Pushkin House is an independent cultural centre dedicated to exchange, interpretation, and dialogue across borders and disciplines. Founded in 1954 with freedom of speech as a core principle, it has long served as a meeting place for thinkers, artists, and creatives with diverse perspectives on Russia and the wider world. Historically a hub for leading writers, poets, philosophers, and performers, Pushkin House offered rare opportunities for open discussion during the Cold War. Today, it hosts exhibitions, talks, concerts, and film screenings, collaborating with international artists, researchers, and cultural practitioners. The organization continues to evolve as an inclusive, open-minded space for critical cultural exploration in a complex global landscape.
Role Description
The Head of Operations & Earned Income is a new, senior role created to drive the commercial sustainability of Pushkin House. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this person will take strategic and operational ownership of all earned income streams arising from the organisation’s physical assets, brand, and programme activities.
This is an entrepreneurial role for someone who combines strong operational management with creative commercial thinking. The successful candidate will be responsible for maximising revenue from the Bloomsbury townhouse—through venue hire, bar and catering, bookshop operations, tenant management, and new income-generating initiatives—while ensuring that all commercial activity is in harmony with Pushkin House’s charitable mission and programming.
The role also encompasses day-to-day operational leadership: managing the front-of-house and Bookshop team, overseeing building logistics, and ensuring that the visitor experience reflects the quality and ambition of the programme.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Earned Income Strategy
- Develop and implement a comprehensive earned income strategy aligned with the organisation’s five-year plan, setting annual revenue targets and reporting progress to the Executive Director and Board
- Strategically manage and grow the venue hire business, negotiating competitive rates, developing new client relationships, and ensuring high-quality event delivery that is sensitive to the building’s heritage and programming calendar
- Oversee bar and catering operations for events and public programming, managing supplier relationships, licensing, stock, and margins to maximise profitability
- Identify, research, and pitch new commercial opportunities to the Executive Director with detailed feasibility assessments and income forecasts
- Explore the commercial potential of underutilised spaces, including the basement, and develop business cases for their activation
- Work with the Marketing Manager to promote commercial offerings through appropriate channels, converting audience attendance into revenue
- Monitor industry trends in cultural venue commercialisation, hospitality, and the Bloomsbury market to ensure Pushkin House remains competitive and innovative
- Serve as the primary operational contact for building matters, coordinating with the renovation project team to minimise disruption to commercial activities during capital works
- Manage relationships with tenants occupying spaces within the building, including lease administration, communications, and ensuring compliance with terms
- Oversee day-to-day building logistics: maintenance coordination, health and safety compliance, insurance, contractor management, and regulatory requirements
- Work with the Board’s Renovation Committee to plan the phased renovation in a way that protects and ultimately increases earned income capacity
- Ensure the building operates to a standard befitting its Grade II* listed status and Pushkin House’s growing public profile
Front of House & Visitor Experience
- Line manage the Front of House team, ensuring a warm, professional, and inclusive welcome for all visitors, audiences, venue hire clients, and tenants
- Establish and maintain operational standards for the public-facing experience, including signage, accessibility, opening hours, and event logistics
- Organise and manage freelance and ad hoc staff as required for events and commercial activities
Bookshop Operations
- L ine manage the Bookshop Managers, ensuring the shop operates profitably
- Set and monitor sales targets
- Develop merchandise strategies and other revenue generating avenues together with the team
Team Development
- Provide mentoring and professional development opportunities for direct reports
- Conduct performance reviews, recruit for vacant positions, and foster a positive, collaborative working culture
Strategic Contribution
- As a member of the senior management team, contribute to organisational strategy, policy development, and Board reporting
- Collaborate with the Development team to ensure commercial activities complement (and do not conflict with) fundraising and donor relationships
- Work with the Finance Manager to set budgets, monitor performance against targets, and produce quarterly reports for the Board
- Proactively identify improvements to operational processes and systems to increase efficiency and profitability
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- A strong entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of identifying and delivering new revenue streams, ideally within a cultural, heritage, or not-for-profit setting
- Demonstrable experience of managing commercial operations with profit and loss responsibility
- Experience of venue hire, hospitality, or events management
- Proven budget management skills and financial literacy
- Experience of line managing and developing a team
- Strong negotiation and supplier management skills
- An understanding of the unique challenges of running commercial activities within a charitable organisation, where mission integrity must be maintained
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work across teams and with external partners, tenants, and clients
- Highly organised, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a small, fast-paced organisation where flexibility is essential
- Experience working in or with arts organisations, museums, galleries, or heritage buildings
- Knowledge of the Bloomsbury area and its cultural and academic ecosystem
- Experience managing listed or historic buildings
- Familiarity with licensing, health and safety, and regulatory compliance for public venues
- Interest in Russian and post-Soviet culture, or experience working with diaspora communities
- Experience with e-commerce and online retail
Pushkin House is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.
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