There are several job vacancies available at Manchester’s AO Arena that are open for applications now. The roles are based in a variety of departments including maintenance, hospitality and finance.
Formally the Manchester Evening News Arena, the multi-purpose AO Arena sits in the heart of Manchester, and is the go-to venue for some of the biggest entertainers that pass through the city. The 21,000-capacity arena has the largest seating capacity of any indoor venue in the UK and is the second largest indoor arena in Europe.
It attracts more than one million visitors every year, according to its website, and has hosted some of the biggest names in live entertainment including U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Pavarotti and Bolton’s own Peter Kay. It is operated by ASM Global – operator of many venues across the UK including The Bridgewater Hall, Olympia London and Leeds’ First Direct Arena – who has posted a range of vacancies on its job site.
READ MORE: Woman who died after running into street on fire 'poured white spirit over her own head'
So, if you fancy working at one of the most well-known entertainment venues in the UK – and Europe – here are some of the roles you can apply for now.
Electrician – West Hub
Competitive salary
The AO Arena is looking for an electrician to join its team and be responsible for the highest standard of maintenance, while providing the best possible support, to the venue.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Working on single phase and three phase electrical distribution systems and engineering equipment.
- Undertaking planned maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning control systems.
- Undertaking planned maintenance and testing of life systems, including fire alarms, emergency lighting, standby generators and uninterruptable power supplies.
- Testing, inspection, and fault finding of electrical equipment.
- Undertaking reactive maintenance and fault finding on electrical systems and equipment.
- Recording of maintenance and repair activities on Computer Aided Facilities System (CAFM).
Candidates must have a minimum of NVQ Level 3 Electrical Installation and five years post qualification experience of undertaking Electrical Maintenance in a Commercial/Industrial sector.
They must also be able to work evenings and weekends, while also being able to travel to any of the following venues when required: Bridgewater Hall Manchester, SSE Wembley Arena and P and J Live Aberdeen.
This is a full-time role with 37.5 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
Discover, learn, grow. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Casual Food and Beverage Team Members
£9.47-£10.09 per hour (plus holiday pay)
There are several opportunities for enthusiastic individuals to join the arena’s food and beverage team, providing customers with food and drinks while offering high levels of customer service.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Remaining versatile between the primary food and beverage areas (bars, private suites, restaurants and ice cream stands).
- Serving food and drink to the general public and VIP guests during events.
- Ensuring high levels of cleanliness are upheld across all areas by maintaining food hygiene standards.
- Dealing with card and cash payments.
Bar experience is desirable, but full in-house training will be provided for successful candidates. This is a casual role working on an event driven basis
Successful applicants will be invited to join the arena’s casual database, giving them the opportunity to sign up for event-based shifts.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
Finance Business Partner
Competitive salary
The arena has an exciting opportunity to join the team as a Finance Business Partner. The successful candidate will act as business partner to the venue general manager and management team and work with the central transactional finance team.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Providing high quality MI and detailed commercial financial analysis of the operations to support decision making.
- Managing, mentoring, developing and facilitating working structure of an Assistant Management Accountant.
- Identifying and implementing improvements in processes and systems, with the objective of improving controls and efficiencies.
- Preparing annual departmental budgets and monthly reforecasts.
- Input into annual business planning process and value up financial impact of initiatives.
- Prepare month end journals, event settlements and show night reports, as well as a weekly performance tracker for all events.
- Acting as point of contact for audit of venue and prepare all audit files.
- Integrity and accuracy of MI from EPOS and other business systems.
- Prepare all balance sheet reconciliations.
Candidates must have qualifications such as ACA, CIMA or ACCA, including relevant post qualification experience. A strong knowledge of processes, systems and control frameworks is also essential, as is a proven track record of implementing processes and change management experience.
The role will also require mentoring and day to day management of an Assistant Management Accountant.
This is a full-time role with 37.5 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
Hospitality Membership Account Manager
Competitive salary
The AO Arena has created a brand-new role withing its hospitality team to take on responsibility for its engagement and onboarding strategy, and for managing a portfolio of its membership clients.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Maximising revenue opportunities and exceeding customer expectations.
- First class account management of members portfolio to achieve targeted retention rates for the arena.
- Operating as the main point of contact for assigned client portfolio.
- Developing and maintaining long-term relationships with assigned clients, with the vision and knowledge to up sell where appropriate.
- Maintaining and updating on a regular basis, all department files, databases and customer records.
- Maximising the potential of cross sell opportunities with the existing client base.
- Assisting in the development of client incentive strategy to promote sales and retention.
- To work closely with other arena departments to ensure the highest possible standards of customer service and the delivery of the best possible event experience.
Candidates must have previous experience of client account management, onboarding and retention strategy, as well as a background in the supervision, administration and organisation of hospitality/events operations.
A high degree of flexibility is also necessary as some evening and weekend work will be required.
This is a full-time role with 37.5 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
Business Development Manager – The Mezz
Competitive salary
There is another management role within the arena’s hospitality team as a Business Development Manager, responsible for generating new business and converting leads while increasing revenue for high value premium hospitality products across the portfolio, with a particular focus on new product The Mezz.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Engaging and prospecting new clients through creative lead generation and proactive outbound sales activity including cold calling, LinkedIn and new customer appointments.
- Qualifying leads generated by campaigns and reporting back to ensure the success of the campaigns and marketing activity.
- Identifying and targeting potential customers providing leads where appropriate to the Senior Business Development Sales Manager.
- Providing regular sales and activity reports including sales, pipelines and conversion rates.
- Ensuring all hospitality sold is contracted and invoiced correctly and promptly and liaising regularly with finance to ensure that all invoices are paid.
- Building creative and innovative proposals and campaigns that will drive additional revenue across all products.
- Attending external events with the purpose of selling, networking, gathering sales prospects and representing the AO Arena.
Candidates must be educated to degree level, with a proven track record of delivering growth and exceeding sales targets in a related industry or role. A strong understanding of a structured sales approach is also essential, as is excellent network within Manchester and the surrounding areas, and a minimum of four years’ experience in a similar role.
This is a full-time role with 37.5 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
Technology and Events Technician
Competitive salary
The AO Arena is a position available for a Technology and Events Technician, a role that will assist the Technical and Events Department in preparations for all events related requirements within the venue.
Responsibilities within this role include:
- Preparing the digital provision within the venue to ensure the back of house and Arena Bowl systems are ready for the incoming events
- Assisting the venue hirers in using the digital and technical provision in the dressing rooms.
- Being the direct and first line contact with promoters and production teams for touring events; ensuring venue hirers have everything they need to operate their event.
- Supervising and liaising with external contractors, including conversion, show cleaning and maintenance services.
- Working closely with the venue engineers, providing technical and manual support for load in and load out of events.
- Preparing the venue between events including seated to standing, moving of retractable seating and draping, dressing room provision, concourse and search lane set up.
- Reactive maintenance throughout the venue, first line response to mechanical and digital faults in the venue.
Candidates must have awareness of health and safety issues associated with the events industry, and a First Aid at Work Certificate. A qualification in Information Technology or a related subject is also essential.
Experience in the events industry – either venue or touring based – is desirable, as is experience of event lighting, sound, stage management and/or rigging.
Candidates should note this role will require working at height and in enclosed spaces.
This is a full-time role with 37.5 hours per week required.
You can find out more about the role and apply here.
READ NEXT:
