Event Manager at Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust Limited
Contract Type: Permanent
Role Type: Employment
Hours: Part time
Application deadline:
Based: Gateshead
Salary: £28,000 Pro Rata
Salary Type: Fixed Salary
Location: Tyne and Wear
Role description: Manager
St Mary’s by the Tyne, Gateshead
£16,800 - £22,400 pro rata (£28,000 FTE)
22.5–30 hours per week (including evenings and weekends)
Permanent Contract
St Mary’s by the Tyne is looking for an exceptionally organised, proactive, and hands‑on Event Manager to lead our growing programme of events and venue hires. If you’re a natural starter–finisher with a can‑do attitude and a passion for creating great experiences, this is your chance to shape the future of one of Gateshead’s most iconic historic buildings.
St Mary’s sits proudly on the Gateshead bank of the river, alongside the Glasshouse and Baltic, forming part of the vibrant Railway Quarter cultural hub. Operated by Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust, the venue brings heritage, community, and creativity together — and we’re looking for someone who can help unlock its full potential.
About the Role
You’ll oversee the full lifecycle of events: generating new bookings, supporting hirers, planning logistics, coordinating suppliers, and ensuring seamless delivery on the day. You’ll maintain a 6‑month forward plan, manage Duty Managers and volunteers, and make sure the building is ready for every event — from concerts and celebrations to community drop‑ins.
This is a practical, varied role. You’ll be setting up spaces, moving furniture (or delegating), ordering supplies, managing stock, coordinating catering and AV, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. You’ll also help develop our in‑house bar, café, and refreshments offer. You’ll be the welcoming face of St Mary’s and the driving force behind its day‑to‑day activity.
We’re Looking For Someone Who:
• Has a proven track record in event management
• Is highly organised, efficient, and confident managing multiple priorities
• Works well with people and has experience managing a small team
• Is financially astute, with an understanding of budgeting and managing budgets
• Thrives in a hands‑on role and takes ownership from start to finish
• Communicates clearly and delivers excellent customer service
• Can train and support Duty Managers and volunteers
• Understands health and safety basics and can uphold compliance
• Is flexible with working hours and comfortable with evening/weekend events
Why Join Us?
• Play a key role in shaping a unique heritage venue
• Work in a supportive, passionate team
• Help bring new life to a Grade I listed building with 700 years of history
• Make a real impact on Gateshead’s cultural landscape
If you’re excited by the idea of helping to create a vibrant, welcoming, and sustainable venue for the community — and ensuring this historic building continues to be enjoyed as it has for over 700 years — we’d love to hear from you.
Your Role
Key Responsibilities
• Promote and actively seek opportunities for venue hire and events to generate essential income.
• Deliver outstanding customer service as the public face of St Mary’s by the Tyne.
• Show around potential hirers, advising and supporting them throughout the booking process and hiring conditions to ensure all details are planned and confirmed in advance.
• Maintain a 6‑month forward plan for all events, ensuring timely preparation, staffing, resource allocation, and working closely with the finance team to manage budgets and provide accurate information for invoicing.
• Plan and coordinate the set‑up and dismantling of events and hires, including resource, moving furniture, hiring additional equipment, configuring layouts, and ensuring all equipment is in place and in working order.
• Manage event supplies, in coordination with the Building Facilities Manager — maintaining stock levels, ensuring cost‑effective procurement, coordinating all third‑party suppliers (including catering, bar services, AV, equipment hire, and cleaning), and keeping an up‑to‑date approved supplier list with orders placed as required.
• Maintain oversight of venue facilities, ensuring smooth day‑to‑day running, tidy and organised workspaces, and support for the Building Facilities Manager with H&S checks and contractor attendance.
• Provide Duty Management training to staff and volunteers, giving clear instruction so they can support events confidently and safely while delivering a high‑quality customer experience.
• Develop a flexible in‑house bar, café, and refreshments offer that can support a wide range of event hires, from concerts to community drop‑ins.
• Ensure all events meet required health and safety, licensing, and compliance standards; communicate procedures to building users and suppliers, respond appropriately to incidents or emergencies, and uphold Trust policies through ongoing training and good practice.
• Identify and implement improvements to operational procedures and event delivery.
What You Bring
Essential
• Proven track record in event management, with the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously.
• Financially astute, with an understanding of budgeting and experience managing budgets effectively.
• Demonstrable experience working collaboratively and managing a small team.
• Strong interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to delegate effectively.
• A proactive, positive, starter–finisher mindset with an eye for detail.
• Practical capability and willingness to be hands‑on with event set‑ups and logistics.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.
• Flexibility in duties and working hours.
• Experience in promoting and marketing events, activities, or venue hire.
• Ability to work under pressure, multi‑task, and prioritise workloads.
• Basic understanding of health and safety and risk assessments.
• Computer skills (Word, Excel) and familiarity with simple design tools for posters or marketing materials.
Desirable
• Experience in café work and/or Food Hygiene certification.
• Experience managing cash systems and budgets.
• Familiarity with AV equipment, event design, and venue aesthetics.
• Relevant training such as First Aid or Fire Marshal certification.
• Personal Licence (alcohol).
Apply by sending your CV and a covering letter explaining why you’re the right fit for the role to corrina@twbpt.org.uk
Deadline: Monday 20th April, 12 midnight
Interviews: Monday 27th April 2026
