photo: lee baxter

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Contact is a leading national contemporary arts organisation based in Manchester, with young people at the heart of everything we do. We work locally, nationally and internationally to provide life-changing opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders, artists and audiences, redefining theatre in the process. We produce and present a professional programme of outstanding performances, events and festivals in our building, surprising places and virtual spaces, for a young and diverse audience.

Our vision is a world where young people are empowered by creativity to become leaders in both the arts and their communities.

Staff will be expected to work within our core values:

A young people centred approach to decision making.

Artistic excellence, integrity and creative risk taking.

Respect for diversity of cultures, creativity, and understanding within and between communities.

Development of new artists, audiences and practitioners reaching under served and excluded young people who may not have connected to theatre or the arts.

Photo: Joel Chester Fildes

Photo: Lee Baxter

Contact works locally, nationally, and internationally to provide life-changing opportunities for the next generation of artists, creative leaders and audiences.

We redefine theatre for the 21st Century, working with young people and world-class artists to produce and present a diverse programme for everyone: in our building, surprising places and virtual spaces.

Live and touring audiences: 30,828

Exhibition audiences: 82,723

Digital audiences: 262,764

Participation: 9,601

TV broadcasts: 550,000

Digital broadcasts: 37,000

In 2017-18, over 11,000 people saw a Contact production, co-production or commission on tour.

We live streamed 26 events which were seen by over 10,000 people.

71% of our audience is under 35.

30% are from BAME backgrounds.

32% of audiences are from audience segments traditionally characterised as low engagement.


A major £6.5m refurbishment of Contact’s building is currently in progress. This next stage in the building’s evolution will see Contact open in summer 2019 with new and improved performance space; a purpose-built recording studio for young people’s music projects; an arts and health development space; new offices for artists and cultural organisations to hire and work alongside Contact staff; a new café/bar and many other exciting new features.

The refurbishment forms part of Contact’s long term strategy to become more financially sustainable with increased commercial income from bars & catering, events & hires, retail, ticketing services and shared services to support Contact’s artistic and charitable mission and objectives. A new trading subsidiary will be set up in 2019 and the Commercial Manager will sit as a director of this company as well as being a key member of Contact’s Senior Management Team.

The bar & catering operation is outsourced although Contact works in partnership with the operator, with aligned values and goals. The major focus of the role will be on events & hires, with the secondary focus on bar & catering, retail, ticketing services and shared services.



The Commercial Manager will provide strategic leadership for Contact’s commercial income generating activities and will ensure that these activities are meeting income targets and are profitable. The Commercial Manager will work with the Senior Management Team on the strategic use of space within the Contact building to ensure that spaces are used to deliver Contact’s charitable aims and objectives.

The Commercial Manager will develop and implement the strategy for events & hires, bar & catering, retail, ticketing services and shared services as well as developing new opportunities and partnerships.

The Commercial Manager will manage the events team to ensure the smooth running of all events operationally, delivering all events to the highest possible standards of customer care and ensuring an excellent visitor experience.

Title: Commercial Manager

Salary: £35,000 per annum

Main location: Based at The Millennium Powerhouse from January 2018 - March 2019 (tbc) and thereafter based at Contact

Responsible to: Head of Finance & Operations

Responsible for: Events Assistant

Works with: Senior Management Team, Operations, Programming, Marketing, Development, Creative Experts

Hours: 40 hours per week, some weekend and evening working will be required

Status: Full time, Permanent

Develop and implement a multi-year events strategy that maximises the use of hireable spaces and meets agreed income targets in line with Contact’s Business Plan.

Develop and implement a distinctive events & hires offer that is in line with market demand and competitive pricing with a cost effective delivery to maximise events income and profitability.

Build relationships with current and prospective clients and develop new business leads, managing approaches and making pitches. Negotiate deals, draw up contracts and ensure terms and conditions are met.

