Programme Manager

About the Role

You will lead the development, planning and delivery of a diverse programme for Priory St Neots, our relaunched arts and events venue, shaping its artistic and commercial identity and making the fullest use of the 430-seat auditorium and other spaces. The role blends creative programming with business development: securing great events, building commercial income, and coordinating the contractors, partners and internal teams that make each event a success. Your programme will span:

• Theatre, music, and dance productions — touring companies and local groups
• Live music — local, national and international artists
• Comedy — national touring acts
• Conferences, beer festivals and high-profile community events
• Weddings, banquets, dinners

The venue will also be used by regular community and commercial hirers, and for private celebration events, with these bookings managed by colleagues or partners in conjunction with you.

What You’ll Do (Key Responsibilities)

Build the Programme

Develop and deliver a strategic, balanced annual programme that maximises use of the auditorium and enriches the cultural life of the community.

Work with a wide range of promoters, agents, producers and creative partners to secure high-quality touring and one-off events across theatre, music, dance and comedy.

Curate a compelling mix of live performances, community activities, commercial hires and cultural events, and manage scheduling for an efficient, well-balanced calendar.

Grow Partnerships and Audiences

Lead community engagement to ensure the venue is valued, inclusive and genuinely part of local life.Build strong, lasting relationships with promoters, music and comedy agents, wedding and event planners, and local, regional and national arts organisations.

Work with the General Manager to manage agreed levels of commercial hire (e.g. weddings and functions), outsourcing and overseeing delivery to specialist providers where appropriate.

Develop and deliver the marketing strategy, working with internal or external marketing support to drive audience development and ticket sales.

Manage the Commercials

Manage programme budgets, negotiate fees, contracts and commercial terms, and maximise income while minimising risk.

Track financial performance and contribute to long-term revenue planning.

Lead Delivery

Coordinate every stage of event planning and delivery, managing contractors and third-party providers.

Work closely with Food & Beverage, Operations, Front of House, Marketing and Finance colleagues.

Ensure compliance with health & safety, data protection, licensing, safeguarding and risk management, and act as premises manager when required.

Monitor programme performance using audience data and reporting.

Attend evening Town Council meetings to present reports as required.

Undertake relevant training and other duties consistent with the post.

If you want to build something new and leave your mark on the cultural life of a growing town, we'd love to hear from you.

What we’re Looking for

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience developing and delivering programmes in arts, culture, entertainment or venue settings, including a proven track record of curating varied commercial, community and cultural events.

• Experience collaborating with contractors, promoters, producers, artists, touring companies and community groups.

• Experience negotiating and managing contracts, artist agreements and financial arrangements, and managing budgets and financial performance.

• Knowledge of the local cultural landscape and creative industries, or a willingness to invest time to learn it.

• Strong understanding of live events, touring theatre productions and cultural-sector working practices, including technical, operational, safeguarding, licensing and risk requirements.

• Strong understanding of audience development, accessibility and inclusive programming principles.

• Excellent organisational, project-management, negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to think creatively and strategically, solve problems and stay calm under pressure.

• Effective written communication, including marketing communications, briefing documents, programme proposals and reports.

Desirable

• Familiarity with CRM systems, preferably HubSpot.

• Experience in health & safety and technical requirements for live entertainment.

• Experience launching a new venue, programme or cultural initiative, and using audience data and analytics to shape decisions.

• Understanding of community engagement approaches and cultural development strategies.

• Confidence with digital tools for event planning, scheduling and marketing.

What we offer

We can offer something rare: a genuinely blank canvas. This is a brand-new role that doesn't exist today, at a beautifully renovated venue with everything still to play for. You won't be inheriting an existing annual programme or slotting into a fixed way of doing things. You'll be the one who shapes it, setting the artistic direction, building the relationships, and defining what this venue becomes for St Neots.

For the right person, that's a rare chance to build something from the ground up and genuinely make it their own.