Job details
Job reference REQ01323
Application closing date 24/08/2026
Location Hybrid
Salary Depending on skills and experience
Contractual hours 40
Basis Full time
Job category/type Theatre Programming
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ABOUT TRAFALGAR ENTERTAINMENT (TE)
Co-founded by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire in 2017, Trafalgar Entertainment is a premium international live entertainment business focused on new productions, venue ownership, Performing Arts education, theatre ticketing, the distribution of live-streaming innovative content and the provision of great theatres where people can come together to share in the experience of live entertainment. TE is home to Trafalgar Theatres, The Chiswick Cinema, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Trafalgar Releasing, Trafalgar Tickets, Stagecoach Performing Arts, Drama Kids/Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, ticketing company London Theatre Direct, Stagedoor, Jonathan Church Theatre Productions, and Imagine Theatre.
ABOUT TRAFALGAR THEATRES
Trafalgar Theatres is a leading theatre operator and live entertainment business with a growing portfolio of venues across the UK. Our theatres range from intimate venues to large regional theatres and present a diverse programme of touring productions, comedy, music, family entertainment and West End transfers.
As the organisation continues to expand, we are strengthening our commercial capability to maximise ticket revenue, improve marketing effectiveness and develop new revenue opportunities across our venues.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
The Head of Event Development will lead the growth of non-theatrical event activity across the Trafalgar Theatres portfolio, identifying and securing high-quality events that maximise venue utilisation, generate incremental revenues and broaden the range of experiences presented across our venues.
Working closely with the Director of Programming, Regional Directors and Theatre Directors, the postholder will develop and deliver a strategic pipeline of events across the estate, with a particular focus on multi-purpose venues and underutilised spaces.
The role will drive opportunities across a broad range of event categories including conferences, exhibitions, sporting events, awards ceremonies, seasonal programming, party nights, immersive experiences, corporate activity and community events. By building strong relationships with event producers, promoters, organisers and commercial partners, the Head of Event Development will position Trafalgar Theatres as a venue partner of choice whilst identifying opportunities to co-promote and develop original event concepts capable of scaling across multiple venues.
This is a highly commercial and entrepreneurial role that will play a key part in increasing event content, venue utilisation and commercial performance across the Trafalgar portfolio.
ABOUT YOU
You’ll be an experienced commercial leader with a proven track record of developing and delivering successful event programmes within entertainment, leisure, hospitality, venue management, sports, exhibitions, conferencing or related sectors.
Commercially astute and entrepreneurial, you’ll possess a strong network of industry contacts and have experience identifying opportunities, negotiating agreements and building productive relationships with promoters, producers, event organisers and commercial partners.
You will have a strong understanding of the events landscape and be equally comfortable developing strategic partnerships, evaluating new opportunities and creating event concepts from inception through to delivery.
A collaborative and influential leader, you’ll work effectively across multiple functions and locations, balancing creativity with commercial realities to deliver profitable and operationally successful outcomes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the development and delivery of Trafalgar Theatres’ event growth strategy across the venue portfolio.
- Identify, evaluate and secure event opportunities that drive venue utilisation and commercial performance.
- Develop and manage a pipeline of activity across conferences, exhibitions, sporting events, corporate events, party nights, Christmas programming and live experiences.
- Build and maintain relationships with event producers, promoters, organisers, agencies and commercial partners, acting as the primary point of contact for multi-venue opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to co-promote or develop original event concepts with creative partners.
- Work collaboratively with the Director of Programming, Regional Directors, Theatre Directors and venue teams to maximise opportunities across auditoriums and secondary spaces.
- Develop strong working relationships with programming team and venue leadership teams to support effective diary management, venue availability planning and the integration of event activity alongside core theatrical programming.
- Work in partnership with Venue Sales and Event Leads to maximise conversion of opportunities into confirmed business.
- Prepare business cases, commercial proposals, budgets and financial forecasts, and manage event P&Ls to ensure opportunities deliver agreed financial returns.
- Lead commercial negotiations relating to event agreements, venue hire arrangements and partnership contracts.
- Monitor market trends and identify emerging opportunities for growth, innovation and new revenue streams.
- Evaluate self-produced and co-produced event concepts and recommend investment opportunities where appropriate.
- Produce regular pipeline, activity and performance reports for senior stakeholders.
- Embed and champion the Trafalgar Entertainment culture and values across the portfolio.
- Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the business.
PERFOMANCE MEASURES (KPIs TO BE AGREED)
- Value of confirmed event business secured.
- Growth in event activity across the portfolio.
- Growth in venue utilisation outside traditional theatre programming.
- Number and value of strategic partnerships established.
- Pipeline value and conversion rates.
- Number of multi-venue event deals secured.
- Successful development and delivery of new event concepts.
- Incremental contribution to venue revenue and profitability.
- Stakeholder satisfaction across venue teams and partners.
- Achievement of agreed strategic objectives and growth initiatives.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
- Director of Programming
- Chief Operating Officer
- Regional Directors
- Theatre Directors
- Venue Sales and Event Leads
- Event Producers, Event Promoters and Event Organisers
- Strategic Commercial Partners
This Job Description is not an exhaustive description of your duties. You will be required to adopt a flexible approach to your role and responsibilities. From time to time, you may be required to undertake such alternative or additional duties as may be commensurate with your skills, experience, and capabilities.
This role may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or other security screening, depending on the specific requirements of the position.
Trafalgar Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in groups where we are under-represented, for example people with disabilities, from minority ethnic groups, older returners and people who are neurodivergent.
We are curious, courageous, and ambitious, empowering people to challenge and innovate in pursuit of excellence.
Author: Sam Hyland
Sam is the assistant content manager for Event Industry News (EIN). Sam is involved in publishing news stories, videos and podcasts. Sam also collates the latest stories for the EIN e-newsletter. If you have a press release or story you think we might be interested to know about please email features@eventindustrynews.com
