Front Of House (FOH) Manager

Who We Are

Job Description

The Front-of-House (FOH) Manager is responsible for overseeing guest-facing operations at all screening and event venues. This role ensures smooth audience flow, professional front-line service, and full operational readiness. The FOH Manager leads the front-of-house team, including volunteers, and upholds standards of safety, hospitality, and efficiency across all venues. The ideal candidate is proactive, organised, and capable of making quick, confident decisions in a live event setting.

Period of Engagement: Contract for Hire 29 September – 19 December.

Interested applicants may send a copy of your CV, a picture of yourself and two references to recruitment@sgiff.com. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.

Job Scope:

Volunteer Management

• Screen and interview volunteer applications to select suitable candidates for front-of-house duties.

• Develop and manage detailed volunteer duty rosters to ensure full venue coverage across the festival period.

• Provide on-site training and orientation to volunteers to ensure consistent knowledge of FOH procedures, customer service, and emergency protocols.

• Supervise daily performance of volunteers and provide support or redirection as needed.

• Manage and disburse volunteer meal allowances in a timely and transparent manner.

Guest Services & Queue Management

• Oversee audience entry and exit, manage rush queues, and monitor accreditation badge queues.

• Ensure designated concierges are stationed to attend to accredited guests, sponsors, and VIPs.

• Resolve on-site issues such as ticketing disputes or audience confusion with calm and professionalism.

• Implement and enforce the festival’s late entry policy, including determining when to close doors to latecomers.

Venue Readiness & Compliance

• Ensure all venues are front-of-house ready before each screening or event.

• Display clear wayfinding signage and ensure visibility of film ratings.

• Ensure ticket checkers verify audience age for restricted screenings in line with film ratings.

• Coordinate with ushers and security staff to maintain safe, controlled crowd flow.

Accessibility Readiness

• Familiarise with each venue’s accessibility features for wheelchair users and persons with disabilities.

• Coordinate the provision of accessibility infrastructure, such as portable ramps, priority seating, and assistive services.

• Liaise with relevant teams to arrange AI-generated captioning, sign language interpreters, or other services where applicable.

• Ensure volunteers and staff are briefed on how to assist guests with accessibility needs.

Interdepartmental Coordination

• Coordinate closely with the Venue, Ticketing, Hospitality, and Guest Services teams to ensure seamless operations.

• Communicate on-the-ground updates and needs to festival leadership in real-time.

• Reporting & Evaluation

• Maintain FOH incident logs and submit daily updates to central operations.

• Participate in post-festival evaluations and contribute feedback for operational improvement.

Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience in live event operations, venue management, or FOH leadership.

• Strong people management skills with experience supervising volunteers or part-time teams.

• Proficient in basic scheduling tools (e.g. Google Sheets, Airtable).