The Grange School is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Events Manager to lead and grow the School’s non‑fee income through high‑quality events, expanded facility lettings, and strategic commercial development.

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Description

The Opportunity

Salary: The role will attract an annual salary of £36,936 - £39,769 dependent on skills and experience.

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Working hours: The hours are 37.5 hours per week on a year-round basis, currently anticipated to be for a 12-month fixed term initially.

A degree of flexibility is required to allow for activities involving working outside the normal hours, including evenings and weekend.

Holiday: You will be entitled to 25 days annual leave per year plus Bank Holidays and Christmas Shutdown.

Pension: The School operates an auto-enrolment Defined Contribution pension scheme.

The Grange School is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Events Manager to lead and grow the School’s non‑fee income through high‑quality events, expanded facility lettings, and strategic commercial development. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will drive hospitality events, sponsorship income, community engagement activities and the broader commercial use of our excellent facilities.

Candidates interested in this post should be able to evidence the highest standards of event management. They will be financially and commercially astute, skilled at building effective teams and working successfully with a wide range of stakeholders. The successful candidate will be able to evidence a proven track record of the above skills through leading teams in any of the not-for-profit, hospitality, education or other commercial sectors. They will be comfortable working towards ambitious targets and KPIs, able to work collaboratively with academic and other stakeholders, and with the gravitas to sensitively develop commercial opportunities within the operations of an educational charity.

The Events Manager will lead on all commercial opportunities and events, which currently include facility lets, holiday activities, sports events and hospitality occasions. During evenings, weekends and holiday periods, our extensive classroom, meeting and sports facilities currently support lettings to sporting organisations, high- profile clubs and youth groups. The aim of this role is to further develop hospitality events, holiday activities and lettings through the strategic identification and implementation of further and more ambitious opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Non-Fee Income: Develop and implement the strategic and operational plans to increase non-fee income, aligning with the School’s values, including:

1. Commercial Lettings: Build on existing commercial lettings and nurture client relationships to deliver growth.
2. Hospitality Events: Devise and implement a strategy that supports the delivery of hospitality events.
3. Event Sponsorship: Develop further the income derived from sponsorship of School events and activities.
4. Community Events: Support events at School

• Act as the key liaison for the Grange School Parents’ Association. Responsibility to link the work of the GSPA with the School, attending GSPA meetings and events.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Be educated to degree level or by suitable relevant experience.
• Have proven successful leadership experience managing, organising and motivating multi-disciplinary teams in events, hospitality, education or commercial sectors.
• Have proven experience in developing and implementing strategic, operational and financial plans and preparing related reports and proposals with demonstrable commercial acumen.
• Possess commercial awareness and experience of leading and contributing towards a business achieving its commercial objectives (including sports, hospitality, and/or events).
• Demonstrate a proven record of being target-oriented and results-driven. Being creative and confident when working with diverse stakeholders.
• Have a strong understanding of the education sector and the charitable objectives of independent schools. Previous experience working in a school environment is desirable, but not essential.
• Possess in-depth understanding and knowledge of the competitive landscape, to ensure informed and relevant decisions are made when formulating strategies.
• Demonstrate excellent networking, collaboration, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Be an outstanding communicator (written and oral) with exceptional people skills.
• Be a strategic thinker, with dynamism, creative flair, resilience, and sound judgement.
• Be a visible leader who can work both independently and as a key team member, with energy and ambition to inspire and empower colleagues and wider stakeholders.