Head of Events & Catering

Nationalmuseums; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent museum organization is seeking a dedicated Events & Catering Manager at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. In this full-time role, you will oversee catering, venue hire, and corporate membership. Responsibilities include managing supplier relationships, financial performance, and leading a team to ensure exceptional service. Applicants should demonstrate strong experience in events management and budget handling. The role offers some flexibility for remote work, accommodating the events schedule.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in events and catering management.
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality events.
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Events & Catering function at the museum.
• Set commercial plans and manage supplier relationships.
• Ensure excellent service standards and financial performance.

Skills

Events management

Catering management

Budget management

Supplier relationship management

Client relationship building

Organizational skills

Job description

About the role

In this role, you will work within the Commercial Department in the Ashmolean Museum, which supports the museum through income from catering, retail, publishing and venue hire.

You will lead our Events & Catering function, overseeing retail catering, venue hire and corporate membership. You will set commercial plans, manage supplier relationships and ensure excellent service standards. You will lead a team of Events Managers and support staff development. You will also oversee financial performance, ensure legal and safety compliance, and work closely with colleagues to deliver high-quality events.

This is a full-time post, working 37.5 hours per week. The role is predominantly based on-site, but some level of home-working is available, dependent on the events programme.

About You

You will have strong experience in events and catering management, with a track record of delivering high-quality events and managing budgets. You will be confident working with suppliers, leading a team and building positive relationships with clients and colleagues. You will be well organised, calm under pressure and comfortable managing multiple priorities.

Experience in museums, corporate membership schemes or systems such as Artifax would be helpful but not essential.

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (GMT) on Friday 16th January 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 2nd February or Tuesday 3rd February 2026.

National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, WilliamBrown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN