Head of Events & Accommodation at Pembroke College, Oxford

Pembroke College, Oxford, is seeking an organised, proactive and professional Head of Events & Accommodation to lead its Conference and Events Department and oversee the effective management of the College’s accommodation facilities. This is a varied and rewarding leadership role, combining the planning and delivery of a diverse programme of academic, social and commercial events with responsibility for accommodation allocation, standards, compliance and occupancy. The post holder will play a key role in delivering an excellent experience for students, Fellows, staff, conference delegates and other guests, while maximising the use of the College’s facilities and contributing to its commercial income.

Founded in 1624, Pembroke College is a lively and vibrant academic community in the heart of Oxford, with an accommodation annex a ten-minute walk away on the River Thames. The student body comprises more than 350 undergraduates and around 250 postgraduates. Pembroke is one of the most dynamic Oxford colleges, with a forward-looking Fellowship, strong leadership, ambitious academic plans and a friendly, welcoming environment.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Events, Accommodation and AV teams. You will oversee events from initial enquiry and booking through to delivery and invoicing, alongside the effective allocation and management of student, conference, Fellows’ and Guest Rooms. Working closely with colleagues across the College, you will uphold high standards of service, comfort, cleanliness and compliance, while developing commercial opportunities, managing financial performance and driving continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced events and hospitality professional who combines strong leadership and commercial acumen with a genuine commitment to excellent service. You will enjoy a varied, fast-paced role and be confident balancing the needs of a busy academic community with the opportunities and demands of a successful commercial operation.

We are committed to continuous professional development and offer a range of training and development opportunities, alongside a supportive and collegial working environment.

Note: Please send a covering letter with your CV to be considered as part of the shortlising process.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Events, Accommodation and AV teams, leading, motivating and developing colleagues to deliver consistently high standards.

Plan and deliver a varied programme of internal College events, including academic and social occasions and flagship events such as the annual Garden Party.

Lead the development and delivery of the College’s commercial events business: build client relationships, convert enquiries, secure repeat business and identify new income opportunities.

Oversee the College events diary and booking processes, ensuring effective use of rooms, facilities and services throughout term and vacation periods.

Oversee the fair and efficient allocation of student, conference, Fellows’ and Guest accommodation, balancing occupancy and income with the College’s academic and operational priorities.

Work with the Accommodation Manager to maintain high standards of comfort, cleanliness, maintenance and compliance across the College’s accommodation.

Manage budgets, pricing, financial forecasts and reporting; monitor income and expenditure and identify opportunities to improve profitability and value for money.

Oversee the provision of AV services for College and commercial events, working with the AV Technician and IT colleagues to maintain effective equipment and support.

Ensure robust operational procedures, health and safety arrangements, risk assessments, data protection and other compliance requirements are in place and understood.

Develop effective working relationships across the College and with external clients, agencies, suppliers and University networks, promoting a professional, welcoming and customer-focused service.

Review systems and working practices, including the Kinetics booking system, to improve efficiency, service quality and the effective use of College facilities.

About You

You will be an experienced and confident manager with a strong background in events, conferences, accommodation or hospitality. Commercially minded and highly organised, you will be able to lead a team, manage competing priorities and deliver excellent results in a busy environment. You will combine sound financial and operational judgement with excellent communication skills and a collaborative, customer-focused approach.

Benefits include

Membership of the University staff pension scheme; Free lunch when College kitchens are open; Generous annual leave entitlement; Opportunities for professional development and training; A supportive and collegial working environment.

Essential criteria

Significant experience of managing and delivering a varied programme of events, including commercial events.

Proven experience of leading, managing and motivating a team to deliver high-quality services and achieve operational and financial objectives.

Experience of developing client relationships, securing business and identifying opportunities to generate income and repeat business.

Experience of financial management, including budget monitoring, expenditure control, pricing, forecasting and income generation.

Experience of residential and conference services within a university college, hotel or similar environment.

A sound understanding of operational compliance, health and safety, risk assessments and the importance of effective policies and procedures.

Excellent organisational, planning and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and remain calm under pressure.

Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Strong commercial awareness and a customer-focused approach, with a commitment to delivering an excellent experience.

Good IT skills, including confidence using booking systems, databases and financial information; experience with Kinetics KX or a comparable room-management system is important.

The ability to work collaboratively across departments, exercise sound judgement and take responsibility for decisions and continuous improvement.

A commitment to the culture, values and ethos of a progressive Oxford college.

Desirable criteria

Experience of working within a university, college, higher education institution or similar environment.

Experience of managing accommodation operations within a residential institution, conference venue or hospitality environment.

Knowledge of the regulatory context for student residential operations and accommodation provision.

Experience of developing and implementing sales and marketing strategies to grow commercial business and increase income.

Knowledge of conference and hospitality industry standards, accreditation schemes and best practice.

Experience of implementing sustainable working practices within events, accommodation or hospitality operations.