Join the Open Kitchen Team! We’re hiring an Events and Bookings Manager

Open Kitchen | Didsbury, Greater Manchester

Full Time | circa £30,000 per year (depending on experience)

Application Deadline: 29th May 2026

Start Date: ASAP / June-July 2026

We will be interviewing on a rolling basis and may close this vacancy earlier if we find the right person for the role.

Are you a people person with a passion for creating memorable events and making a positive impact? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Open Kitchen is an ethical and sustainable catering company based in Greater Manchester. We intercept perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste, work with independent and ethical suppliers, and put all profits back into the local community.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, organised and confident Events and Bookings Manager to lead the planning, coordination and delivery of our events and client bookings.

This is a customer-facing role, ideal for someone who enjoys building relationships, communicating with a wide range of people, and representing a purpose-driven business. You’ll be speaking with key business contacts, supporting clients throughout the booking journey, and confidently speaking in front of larger groups at events to share our story and values around food sustainability.

This role typically involves 8-hour days, Monday to Friday, with flexibility required depending on events and business needs including occasional evening and weekend work.

• Manage incoming event enquiries and bookings from first contact through to completion
• Build strong relationships with corporate clients, community organisations and partners
• Coordinate event logistics with internal catering and operations teams
• Prepare quotes, proposals and booking schedules
• Attend and oversee events to ensure excellent client experience
• Represent Open Kitchen professionally at meetings, networking events and functions
• Speak confidently to audiences and guests about our sustainability mission and impact
• Maintain accurate booking systems, calendars and client records
• Identify opportunities to grow bookings and strengthen customer relationships

We’d love to hear from candidates who are:

• Experienced in events, hospitality, bookings or account management
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• A confident communicator, both one-to-one and in front of groups
• Warm, professional and relationship-focused
• Passionate about sustainability, ethical business and social impact
• Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities
• Flexible – the role includes occasional evening and weekend work
• Comfortable using booking systems, email and standard office software
• Proactive with a hands-on attitude
• And you’ll need to have a full UK driving licence

• 20 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Company pension scheme
• Free tea, coffee and lunch on-site
• Opportunity to work for a values-led, ethical business
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• Career development opportunities
• A chance to make a real difference through food sustainability and social impact
• Varied, rewarding work where every day is different
• Team building away days
• Real Living Wage employer

Please apply using this Google Form.

You will be asked for some basic details and a copy of your CV. Please note: you will need to be signed into a Google account to submit the application form.

To help us get to know you, all applicants are also required to upload or link a short video answering these five questions:

1. Why would you like to work for Open Kitchen?
2. What excites you most about events and customer-facing work?
3. Tell us about a time you delivered excellent customer service.
4. How would you confidently speak to a room full of guests?
5. What strengths would you bring to this role?

Get in touch

For an informal chat about the role, please reach out to our CEO, David Amesbury, via email: [email protected]