Event Sales Manager
We are looking for an experienced Event Sales Manager to join our Venue Hire team within the Commercial Department. This role is responsible for driving commercial hire revenue by managing incoming enquiries, developing client relationships, and proactively converting sales opportunities.
What we are looking for:
SALES MANAGEMENT
- Manage reactive enquiries across all types of events, including corporate and commercial events, private hire, filming, and photography
- Manage a high volume of daily enquiries via phone and email, ensuring timely and professional responses to secure commercial bookings to meet annual revenue targets and departmental budget
- Conduct site visits with clients, agencies, and suppliers, supporting both reactive and proactive sales activity
- Build and maintain strong client relationships to drive repeat business and long-term retention, produce repeat business reports and provide insights to inform sales strategy
- Develop and maintain relationships with key agencies and accredited suppliers to generate new event enquiries
- Deliver excellent customer service throughout the sale process while balancing client needs with the operational constraints of a historic venue
- Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure a smooth transition from sale to event planning and delivery
- Plan and deliver contracted exclusive skate session
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
- Act as the sales lead with accredited furniture, entertainment and graphics suppliers
- Deliver supplier induction tours and maintain strong supplier relationships
- Collaborate with all furniture, entertainment and graphics accredited partners on marketing initiatives, including content creation and case studies
- Support with the supplier tender process across your designated categories, including contributing to annual KPI reviews and performance evaluations
- Identify and develop joint promotional opportunities to drive revenue growth
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING & BUSINESS GROWTH
- Lead the development, implementation, and sales delivery of seasonal and commercial products, including summer packages, conferences, screening room packages and New Years Eve.
- Represent the venue at trade shows, networking events, and client cultivation activities
- As part of the sales team, support with proactive sales outreach, including meetings, presentations, networking, and business development events
- Work closely with the Senior Sales Manager to promote the venue offer and drive new business opportunities to Somerset House
- Work with the other Event Sales Manager to oversee the booking of event photography and videography of approved events, ensuring high-quality content capture for marketing and promotional use
- Liaise with an external social media agency to support with the implementation and delivery of the venue hire social media strategy (via Instagram and LinkedIn)
- As part of the Sales team, support on updating all sales materials, including templates, packages, venue documentation, proposals and website listings
- Regular reporting to the Head of Sales on live enquiries, pipeline activity, and performance insights
- Manage marketing subscriptions and memberships where required, ensuring data accuracy and effective system use
SALES & FINANCE ADMINISTRATION
- Manage sales invoicing, including raising invoice requests and proactively chasing outstanding payments
- Prepare contracts and complete associated administrative tasks accurately and efficiently
- Raise purchase orders and oversee agency commission processes
- Maintain accurate financial, booking, and client records using internal systems (Iplicit, DIESE, Tessitura)
OTHER
- Work closely and creatively with all departments across the Trust to ensure open communication and to maximise business opportunities, by thinking outside the box to accommodate different types of events
- To carry out any other reasonable duties in line with the post as may be required from time to time
Skills, knowledge & expertise required for the role:
EXPERIENCE:
- Sales experience in a similar role, preferably within a unique venue with public spaces
- Experience working with a broad mix of clients across a range of events, delivering an excellent customer experience
- Some marketing experience is preferable, e.g. producing, distributing and presenting information to a variety of audiences
- Experienced in diary management, working with venue/event management software
- Adept at working both independently and as part of a team
SKILLS:
- Excellent organisational, prioritisation and time management skills, with ability to maintain attention to detail whilst working under pressure
- Excellent interpersonal skills, able to build and maintain effective working relationships with clients and colleagues at all levels, with the ability to influence decision-making
- bility to work creatively and strategically, to help develop and promote initiatives to expand the business
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication styles and approach accordingly
- A commitment and passion for Somerset House’s vision, goals and cultural programme
Benefits to working at Somerset House
Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Contribution towards eye tests and glasses
-Trust life insurance scheme
- We offer winter flu vaccination vouchers
* dependent on the needs of the role
Holiday
Other Leave
Benefits
Discounts, offers and free stuff
-The list is endless and includes tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sites
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-Discounts in Somerset House cafes and restaurants
-Discounts with various high street retailers and restaurants
-Discounts to local leisure centres
*following 3 months of employment
About Somerset House Trust
Somerset House is actively anti-racist and you can read about our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging
here. We are working hard to ensure our people, our onsite community and our sector reflect, represent and include all of society.
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging:
discrimination
in the initial screening stage of our recruitment process. This reinforces our commitment to focusing on the skills and qualifications of all applications from the start.
We're committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help you perform at your best. We're open to adjusting our process to accommodate your needs please email people.team@somersethouse.org.uk.
The Trust reserves the right to close a job before its application deadline.
Please only apply if you have the right to work in the UK; the Trust cannot currently offer sponsorships.
And finally.... the use of AI in your application
In your application, we want to hear from you in your own voice about your skills, experience, and how you align with the job expectations and desire to work at Somerset House Trust. All applications are reviewed by members of our team.
Documents
Our Hiring Process
Don't worry if you don't see any roles you want to apply for now. Register your interest to allow us to contact you when a suitable role meeting your criteria comes along. Unfortunately, the Trust cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.