Job title: Events Officer (Leeds Markets)

Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Office based, Monday to Friday with occasional Saturday working. Leeds Market Office 37-42 New York Street, Leeds, LS2 7DT. Hybrid working is available to work from home one day per week.

As an Events Officer at Leeds Market, you’ll thrive on organising events, working with local operators, community groups and a wide variety of partners to ensure the market is a destination for people visiting the city whilst generating income and footfall.

If you have a proven track record of creating and delivering successful event programs which reach a wider variety of audiences then we want to hear from you! You need to be self-motivated, have good knowledge of social media promotion and be passionate about ensuring the long-term success of Leeds Market and looking to make a difference to local businesses and the community.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Events Officer you will be responsible for:

leading on the development of a diverse range of events and activities to help attract existing and new audiences to visit the market.
Linking in with city centre events to help raise the markets profile across the region and nationally.
Enhancing the market as a tourist/cultural destination.
promoting and build an annual events programme to achieve income targets, as well as promoting the event space/meeting room as venues for hire within the city.
Working closely with our partners in Leeds City Council and other city centre businesses to showcase the market as more than a shopping destination.
ensuring the events link in with the market strategy and vision and run side by side with the communications strategy and supports Leeds Ambitions.
maintaining and ensure the application of financial accounting and budgeting systems in relation to income generation activity; to raise and progress orders in line with the Council’s Procurement Rules and to monitor day to day expenditure against budget allocations, producing regular reports to the Communications and Events Manager.

About the role

This is an exciting time to be joining the team here at Leeds Markets as we have a great opportunity for you to become our new Events Officer.

The market service has just set out its new five-year strategy with a strong focus on events that this role will lead on with support from the Communications and Events Manager. The market is evolving with some significant developments taking place. The completion of an £11 refurbishment of the historic block shops is due to complete by the end of 2026. Planning permission is in place for a Hotel and gym on the George Street side of the market and in March 2026 a planning application was submitted for a food and beverage container village by STACK on part of the outdoor market.

Leeds Market is one of the most historic and iconic retail destinations within the city, supporting over 200 independent businesses and welcomes over 5 million visitors per year. We are looking for someone to help us look at new and exciting opportunities to develop our already well-established events programme to ensure the market continues to be a destination for shoppers and independent businesses to trade from.

So, are you the person we are looking for?

The role is integral to the markets team as we are responsible for the upkeep of this grade 1 listed building. Ensuring it allows local independent businesses to thrive and is a welcome and safe space for the community it serves. The market service oversees both the indoor and outdoor market here in Leeds, plus street trading within the city centre, district markets in Otley and Pudsey as well as licencing private markets and car boots.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Kate Shepherd Communications and Events Manager. Call 0113 3785913 or email kate.shepherd@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To develop, implement and evaluate a wide-ranging program of events and promotions at Leeds Market and our district and speciality markets. Leading on the development of a diverse range of events and activities to help attract existing and new audiences to visit the market. Linking in with city centre events to help raise the markets profile across the region and nationally. Enhance the market as a tourist/cultural destination.

To promote and build an annual events programme to achieve income targets, as well as promoting the event space/meeting room as venues for hire within the city. Working closely with our partners in Leeds City Council and other city centre businesses and partners to showcase the market as more than a shopping destination.

Responsible for ensuring the events link in with the market strategy and vision and run side by side with the communications strategy and supports Leeds Ambitions.

Responsibilities

Liaise with relevant departments to ensure the effective delivery of combined events and activities for the market and city centre events.
Main lead for all events reporting directly to the Communications and Events manager helping with the strategic development of the market, including district and speciality markets.
Keep adequate financial records of income and expenditure relating to events run by the market service.
Conduct research and evaluation of events to demonstrate progress towards objectives. Prepare and present verbal and written reports, publications and correspondence as required.
Assist with the achievement of sponsorship and other external income for market events, including the hire of the event and flexible space and meeting rooms.
Assist the Communications and Events manager with the promotion of all events and take responsibility for all aspects of the team in their absence.
To develop events run by the service and external operators out of hours that generate income for the market service working alongside the markets facilities team and help to contribute to the nighttime economy.
Assist the Communications and Events manager with the annual events/communications plan.
To work with the markets team to identify, develop, deliver and evaluate a range of initiatives, events, promotions and retail-based activity at Leeds Market.
To ensure that the flexible trading spaces and events area meet the Council’s objectives and income targets and that a clear pricing structure for hire of the spaces and meeting rooms is in place.
To work closely with existing and potential market traders, elected members, Council officers and external organisations including the private sector, in a confidential, professional and sensitive manner in line with the Council’s values and behaviours.
To maintain and ensure the application of financial accounting and budgeting systems in relation to income generation activity; to raise and progress orders in line with the Council’s Procurement Rules and to monitor day to day expenditure against budget allocations, producing regular reports to the Communications and Events manager.
To establish, develop, maintain, monitor and review personal filing, record keeping and administration systems whether manual, or computerised and to ensure that correspondence, papers and other items are current, accessible and secure having regard to the requirements of GDPR.
To plan and progress their own work without supervision and to required standards and timescales, demonstrate a proactive attitude and approach, and use judgement and insight to reach decisions.
To undertake work outside normal office hours (for which overtime or flexi time will be due) in order to meet the variable nature of the role which may, for instance, include overseeing events at weekends or in the evenings.
To contribute to the smooth running of the Markets Service e.g. by assisting, working in close co-operation with or providing cover for other staff including cover for the Information Centre if required.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers that help the markets team meet priorities while spending money wisely.
Represent the market at internal and external meetings and events.
To monitor and maintain elements of health and safety within the post holder’s own work area during the delivery of events and activities, and to comply with Leeds City Council and Departmental policies and procedures under Health and Safety.
To work within all relevant policies, procedures and systems established corporately by the Council to support and work in a way that reinforces the Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy.

Qualifications

English Language and Mathematics equivalent to GCSE grade C or above.

Equivalent job-related experience.

Essential requirements

Ability to demonstrate the necessary confidence to represent the service at a senior level to internal and external partners/businesses to contribute to income generation for market events.
Ability to manage and maximise the use of budgets.
Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to engage, influence and negotiate and to form positive relationships at all levels.
Evidence of promoting events through a variety of social media channels.
Evidence of awareness and the understanding of the implications of events on customer experience and reputation management.
Computer literate with ability to use relevant software packages including Microsoft.
Demonstrable experience of organising a variety of events and being able to clearly show the value of events through evaluation.
Able to demonstrate an understanding of the diverse community who visit the market and the events required to meet their needs.
Ability to work on your own initiative, be innovative as well as working closely as a team to develop the markets events.
Substantial experience gained working in an events environment.
Experience of organising events.
Experience of developing event plans, which demonstrate clear, actionable and measurable outcomes.

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements

Knowledge of the Councils payment system for suppliers.
Experience of working within the public sector
Experience of delivering multiple projects to tight deadlines.
Experience of working in a team environment but with the ability to work individually without supervision.
Experience of using social media promotional campaigns
Experience of using information and research to support and develop future events.