Commercial and Events Manager - Reading Arts and Venues

Salary £39,152 to £44,075 Per year

Contractual hours 37

Basis Full time

Job category/type Arts, Managerial

Job reference DEN1549

Are you a commercially driven events professional with a passion for creating memorable experiences and driving revenue growth? We’re looking for a Commercial & Events Manager to lead the delivery of conferencing, events and commercial activity at Reading Town Hall - one of the region’s most iconic venues.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About The Role:
As a key member of the Reading Arts & Venues team, you will lead our commercial strategy—maximising venue hire, conferencing, cultural programming and special events.

You’ll be responsible for growing business opportunities, developing partnerships and enhancing the visitor experience, all while championing operational excellence and value for money.

Working collaboratively across programming, operations, hospitality and marketing, you’ll create an innovative and customer‑focused culture that boosts engagement with communities, clients and businesses.

To find out more about the Reading Arts venues please visit: https://whatsonreading.com/

What you’ll be doing:

• Driving commercial income through conferencing, corporate events, cultural programming and venue hire
• Developing and delivering a proactive sales strategy to grow business and increase demand
• Building strong relationships with clients, partners and stakeholders to secure repeat business
• Leading and motivating a team to deliver high-quality events and customer service
• Overseeing bookings, systems and processes to ensure efficiency and compliance
• Monitoring performance, analysing data and reporting on KPIs and financial targets
• Acting as Duty Manager on a rota basis, providing senior operational leadership
• Managing budgets and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth

What we’re looking for:
You’ll be a confident and experienced events or commercial manager with a track record of delivering results.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience in events, conferencing, venue hire or commercial development
• Strong sales and income generation experience
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing teams and delivering high-quality customer service
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Commercial awareness and a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset

Additional information:

• Evening, weekend and bank holiday working required
• Duty management responsibilities on a rota basis
• Opportunities for professional development, including licensing and health & safety qualifications

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Sarah Cox, Reading Arts and Venues Manager - Sarah.Cox@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at the Town Hall in Reading