Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager

The Senior Operations Manager is a senior delivery role at the heart of DF Concerts & Events. Working closely with the Heads of Event and Concert Operations, this post provides high-level operational leadership across our most ambitious shows, from major festivals and stadium events to year-round internal projects.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced event professional to step into a pivotal position that flexes around the needs of a busy, high-performance department. You will take ownership of end-to-end delivery for key shows and workstreams, support cross-team planning, and lead on complex internal initiatives, from procurement frameworks to safety systems and process design.

The role demands someone confident with hands on delivery, but equally capable of stepping back to design better systems, assess risk, analyse performance, and push forward year-round improvements. You will be trusted to make decisions, represent the department, and help shape how we deliver safe, sustainable and exceptional live experiences across Scotland.

We are a small, dynamic team of event professionals with a passion for producing exciting, well-managed, safe and sustainable events for our fans, artists, and staff. We collaborate with multiple departments, external suppliers, and stakeholders such as local authorities, sponsors and broadcasters. Our ability to bring people together and develop strong working relationships is key to our success.

Our team are fun, resilient, hardworking, and supportive - committed to consistently high standards of performance and delivery, while contributing to a positive and empowering team culture.

Competencies / Skills / Knowledge / Experience:

• Significant experience in managing and delivering large-scale projects in the live event industry, ideally with experience across a range of large-scale music, cultural and sporting events.
• Proven ability to lead complex multi-agency planning processes, acting as a silver level, senior operational lead, liaising with local authorities, venues, contractors, production teams, and sponsors.
• Strong leadership presence in collaborative environments, capable of supporting performance from both internal and external delivery teams.
• Skilled in meeting critical deadlines while maintaining performance reporting, licensing compliance and clear communication with senior leadership.
• Demonstrable success in managing large, dynamic budgets, producing accurate forecasts, reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Experience securing and delivering against external tender opportunities and funding frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and mentor a diverse operational team.
• Experience in procurement, including drafting contracts, negotiating terms, and overseeing supplier relationships.
• Strong working knowledge of health and safety legislation and crowd management principles, with relevant qualifications (e.g. IOSH, NEBOSH, Level 5 Crowd Management etc.).
• Demonstrable experience of risk assessment and mitigation, including event-specific risk planning and management.
• High-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets, including use of formulas and data analysis tools.
• Comfortable adopting and applying AI-powered tools to support efficient working, communication, and scheduling.

Behaviours:

• You are confident, adaptable, and self-directed - comfortable working across multiple disciplines and shifting priorities as needed.
• You lead with purpose and clarity, building strong relationships with colleagues, contractors, and stakeholders alike.
• You communicate professionally, consistently and proactively, especially in high-pressure situations.
• You are committed to high standards of delivery and look for innovative ways to achieve them efficiently and effectively.
• You are collaborative and solution-focused, seeking long-term improvement over short-term fixes.
• You are deeply invested in the safety, sustainability, and reputation of the events you help to deliver.

What the role includes:

• Act as a senior delivery lead, deputising for the Heads of Department where required, and leading on specific concerts, projects, or workstreams.
• Flexibly support the delivery of event operations, adapting to departmental capacity, schedules, and project complexity.
• Lead on special initiatives, such as writing internal procedures, developing multi-year procurement strategies, or rolling out new management systems.
• Develop and implement operational processes and procedures that improve team efficiency and project consistency.
• Manage key procurement processes, including complex and high-value tenders, contract negotiations and supplier engagement.
• Analyse technical specifications and financial implications, producing insightful and actionable reporting and recommendations.
• Coordinate the development and circulation of planning documentation, ensuring consistency and accuracy across teams.
• Contribute to the delivery of DF Concerts' sustainability and carbon reduction objectives.
• Support the coordination of project debriefs and contribute to cross-team learning and continuous improvement.
• Represent the department in internal working groups and external forums as required.
• Act as a senior operational lead on site, ensuring the safe, professional and efficient delivery of live events.

Equal Opportunities:

We are passionate and committed to our people and go beyond the rhetoric of diversity and inclusion. You will be working in an inclusive environment and be encouraged to bring your whole self to work. We will do all that we can to help you successfully balance your work and homelife. As a growing business we will encourage you to develop your professional and personal aspirations, enjoy new experiences, and learn from the talented people you will be working with. It's talent that matters to us and we encourage applications from people irrespective of their gender identity, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status or caring responsibilities.

The Company:

DF Concerts and Events is part of Live Nation Entertainment which is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, LN Media and Artist Nation Management. DF Concerts & Events bring the best live music and life affirming experiences to music fans across Scotland, year after year through a range of large outdoor festivals, stadium shows and indoor concerts. DF Concerts works with the biggest names in music as well as championing the career progression of emerging acts by operating, "quite possibly the finest small venue in the world", King Tut's Wah Wah Hut – supporting the vibrant music scene from grassroots level, up.

Application Deadline: 24th September 2025. We reserve the right to close applications at any time.