Managing Director | London Craft Week

Managing Director | London Craft
Week

London Craft Week is seeking a new
Managing Director to lead the festival and deliver the new three year strategy.
This role offers great scope for an entrepreneurial individual to shape London
Craft Week and further grow its reputation as the world’s leading festival for
outstanding craftsmanship. The new Managing Director will combine strong
commercial instinct with passion for extraordinary creativity and a hands on
approach. The role will require you to work with flexibility, energy and
commitment, leading sponsorship sales and managing the team to deliver and
promote a diverse and engaging festival programme. 

Salary: £75k 

Hours: Full time 

Term: Permanent 

Location: London (hybrid) 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: 

We are seeking an ambitious leader
with a proven track record in strategic business development and/or sponsorship
in the cultural sector. 

Experience & Skills: 

• Senior Leadership: Experience in
  a senior leadership role within the arts, culture, events, or luxury sectors,
  demonstrating commercial success and inspiring a high performing
  team.


• Income Generation &
  Commercial Acumen: Strong history of leading on sales, sponsorships and/or
  developing commercial partnerships.


• Financial & Governance
  Oversight: Experience in financial management with P&L
  responsibility.


• Stakeholder Management:
  Exceptional skills in building and maintaining relationships with diverse
  stakeholders (sponsors, strategic partners, public bodies, and
  VIPs).


• Strategic & Communication
  Excellence: Outstanding strategic planning and execution capabilities, coupled
  with excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Festival/Event Direction: Ability
  to lead the strategy, development, and successful delivery of a large-scale
  cultural event.

Key Attributes: 

• Passion for Craft & Culture:
  A genuine enthusiasm for craftsmanship, art, design, and cultural
  events


• Entrepreneurial & Visionary:
  A proactive, forward-thinking individual who identifies new opportunities and
  drives growth


• Collaborative & Resilient: A
  natural collaborator who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment within a
  small team 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

STRATEGY: 

• Lead on the delivering and
  developing of the three year plan and annual festival programme.


• Ensure the timely and effective
  production of all necessary planning and evaluation material, including
  appropriate financial plans and accounts and monthly progress reporting to the
  Chairman.

LEADERSHIP AND
MANAGEMENT: 

• Provide day-to-day leadership and
  line management to the team, setting and monitoring KPIs and providing
  direction and motivation for the team.


• Be an external facing
  spokesperson for London Craft Week during the festival and at key moments
  throughout the year.

INCOME GENERATION: 

• Secure new sponsors and manage
  all new and existing sponsor relationships.


• Develop new revenue streams in
  line with the three year plan.


• Develop new strategic
  partnerships that strengthen LCW’s financial position and offer new income
  generating opportunities.


• Set and oversee revenue targets
  for the programme team, including: programme partners, International Pavilions,
  advertising and ticket revenue.


• Work with the programme team to
  develop a sales plan and manage relationships with an international network of
  partners.

FINANCE: 

• Lead the sustainable financial
  and operational management of the business, including managements of budgets
  and banking, and oversight of accounting firm.


• Manage the P&L and company
  cashflow, including raising client invoices, account reconciliation, and
  executing monthly payroll bank transfers. 

OPERATIONS: 

• Manage the company hybrid working
  arrangements.


• Own the company tech stack
  including working with the external web agency, and developing the in house
  tech capabilities to support effective and contemporary working
  practices.

MARKETING &
COMMUNICATIONS: 

• Oversee the development of
  marketing and PR plans to support the festival and enhance LCW’s reputation and
  profile.


• Recruit marketing staff as may be
  necessary, appoint and manage the relationship with the external Public
  Relations agency, and oversee media partnerships.


• Appoint and manage the
  relationship with key suppliers: graphic designers, web development, logistics
  and research.


• Work with the design agency on
  identity, print collateral, advertising, posters, web templates, sales packs
  and on-site signage.


• Manage research and evaluation
  including designing and promoting visitor and programme partner
  surveys.


• Develop the VIP strategy in line
  with the three year plan. Act as a spokesperson with press and stakeholders as
  required. 

GOVERNANCE 

• Ensure London Craft Week Limited
  discharges its legal obligations to include HMRC (VAT and Corporation Tax),
  Companies House (inc confirmation statements, accounts, registered office
  address), GDPR, Health & Safety and Employment. 

TO APPLY

Please send your CV with a brief
cover note and subject line “Managing Director Application” by an email via the
button below. 

ABOUT LONDON CRAFT WEEK 

London Craft Week is a city-wide
festival celebrating exceptional craftsmanship, across multiple sectors and
disciplines, from around the world. Through our curated programme of events, we
shine a light on the creative talent behind some of the world’s most beautiful
objects, telling stories of their inspiration, process and materials.

Since its inception in 2015, the
festival has grown significantly in scale and prominence with nearly quarter of
a million visitors enjoying the work of more than 1000 makers at events put on
by over 200 partners from 30 countries in 2026.

The festival encourages those who
attend to discover hidden workshops, independent makers, heritage craftsmen and
jewel-like shops alongside great luxury houses, famous artists and designers,
leading department stores, national museums and contemporary galleries.
Visitors can embrace the sheer reach, diversity and serendipity that London
offers as the world’s great creative capital.