Guildford Cathedral

Are you a highly organised, proactive leader with proven management experience and a passion for delivering exceptional visitor experiences? Guildford Cathedral is seeking a dynamic Head of Commercial Enterprise to oversee our Visitor Experience and Events Team. In this pivotal role, you will drive excellence across our Café Restaurant franchise and Cathedral Shop, ensuring outstanding service for all events clients and visitors. Background Guildford Cathedral is a sacred space and a community of people who engage with God and the wider world for the common good. We do this by being a warm-hearted community open to God, to all, to growth and to transformation. Over 100,000 visitors come to the Cathedral each year and our Cathedral community comprises thousands who feel close the Cathedral because of historical connection, the purchase of a brick in the 1950s, their membership of the worshipping congregations or staff and volunteers. Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer. Accountable to: The Chapter of Guildford Cathedral and the Guildford Cathedral Enterprises Management Board. Hours and salary: Full time 35 hours per week (flexibility is essential for this role and the hours worked are governed by the pattern of the events programme). The salary for the post is £45400. What You'll Do: Lead the Enterprise team to provide an outstanding level of service to events clients, visitors, including the families programme, and deliver excellence in the Café Restaurant franchise and the Shop. You will work enthusiastically as part of the Cathedral s team of staff and volunteers to help deliver our vision. Some of the Key Responsibilities of the role: Events To direct the events team in organising the extensive events programme, maximise the spare capacity of the Cathedral building and the adjacent grounds, thereby generating income as required by the Cathedral budget. To be responsible for the execution of events, delegating to the Events Team and/or other Staff members as appropriate. To be on duty as part of the team rota delivering events. Café Restaurant To ensure that the franchise delivers the requisite performance, in terms of quality and financial benefit to the Cathedral, as required by the contract between Guildford Cathedral Enterprises and the franchisee. Management To be the line manager for the Enterprise team members, including Events Officer, Events Assistant, Shop Manager & Shop Assistant, Visitor Engagement Officer, and the Families Engagement Officer. To be the Cathedral point of contact for management issues related to the employees of the Café Restaurant franchisee. To attend Diary Management and Head of Department Meetings. To ensure all marketing and relevant information reaches the marketing team in a timely manner. Shop To direct the Shop team to provide value for money in the Shop, delivering an excellent level of service to the community and a level of income required by the Cathedral budget. Visitor Engagement & Families Programme To direct the Visitor Engagement Officer and Family Engagement Officer to deliver the wide programme of tours, concerts, and Family engagement days, broadening our visitor numbers and demographic and managing the outreach activities actively and effectively. We are looking for a Head of Commercial Enterprise who will has: Significant management and leadership experience. Excellent customer service skills. Excellent financial, numerical, and administrative skills. The ability to work within tight deadlines, highly organised with excellent time management skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Confidence and is self-starter, diplomatic and helpful. Flexibility and is a responsive team player. Evidence of strong IT skills. Experience of working in a unique venue or similar environment. 3 years operational experience of running events.

Guildford Cathedral is a sacred space and a community of people who engage with God and the wider world for the common good. Welcoming over 100,000 visitors annually, our Cathedral community comprises thousands who feel close the Cathedral because of historical connection, through worship or our volunteer service. The core task of Guildford Cathedral is worship. Daily and Sunday choral services are the backbone of our work. The Cathedral is led by the Dean with the Cathedral Chapter which is akin to a Board of Directors and charity trustees. We are now seeking an Events Virger to join our team and play a vital role in supporting the Cathedral s worship and events programme. The Role As Events Virger, you ll be instrumental in ensuring the smooth running of services and events. Your responsibilities will include: Preparing and resetting the Cathedral for services, concerts, and special events. Assist with the setting up and removal of all content and furnishings requested for this activity. Opening and closing the Cathedral on a rota basis. Ensure the efficient cleaning of the Cathedral with effective use of time and materials and without the need for supervision (the team of Virgers are responsible for all the Cathedral cleaning). To be on duty, in accordance with the rota, on Sundays, Festival Days and other occasions, in addition to other routine duties. Maintain vestments, altar furnishings and vessels and prepare them for all Services. Operating sound and lighting systems as needed. Support and assist Chaplains, Guides and other volunteers as required. Safeguarding donations and collections. What We re Looking For We re looking for someone who brings: GCSE-level education and previous experience as a Virger. A sense of the value of well-ordered worship and its contribution to the Cathedral s wider ministry and outreach. Strong communications interpersonal skills. IT competence and administrative skills. Flexibility, reliability, and the ability to work independently and under pressure. Physical fitness to handle lifting and moving tasks. A team player, holding the personal qualities necessary to work well with the other members of the Cathedral team, both paid and volunteer. A communicant member of the Church of England. Willingness to undertake training, including First Aid at Work. Desirable: Experience of the coordination and delivery of events.