MARKET MANAGER – HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND
About Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Underbelly operates a number of bars and market areas within Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, one of the UK’s largest and busiest festive events.
Our market operation brings together a wide range of independent traders and concessions within a high-footfall seasonal environment, and the Market Manager plays a key role in ensuring the area operates safely, efficiently and to a high standard throughout the event.
Underbelly is looking for an experienced and confident Market Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of our market operation at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
This is a hands-on operational role requiring strong organisation, excellent communication and the ability to build positive working relationships with traders, contractors and the wider event team.
Role Overview
The Market Manager is responsible for the smooth day-to-day operation of Underbelly’s market areas, acting as the main operational point of contact for traders and ensuring agreed standards of safety, presentation and customer experience are maintained.
The successful candidate will be highly organised, confident dealing with a wide range of stakeholders and comfortable working in a busy outdoor event environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of Underbelly’s market areas.
- Act as the main point of contact for market traders and concession operators during event operation.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with traders, contractors and the wider event management team.
- Ensure traders are operating in accordance with agreed event procedures, site rules and relevant licensing requirements.
- Monitor the appearance, cleanliness and presentation of the market areas throughout the day.
- Ensure trading units are open, appropriately staffed and ready for public opening.
- Carry out regular operational and safety checks across the market.
- Identify and report hazards, defects, maintenance issues or non-compliance promptly.
- Coordinate with site, security, cleaning, waste, technical and other operational teams where issues arise.
- Assist with the management of trader access, deliveries and servicing in accordance with site procedures.
- Help ensure servicing and stock movements are carried out safely and with minimal impact on the public operation.
- Monitor waste management and housekeeping standards across the market.
- Respond to operational issues, customer concerns and incidents as they arise.
- Ensure accidents, incidents and near misses are appropriately reported and escalated.
- Support emergency and evacuation procedures when required.
- Communicate operational updates and instructions clearly to traders.
- Escalate contractual, commercial or serious compliance matters to senior management where appropriate.
- Support opening and closing procedures for the market areas.
- Liaise closely with Hyde Park Winter Wonderland’s wider event management team and other stakeholders.
- Ensure Underbelly policies, procedures and Code of Conduct are followed.
- Assist with other reasonable operational duties where required.
Person Specification
Essential
- Previous experience in an operational management or supervisory role within events, markets, festivals, visitor attractions, retail, hospitality or a similar environment.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Confidence dealing with traders, contractors and multiple stakeholders.
- Good awareness of health and safety within a busy public environment.
- Ability to remain calm, professional and decisive under pressure.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Comfortable working outdoors in winter conditions.
- Able to work evenings, weekends and throughout the busy Christmas and New Year period as required.
Desirable
- Previous experience managing markets, concessions or traders.
- Previous experience working at a large-scale temporary event.
- Experience with site inspections, incident reporting or operational checklists.
Equal Opportunities
Underbelly is committed to reducing its environmental impacts in its everyday operations. We are also committed to maintaining the open-access policy of Underbelly. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.
It is the policy of Underbelly to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.
We expect employees to support these commitments and to assist in their realisation.