Location
London

Hours
Full Time - 36 hours per week

Salary
£44,937 - £45,852 per annum (Grade PO1, SCP Range)

About the Role
14 Months Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity

This is not just an events job. This is Hackney.

Hackney’s street markets and festivals are more than just trading spaces — they’re centres of community, culture and celebration. As the new Markets Festivals & Events Manager, you won’t just be running events — you’ll be part of one of the UK’s most decorated local government teams, shaping a borough-wide experience that’s won multiple national awards and is now being replicated internationally.

This is your chance to lead something ambitious, inclusive and unforgettable — and take your career to the next level while doing it.

You’ll lead the design and delivery of Hackney’s borough-wide market festivals, seasonal celebrations, and community events — including our showstopping Christmas Markets and Winter Festival. You'll run major activations, support small businesses, generate new income streams, and champion Hackney’s cultural identity through every event.

This role is the glue that connects creative energy with operational excellence — and you’ll thrive at the intersection of logistics, placemaking, culture, and commerce. From safety planning and sponsorship deals to street-level energy and national innovation, this is one of the most exciting jobs in local government.

Key Responsibilities
- Leading the year-round borough-wide programme of market festivals and cultural activations
- Delivering Hackney’s high-impact Christmas & Winter Markets
- Managing licensing, logistics, branding and partnerships across all events
- Driving commercial success through sponsorships, concessions and stallholder income

About Us
- Embedding Net Zero, anti-poverty and equalities goals into everything we do
- Promoting Hackney as a national and global leader in public space activation

Our Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading Service is nationally recognised and internationally referenced. We are a multi-award-winning team with accolades from LGC, APSE, NABMA and more. We drive inclusive growth, sustainability and cultural celebration and are home to Ridley Road, Broadway, Hoxton and the UK’s first Zero Plastic Markets.

This is a place where staff thrive, innovate and shape the future of public service delivery.

If you want to play a lead role in reinventing how public space is used, how small businesses grow, and how communities celebrate — this is your moment.

Experience
Proven experience running complex outdoor events or managing thriving market programmes. Experience in delivering large-scale festivals, seasonal celebrations, or community events is essential.

About You
You are part producer, part strategist, and part relationship-builder. You know how to get things done and bring flair, precision, and excellent people skills to every project. You are motivated to innovate, collaborate, and build something special that creates real impact in public spaces.

Qualifications
While specific qualifications are not detailed, a strong background in event management, cultural programming, or related fields is expected.

Additional Information
This role does not require a DBS check. The position is offered on a fixed term / secondment basis for 14 months. Applicants should be prepared to complete competency-based questions as part of the anonymous selection process.

Hackney Council values diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all backgrounds, including disabled people and those interested in flexible working.

Prior to applying for a secondment opportunity, candidates should liaise with their line manager.