliver on Financial, Business and Operational targets.
The post holder will work as part of a dynamic sales team to develop and grow relationships with clients including; promoters, agents and artists. The role requires a resourceful collaborator, comfortable and experienced in working across a wide range of arts and entertainment events.
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THE JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Programme Manager Reports to: Sales Manager Salary: £27,924, plus 6.5 % flexibility allowance & Pension
As part of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall (BWUH) sales team, you are to ensure that the customers’ expectation and experience of BWUHs is exceeded through the right balance between value for money and the provision of excellent customer service.
Main Purpose of Job To be responsible to the Sales Manager for the development and planning of the Artistic and Entertainment Programme at the BWUH.
To be responsible to the Sales Manager for the effective co-ordination, administration and management of such events in the context of the overall programme of both venues.
The Programme Manager will be responsible for negotiating and contracting and liaison with a wide range of commercially sensitive clients including; promoters, agents and artists, as well as liaising with the Logistics Planner regarding the planning and delivery of entertainments events.
The Programme Manager will play a key role in supporting the achievement of the commercial targets (circa £2m per year).
To be able to work flexibly across the two venues of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall to ensure the necessary high standards of service delivery are achieved.
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RESPONSIBLITIES & PERSONAL DUTIES
1. To develop, initiate and source, in conjunction with the Sales Manager, a balanced commercial programme of artistic and entertainment events which supports the delivery of BWUH strategy and business plan, in particular the achievement of the commercial targets and objectives.
2. To be responsible for diary management within the venues.
3. To develop a creative and innovative artistic and entertainment programme for the Waterfront (auditorium and studio space) and the Ulster Hall in accordance with the BWUH strategy and business plan.
4. To find creative and innovative solutions to ensure BWUH exceeds customer expectations and delivers the objectives outlined in the BWUH Business Plan.
5. To supervise and manage, and be accountable for the performance of, the Programme Assistant.
6. To proactively research, develop and manage a range of commercially sensitive relationships with entertainment promoters, agents, companies and individuals.
7. To prepare, develop, initiate, and manage specific artistic and entertainment programmes in accordance with the BWUHs strategy and business plan to proposal stage. To be responsible for all associated financial management, budgeting, marketing, operations and programme management, to ensure the target objectives for each event(s) are achieved.
8. In preparing the artistic and entertainment programme for both venues, effectively negotiate with key clients on a number of commercially sensitive issues, ensuring these discussions are undertaken in a sensitive manner, in line with BWUH policies and procedures.
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9. To develop good working relationships and have knowledge of the local artistic and entertainment groups; in order to offer professional advice, support, encouragement and guidance in the use of both venues and their environs, regarding the organisation of events, festivals and performances.
10. To be responsible for attending local, national and international events and industry related productions, conferences, festivals and meetings in order to make informed recommendations for the artistic and entertainment BWUH strategy and business plan.
11. To be responsible for the management of BWUH entertainment policies and procedures ensuring an effective and efficient booking process from contract to completion.
12. To be the primary point of contact for entertainment event hirers, for all areas of BWUH.
13. To be responsible for the effective communication of all associated event information to relevant sections within BWUH.
14. To be responsible for the collation of all relevant information required for each event through the effective communication with clients, hirers, promoters and artists, their agents or management.
15. In conjunction with other sections within the BWUH, to provide detailed post event trading reports and performance evaluations on the artistic and entertainment programme, including audience data, media coverage, operational review and financial results, monitoring the success of each event and building key outcomes and findings into future planning.
16. To contribute as required to the development, management and delivery of the BWUHs Programming Strategy.
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17. To ensure the achievement of all associated BWUH targets and objectives, in particular circa £2m per year income.
18. As required, to attend meetings and represent the BWUHs, and the Sales and Marketing Director and Sales Manager, in their absence, in all relevant matters relating directly to the events programme at the venues.
19. To fully understand and be able to use VEMS for the venues, and to be responsible for the accurate input of all event information.
20. To undertake duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the BWUH.
21. To undertake such other relevant duties as may from time to time be required.
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EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION
Qualifications BWHU reserves the right to shortlist candidates who possess a degree in a related subject such as Arts, Media and Theatre Studies or Business Studies.
Experience Applicants must be able to demonstrate, by way of example on their application form, at least 2 years’ commercial knowledge and experience in the following areas: developing and programming an artistic and entertainment programme, researching, developing, negotiating and managing profitable business relationships, financial management and evaluation of arts and entertainment events and using IT systems such as CRM databases, diary management and reporting packages.
Special skills and attributes Applicants must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate orally and in writing with a wide range of organisations and people. In addition applicants must possess drive, initiative and enthusiasm and have excellent organisational and administration skills.
Applicants should have knowledge of current trends in the promotion of entertainments and arts events.
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SELECTION PROCESS
Terms & Conditions
Full Terms and Conditions are included in the Application pack
Application
Completed applications must be received by 4pm on Thursday 15 September 2016.
Completed application form and monitoring form can be emailed to [email protected]
Application packs can be downloaded from www.waterfront.co.uk/info/careers.
Appointment
The appointment will be made by the selection panel, but subject to ratification by the Managing Director.
Shortlisting & Interviews
It is envisaged that the short-listing will take place on 19 September and interviews will be held on 27/29 September 2016.
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If you have any queries in relation to the application, please contact Adam Neilly, HR Facilitation Unit @ [email protected]
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