Assistant General Manager

ABOUT THE JOINERS HEART

The Joiners Heart is a new inclusive queer venue in Hackney, East London, run by Friends of the Joiners Arms (FOTJA). We are recruiting for the position of Assistant General Manager who will lead the Joiners Heart’s programming and venue hire offer and will support the General Manager to oversee daily operations and lead the team of bar and security staff.

Friends of the Joiners Arms celebrates diversity and fosters an inclusive and respectful workplace where all are welcome. We are committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

We encourage applications from people of all genders, races, religions, ages, sexual orientations, and any other groups that bring unique perspectives to our team.

We prioritise mental health and wellbeing and understand the importance of accommodating candidates’ needs, including any specific requirements during the interview process, ensuring an equitable and supportive recruitment journey for all applicants.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The role is an exciting opportunity to work together with the General Manager, the FOTJA Management Committee and our broader community to operate the LGBTQ+ community run pub, while supporting its further development into a multipurpose performance space and community hub.

In addition to being offered a competitive rate of pay, the role holder will be made a shareholder of FOTJA, and have the opportunity to creatively shape the space. This role will begin on a freelance basis with a minimum of 3 days’ work per week.

The day rate will be calculated based on a pro rata full time equivalent annual salary of circa £30,000, based on a 35 hour work week. As the venue gains financial sustainability and operating hours extend, we will work with the operating team to scale up hours.

We aim to move this role to PAYE within one year.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

Lead

• Curate and support the development and implementation of the venue’s in-house and partner programme of shows, events, activities and nights.
• Create and manage the venue hire offer.
• Respond in a timely and professional manner to enquiries for commercial venue hire, private personal hire, and community use of the venue.
• Provide tours of the venue to prospective clients, as needed.
• Work with promoters, DJs, performers, and venue hire customers to ensure strong promotion of our programme on social media and other channels to reach a diverse LGBTQ+ audience.
• Manage the venue’s social media accounts and external communications.
• Work behind the bar, including evenings and weekends (we are currently open Fridays and Saturdays 5pm – 1am, but looking to expand trading days starting with Thursdays).
• Facilitate accessibility, including collecting information on and responding to customer access needs.

Support to the General Manager

• Oversee bar and general front of house operations.
• Manage, order and control bar stock within budget limits.
• Monitor and enforce cash/card handling procedures.
• Ensure venue staff, including bar staff and security, are supported in their role and maintain professional standards.
• Align staffing with business needs, managing labour costs within budget, when building the weekly rota.
• Recruit, train and manage venue staff and volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations and licensing laws.
• Oversee probation reviews, disciplinaries and complex people issues.
• Oversee appraisals, staff performance and contribute to long-term staffing strategy.
• Monitor GPs, margins, and stock KPIs.
• Ensure legal and internal compliance is up to date and documented.
• Oversee venue works and improvement, including liaising with landlords and contractors.
• Liaise with other external bodies where necessary.
• Contribute to long-term business planning and change management as a leader in the operational team and in collaboration with the Management Committee.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

It is Essential for the successful candidate to have:

• Excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills, the ability to act calmly in crisis situations, and have proven experience of:
• Event programming/scheduling and working closely with performers, venue hire customers, and promoters.
• Programming/scheduling/organising LGBTQIA + events.
• Knowledge of the lived experience of LGBTQIA + people.
• Managing stock, inventory and supplier relationships.
• Bar tending or similar customer service focused roles.
• Maintaining compliance with licensing laws, safeguarding responsibilities, and health & safety regulations.
• Overseeing daily operations, including opening/closing bars or other community/ work spaces, managing a team, and facilities maintenance.
• Ensuring accessibility through venue/service/event design, standard operating procedures, policy, and/or leading on behaviour change.
• The successful candidate must be a Personal License Holder.

Desirable

• Experience setting up a new venue
• Experience of making cocktails
• Experience managing payroll, cost control, budgets (including staffing and operational costs), and financial reporting
• Experience providing ongoing coaching, performance reviews, and support for staff wellbeing
• Experience working in a social enterprise or community business
• Experience of social media promotion
• Direct lived experience of issues facing the LGBTQ + community
• Must be a Hackney resident.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

TO APPLY, PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR (up-to-date) CV, ALONG WITH A ONE PAGE COVER LETTER OUTLINING “WHY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THE ROLE AND WHAT KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE MAKES YOU SUITABLE FOR THIS POSITION.”

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR CV CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND COVER LETTER ANSWERS THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AS THIS WILL FORM AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR APPLICATION.

1. Personal Profile (Ensure this section is tailored to the specific role you are applying for).
2. Employment History (List in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role).
3. Education, Training, and Qualifications (List in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent, and including secondary school education).