Work closely with the bar & catering operator to develop a distinctive bar & catering offer which meets the needs of a wide range of building users and also draws in non-theatre audiences.

Identify appropriate and profitable opportunities to broaden Contact’s range of front of house merchandise and retail items.

Identify potential clients for Contact’s new hireable office spaces, negotiating long and short term contracts as appropriate.

Identify opportunities to grow Contact’s third party box office and ticketing offer and shared services offer.

Identify market trends and competitor practices and develop and implement new innovative ideas for income generation

Develop relationships with suppliers and corporate partners to deliver purchasing efficiencies and to open opportunities for promotions, sponsorship and branding

Support the Development Manager and Creative Experts team to identify potential corporate partners and build relationships

Work with the Marketing team to develop a marketing strategy for all commercial activities, including marketing collateral for events & hires, advertising in key publications, attendance at trade fairs and social media strategy. Oversee the implementation of this strategy to ensure effective promotion of all commercial activities.

Work with the Programming team on scheduling events & hires to maximise the use of spaces whilst balancing the need for spaces to be used for artistic and participatory activity.


Work with the Front of House Team to ensure that all events & hires customers are given an exceptional level of customer service and visitor experience.

Provide inspirational and supportive leadership for the events team, ensuring that they remain highly motivated and empowered to develop within their roles.

Manage, control and report on all budgets relating to your team/area, delegating budgetary authority where appropriate.

Sit as a director on the trading subsidiary, work with the Head of Finance & Operations to develop and implement a set of key performance indicators relating to commercial activities.

Advise and report regularly on commercial activities as required by the wider Senior Management Team, trading subsidiary board and main charity Board.

To act as a member of the Senior Management Team, working strategically on the development of the organisation as a whole.

Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required in connection with the position.

To provide mentoring and support to young people and on occasions deliver training/ workshops in areas relevant to your job role.

In line with Contact’s governance model, pro -actively engage young people in decision- making through consultations, young people’s panels and other mechanisms relevant to your job role.

Manage all data in line with GDPR regulations.

Photo: Robert Day

Essential criteria:

Successful track record in devising and implementing effective sales, offers and promotional/marketing strategies at a senior level.

Proven success of delivering ambitious growth and meeting income generation targets across a range of different activities including events and hires.

Significant experience of creating, selling and delivering events with a focus on excellent customer service, preferably within a venue.

Demonstrable commercial and financial acumen with an awareness of emerging trends in the events industry.

Entrepreneurial approach with ambitious attitude towards targets.

Track record of developing and sustaining relationships with existing and new clients over a number of years.

Proven sales and negotiation skills with the ability to network and influence effectively.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to relate to and work effectively with colleagues across the organisation.

Experience of working with operations, front of house and technical staff on events.

Experience of using a space/events booking system.

Reasonable experience of working as a line manager, setting targets, managing performance, conducting appraisals, and supporting staff development/progression.

Reasonable experience managing and reporting on complex budgets.

Excellent presentation skills and the ability to communicate confidently, effectively and persuasively at a senior level.

Proactive with excellent organisational skills and attention to detail

Flexible, confident and adaptable with a “can do“ attitude

Enthusiasm for working in a creative organisation

Enthusiasm for and commitment to Equal Opportunities practice

Enthusiasm and commitment for working in an environment focused on young people (aged 13 – 30).

Desirable criteria:

Previous experience of working in a theatre or cultural venue

Experience of running weddings

Retail experience

Experience of Artifax

Photo: Benji Reid

Photo: Benji Reid

Deadline for submission of applications: Monday 16 July 2018, 10am

Interviews will be held on: Wednesday 25 July 2018

For information on how to apply visit:

www.contactmcr.com/about/jobs

Email: [email protected]

Call: Danny Olsson-Lane (HR and Administration Assistant) on: 0161 274 0646.

Please note that only a completed application form will be accepted.

Contact is committed to Equal Opportunities and positively welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Registered Charity No. 501953.

Contact core funders:

photo: lee baxter

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