Job: Operations Manager

About Aberdeen Arts Centre

Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent, charitable arts venue in the heart of the city. For more than 60 years, we have provided a home for performance, creativity, learning and community connection.

We welcome thousands of audience members, participants, volunteers and visiting companies each year. Our programme includes theatre, music, comedy, dance, workshops, community performances and events, alongside a busy café bar and room-hire offer.

We are entering an exciting period of renewal and are looking for a practical, organised and people-focused Operations & Front of House Manager to help us deliver excellent, safe and welcoming experiences across the venue.

The Role

This is a key operational leadership role at Aberdeen Arts Centre.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the building, front-of-house operations, café bar, duty management and volunteer activities are well organised, safe, welcoming and ready to support every event.

You will lead and support our Duty Managers and volunteers, establish clear systems and standards, oversee stock, ordering and cash processes, and work closely with colleagues to make sure the venue runs smoothly day to day.

This is a hands-on role. Some days you may be preparing the building for a performance, resolving a maintenance issue, supporting a volunteer briefing, placing stock orders or reviewing event feedback. On other days, you may be leading a busy front-of-house operation, responding calmly to an unexpected issue or helping develop a better café bar offering.

The successful candidate will bring structure, warmth, sound judgement and a genuine desire to make every visitor’s experience better.

Key Responsibilities

Venue Operations and Event Delivery

• Lead the day-to-day operational running of Aberdeen Arts Centre, ensuring the building is safe, welcoming, clean and ready for audiences, artists, hirers, staff and volunteers.

• Create and maintain clear operational processes, checklists and handovers for events, shifts, opening and closing procedures.

• Ensure events, room hires and performances are appropriately staffed and operationally prepared.

• Work closely with programming, technical and facilities colleagues to ensure event requirements are understood and delivered.

• Act as a key-holder and take responsibility for opening, closing and securing the building when required.

• Support the development of systems that improve communication, accountability and consistency across the venue.

• Monitor the presentation and upkeep of public areas, identifying issues and ensuring they are addressed promptly.

Duty Managers, Front of House and Volunteers

• Lead, support and develop Duty Managers, ensuring they are confident, trained and clear about their responsibilities.

• Maintain appropriate records of training, including first aid, fire safety, licensing and other relevant operational competencies.

• Support rota planning and ensure suitable cover is in place for performances and events.

• Lead regular briefings, debriefs and training sessions for Duty Managers and volunteers.

• Help recruit, welcome and retain volunteers, ensuring they feel valued, informed and part of the wider Arts Centre team.

• Promote consistently high standards of customer service, accessibility, professionalism and care.

• Deal with performance concerns constructively and ensure expectations are clear.

Café Bar, Stock and Hospitality

• Manage the day-to-day café bar operation, ensuring it is welcoming, commercially effective and appropriate to the varied programme of events.

• Take responsibility for stock ordering, stock control, supplier relationships, pricing and wastage.

• Oversee cashing-up, banking and accurate reconciliation processes.

• Monitor sales performance and provide regular reporting on café bar and retail income.

• Identify opportunities to improve the food, drink and retail offer, including themed or event-specific activity.

• Ensure café bar systems meet licensing, food hygiene and health and safety requirements.

• Work with colleagues and volunteers to create an inclusive, friendly hospitality experience for all visitors.

Health, Safety and Building Compliance

• Take a leading role in maintaining a safe environment for staff, volunteers, audiences, participants, artists and contractors.

• Work with the Executive Director and external providers to maintain health and safety systems, risk assessments, emergency procedures and compliance records.

• Support the delivery of regular fire safety, evacuation and emergency-response training.

• Ensure Duty Managers and volunteers understand their health and safety responsibilities.

• Monitor maintenance needs, report issues promptly and work with colleagues and suppliers to ensure repairs and improvements are completed.

• Support incident reporting, investigation and learning following operational or safety concerns.

Customer Experience and Income Generation

• Champion an excellent customer experience before, during and after every visit.

• Gather feedback from audiences, volunteers, hirers and visiting companies, using it to identify practical improvements.

• Work with colleagues to support room hire, auditorium hire and other commercial opportunities.

• Help create a venue culture that is welcoming, inclusive, accessible and responsive.

• Identify opportunities to improve income, efficiency and visitor experience across front of house, hospitality and retail activity.

About You

You will be practical, organised and comfortable taking ownership.

You will enjoy being at the centre of a busy venue operation, balancing detailed planning with the ability to respond calmly when things change. You will be confident leading people, setting standards and creating a positive environment for staff and volunteers.

You do not need to have worked in an arts venue before, although experience in hospitality, leisure, events, visitor attractions, retail or community venues would be highly relevant.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Experience managing a busy operational, hospitality, events, leisure, retail or visitor-facing environment.

• Experience leading, supporting or coordinating staff and/or volunteers.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain clear systems.

• Experience of stock control, ordering, cash handling and basic sales reporting.

• A good understanding of health and safety responsibilities in a public-facing environment.

• Excellent customer-service skills and a commitment to creating a welcoming experience.

• Confidence dealing with issues calmly, professionally and practically.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working in an arts, cultural, charity, events or community venue.

• Personal Licence Holder and/or experience of licensed premises.

• First aid, fire warden and health and safety training.

• Experience using rota, ticketing, EPOS or booking systems.

• Experience supporting room hire, events delivery or commercial hospitality activity.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is:

• Organised, reliable and proactive.

• Warm, welcoming and confident with people.

• Calm under pressure and able to make sound decisions.

• Comfortable being visible and hands-on during busy events.

• Supportive but able to set clear expectations and maintain standards.

• Curious about how things can work better.

• Committed to inclusion, accessibility and excellent customer care.

• Genuinely excited about the role arts and culture can play in people’s lives.

How to Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to Holly Paterson at workwithus@aberdeenartscentre.com by 5pm on 30 July 2026, outlining why you are interested in the role and how your experience would help Aberdeen Arts Centre deliver safe, welcoming and high-quality experiences for our audiences, volunteers, artists and community.