We’re looking for a Hires and Operations Manager to be responsible for all venue hire bookings and for generating income to support the upkeep of the building and our programme. The focus is primarily on hiring the chapel for weddings, private events and shoots and on managing those bookings. Importantly, you will also manage building maintenance and operations.  

You will manage the external hires and events from enquiry through contracts, to delivery, at which point you’ll hand over to the superb duty management crew you’ll have skilfully recruited! Our ideal candidate will be hands-on,  efficient, proactive in solving problems, commercially savvy and will look to streamline our customer experience. They will be practical, flexible and down to earth, as well as understanding and demonstrating the values of the chapel.  

We’ve picked out a few words to explain some of the most important things about the chapel.  These are: understated, graceful, kind and cultured. Read on to find out more.  

Who we are  

The phrase most used by visitors to describe us is ‘hidden gem’. Grayson Perry said we are a’jewel-box of a building’. That’s because the chapel is a beautifully restored Grade II* listed building, one that has the capacity to amaze and enthral. Part of the former Middlesex Hospital (but never consecrated), the chapel includes ornate mosaics, stained glass windows and 150 memorial plaques. A  Telegraph article called us ‘the most beautiful room in London you probably didn’t know about’. But that’s just the physical side. We try to translate the beauty of our surroundings into our ethos and values. The fact that we are a secular space is an important beginning to this conversation. Also, we are grand but not ostentatious. We encourage visitors to discover the chapel for themselves without overwhelming them with information. We are open for quiet contemplation each Wednesday. That pretty much shows who we are.   

As an organisation, we are small and hardworking. Days are variable and there will be an element of lone working. We all muck in and support one another. We are gentle but strong, we take care of each other and have a working culture that is grounded and honest but never unkind. We encourage growth, individuality and see work as an important part of life but in balance. We have early team dinners, coffee and cake outings and talk exhibitions, outdoor swimming, unconventional family and counter culture. 

Our work  

For the second year running, we are the top wedding venue in Westminster, so naturally this is the main thrust of our work and this role. Take a look though our social channels and website to see the types of weddings we attract. We are open to everyone who prefers a non-religious ceremony. Rapidly gaining a reputation as an exquisite exhibition space, we have welcomed names such as the Stephen Friedman Gallery,  Ingleby Gallery and photographer Richard Ansett, as well as running our own annual exhibitions. From London Fashion Week shows to our monthly Wireless Contemplation events, the chapel is increasing its audience and reach within the artistic and professional communities. You may recognise some names from this selection associated with the chapel: Kate Melua, Humanists UK, Artangel, the Haunting Podcast and Apple Tree Yard. 2019 looks sets to also be a year packed with events and bookings in all spheres of public and cultural life.  
  

  
  
Job Description:  Fitzrovia Chapel Hires and Operations Manager 
Part-time, 24 hours a week.   
Hours to be discussed but likely to be between 10am and 5pm, Tuesday to Friday, including one hour for lunch.  
Pro-rata salary: £23,000 to £27,000  
Our Hires and Operations Manager may elect to take duty management shifts, managing our events and hires. This gives you the opportunity to increase your hours, and earning capacity while gaining an insight into the running of events to improve our offer. 

Scale of the role  

As operational lead for the chapel, you will be at the centre of chapel life. Responsible for every aspect of our thriving business, you will manage hires from initial enquiry, showing people around the venue, contracting and invoicing, to booking and briefing event staff.  

Our primary business is weddings and we are highly regarded as a high-end venue. Our private clients range from art gallery residencies, to regularly host high profile events for London Fashion Week, Frieze and Photo London. These will both be hugely important for your role.  

You will recruit and support our small team of duty managers and ensure they have the training they need to manage the events and take responsibility for the chapel when on duty (approx. 80%)  

Each day, you will be responsible for supervising facilities management and cleaning contractors, ensuring that the building, its fabric, fittings and furniture are kept in good condition. You will be IT savvy, practical and as comfortable with meeting stakeholders for tours as changing ink in the printer. (approx. 15%)  

With the help of our Programme Curator, you will engage and coordinate our open day volunteers (5%) 

REPORTING TO: The Artistic Director  
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Volunteers, casual workers and contractors 
WORKING WITH: Marketing lead, Finance Manager, Programme Curator 
  
Duties  
Hires management (80%)  
Dealing with enquiries and bookings and financial and practical arrangements for hirers using the chapel    
Maintaining collaborative relationships with users and deal with day-to-day issues 
Ensuring users are aware of policies and procedures  
Undertaking training in health and safety, fire safety and first aid 
Reviewing and maintaining systems for keeping financial records  (with Finance Manager)  
Undertaking day-to-day financial tasks   
Liaising with contract staff, or supervising casual staff 
 
Managing chapel operations(15%)  
Supervising effective maintenance of the building and its equipment.  
Liaising with contractors to ensure compliance with health and safety standards including risk   
assessments and commissioning inspections 
Developing policies and procedures in relation to operational matters, including use of equipment, security, health and safety, and data protection which meet statutory requirements  
Working with the team to deal with enquiries requesting information about our activities and opening of the Chapel for quiet contemplation or other activities such as London Open House  
Ensuring the effective use of the Chapel IT equipment and software for administrative and information purposes and to support the range of activities taking place at the chapel  
  
Volunteer management (5%)  
Working with the Programme Curator to recruit, support and supervise volunteers and ensure they are  trained and made aware of our policies  
Preparing rotas to ensure appropriate cover for opening and closing and security of the building   
Being available to supervise public opening days  
  
You may also need to inform the Chair and trustees of any issues that need their attention or decision in the absence of the Director. As part of a collaborative, supportive team you will help other functions of the business, undertaking projects as directed by the Director.   
You should be prepared to carry out additional tasks relating to the chapel when they are needed.  

Terms  
This is a permanent contract . All our roles are subject to a probationary period, in this case six months during which time suitability for the post will be assessed.  The probationary period may be extended for a time limited period. The notice period will be three months. You may need to work in the evening or at the weekend.  

Our Hires and Operations Manager may elect to take duty management shifts, managing our events and hires at our standard Duty Manager rate.  The notice period is six weeks on either side during the probation period, rising to three months after satisfactory completion of the probationary period.  
You aren’t able to smoke while at work.  
Holiday: Pro rata equivalent of 25 days plus pro rata public holidays   
  
Person Specification  
 
You will be an independent multitasker – experienced in lone working and happy with in small organisations
You will have or be willing to undertake training in health and safety, fire safety and first aid 
You will be experienced at managing the booking of events from show rounds to contracts
You will have some staff or volunteer management experience.
You will have taken  some operational responsibility in a previous role 
You will be reliable and trustworthy, and have experience in managing petty cash and key holding.
You will be well presented and engaging.


  
Application procedure  
 
To apply send a CV and covering letter describing how your experience and skills meet the needs of the role and the person specification, to our Director, Faye Hughes at faye.hughes@fitzroviachapel.org. Please include your current noice period, dates of any holidays you have booked for 2019 and any  health and safety, fire safety and first aid or similar training undertaken. 

Faye will be receiving applications until the end of April but will begin interviewing as applications arrive, ceasing when a suitable candidate is found. Please let us have your application as soon as possible.