MARKET & RIDES MANAGER
About Skate St George’s
Skate St George’s is Underbelly’s festive event on St George’s Plateau in the heart of Liverpool. The event brings together a seasonal ice rink, Christmas Tree Maze, bars, market traders, rides and other festive attractions to create a major city-centre Christmas destination.
Underbelly is looking for an experienced and confident Market & Rides Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the event’s market traders and third-party ride operators.
This is a hands-on operational role requiring strong organisation, excellent communication and the ability to maintain high standards across a busy public event.
Role Overview
The Market & Rides Manager is responsible for the smooth day-to-day operation of the market and third-party ride areas, acting as the main operational point of contact for traders and ride operators.
The role includes monitoring safety, presentation and compliance, coordinating with the wider event team and ensuring third-party operators are working in accordance with agreed event procedures and documentation.
Key Responsibilities
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the market and third-party ride areas.
- Act as the main operational point of contact for market traders and ride operators.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with traders, operators, contractors and the wider event team.
- Ensure traders and ride operators are operating in accordance with agreed event procedures, site rules and relevant licensing requirements.
- Carry out regular operational and safety checks across the market and ride areas.
- Monitor the appearance, cleanliness and presentation of all relevant areas.
- Ensure traders and ride operators are open, appropriately staffed and ready for public opening.
- Monitor ride operations and escalate any concerns relating to safety, staffing, maintenance or customer management.
- Check that third-party rides are operating within the agreed parameters and that required documentation and inspections remain in place.
- Ensure any concerns regarding ride operation are immediately raised with the operator and escalated to senior event management where appropriate.
- Monitor trader and operator compliance with access, servicing, waste and housekeeping requirements.
- Coordinate with Security, Technical, Cleaning, Waste, Medical and other operational teams where issues arise.
- Assist with the management of trader and operator access, deliveries and servicing.
- Help ensure servicing and stock movements are carried out safely and with minimal impact on public areas.
- Identify and report hazards, defects, maintenance issues or non-compliance promptly.
- 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 and ride operators.
- Escalate contractual, commercial or serious compliance matters to senior management where appropriate.
- Support opening and closing procedures across the market and ride areas.
- 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, attractions, visitor attractions, hospitality or a similar environment.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Confidence dealing with traders, contractors and third-party operators.
- 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, rides or attractions.
- Previous experience working with third-party operators.
- Experience working at a large-scale temporary event.
- Experience with site inspections, incident reporting or operational checklists.
- Familiarity with amusement ride safety documentation and inspection processes.
- First aid qualification.
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.