The Front of House Manager is responsible for ensuring all audiences at Opera Holland Park have an excellent customer experience. The primary objective of the role is to welcome customers, paying attention at all times to their needs and dealing with issues as they arise in an efficient and calm manner.
The successful applicant will also work alongside the Site Manager and the Bar and Hospitality Manager to ensure a healthy, safe and secure environment for audiences at the theatre.
Day in the life
Every day looks a little bit different, but a typical day might include arriving at the theatre before the Front of House team arrive to liaise with the Bar & Hospitality Manager about specific events and functions on that day, and the Head of Ticketing and Customer Insights about any specific customer requirements. You will then lead a Front of House team meeting before shifts start and customers start arriving on site. You will be responsible for ensuring that the site is ready to open on time, and give clearance with the Site Manager and production team to give clearance for the performance to start. Throughout the performance, you will be managing your team with enquiries, ensuring excellent customer service, scheduling Front of House announcements and working with the Site Manager to ensure the site looks presentable at all times. After the performance has finished, you will ensure the safe exit of customers from the theatre, and complete a show report to distribute to the wider team.
Practicalities, role expectations and accessibility
The Front of House Manager position will be based at the Opera Holland Park Theatre, which is in the middle of Holland Park, and is mostly canopied. They can expect to be exposed to the elements for the duration of the festival season, from extreme heat, to the cold and wet.
The role will require a lot of standing and walking during each shift.
The role requires a positive attitude, confidence, and a high degree of diplomacy. As it is public facing, unexpected situations will arise regularly, and no day is the same.
Access to the theatre site is step-free via both the East and West Gates. There is a short hill with a steep gradient at the West Gate, so the East Gate is more appropriate for those using a self-propelled wheelchair.
Essential criteria
- Front of House experience, preferably within a theatre environment or an arts organisation
- Excellent leadership skills
- Excellent customer service
- Patience and ability to remain calm, positive and professional when working under pressure
- Ability to be creative and resourceful in problem solving
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Excellent verbal communication
- Budgeting experience
- Collaborative approach
Desirable criteria
- Experience of managing or supervising staff
- First Aid/Emergency First Aid, Fire Marshal Training
- Knowledge of Opera Holland Park and the performing arts industry
- Experience using Spektrix
Equal opportunities
Opera is for everyone. We commit to creating opera for all people, and working with all people to create opera. We believe it is essential to nurture new and diverse talent, onstage and off. The more diverse our workforce, the stronger our community and the better able we are to achieve these aims.
View the full job application pack here: Front-of-House-Manager-Job-Application-Pack-2026.
How to apply
To apply for this role, please:
1. Download the Application Form here (also available in large print).
2. Complete the anonymous Equal Opportunities Monitoring Survey here.
3. Complete the Application Form, and email it as an attachment (either in Word or PDF format) to info@operahollandpark.com with the subject title “Front of House Manager Application”. Please make sure you demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the person specification provided. There are some tips in the form to give you guidance on how best to do this.
4. We also accept applications in video or audio format. If you would prefer to apply in this way, please email a link to your video to the email address provided. As a guideline, you should aim for a recording of around 5 minutes, and you should answer all the questions on the Application Form.
We will be accepting applications until Wednesday 11 February at 5pm. Any application received after this may not be included in the recruitment process.
We aim to reply to all applicants with the outcome of their application within two weeks of the deadline. We will provide feedback to all applicants, regardless of the outcome of your application.
