Salary: GBP £31,380
Application Deadline: August 5, 2019 2:00 pm
Company: Strode Theatre
Job Details
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to take Strode Theatre to the next stage of its life, with particular emphasis on fundraising, PR/marketing and audience development. You might come from a commercial background, or from a business development and/or fundraising leadership role within the arts, culture or heritage context. You might not necessarily come from a theatre background but have the right skills and experience to fulfil these criteria –if so; we would be interested to hear from you. The current post holder leaves the role to be Executive Director of Shubbak in London, having spent the last two and half years restructuring Strode Theatre’s operation, developing the programme and forward strategy.
Strode Theatre is a part of Strode College in Street, near Glastonbury, in Somerset. It is equipped as both theatre and cinema, incorporating two venues. The main Theatre has 343-seats and a proscenium arch stage. The Studio has 64 seats in a retractable unit and is used for film screenings, black-box performances, classes and rehearsals.
We promote a mixed programme of live professional and amateur events on stage (‘Live on Stage’), mainstream and arthouse films as well as live and recorded transmissions of opera, ballet and theatre (‘Live on Screen’). The foyer is home to changing exhibitions of work by local and regional artists.
Opened in 1963, funded by the Clarks Foundation, Strode Theatre has been an essential part of the community for more than five decades, welcoming 55,000 visitors every year to over 450 film and live broadcast screenings and over 150 live shows and events. We offer a warm and welcoming environment for all our visitors, performers and artists. At the heart of the community, we provide spaces for meeting, rehearsing, performing and exhibiting. The café-bar is open at lunchtimes and for pre, interval and post drinks and refreshments.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Theatre Manager
Responsible to: Vice Principal (Finance and Resources), Strode College
Job Purpose: To manage and develop all aspects of the Theatre & Cinema, including overview of the programme, staffing, fundraising and budget, as part of Strode College’s educational and community provision.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
- To programme and/or engage and manage out-sourced programming services for film, alternative content (live broadcasts) live shows, and exhibitions
- To liaise with community hirers, Strode College and Crispin School for the educational use of the theatre facilities and maintain and develop contractual terms and conditions and hire rates
- To prepare, maintain and monitor an annual budget for the entire theatre operation
- To annually update a three-year development plan for the Theatre, as part of the College’s strategic plan
- To identify potential opportunities and funders for core revenue funding, including the Arts Council National Portfolio Organisations 2022-2026 funding round; build upon and establish relationships with potential funders and submit funding applications
- To line-manage the Operations Manager, Technical Manager, Theatre Administrator and Marketing Officer and overview the management of the box office, café-bar, technical staff, contracted freelance staff, and volunteers
- To meet with the Trustees of the Friends of Strode Theatre to bid for capital funding and to manage related administration
- To prepare and present papers to the Theatre Management Board and work with College Senior Management and Board members on developing the Board and its functions
- To oversee the collation of editorial content for the theatre brochure and create the brochure layout or manage external contract for brochure layout and printing
- To identify commercial partnership opportunities and secure the sale of advertising space, principally in the theatre brochure
- To continue working on developing the theatre’s audiences: engaging audiences from wider demographic and geographic ranges –including work with external agencies, as appropriate
- To ensure the programme and theatre facilities are inclusive to all, providing opportunities and access to people with disabilities, from hard to reach, BAME and LGBTQ+ communities
- To liaise and meet with community groups and local media, attending events and fetes and participating in local radio interviews and features, where appropriate
- To implement the planned programme on a day-to-day basis and to oversee the planned and unplanned maintenance of the building and its facilities, including ongoing cleaning services
- To take responsibility for the theatre’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding procedures
- To oversee and further develop the successful commercial operation of the café-bar, with a view to introduce pre-show food provision
- To act as Designated Premises Supervisor for the Premises Licence
- To be a key holder and alarm code holder for the theatre and adjoining buildings
- To occasionally act as Duty Manager for evening and daytime shows & films on a rota basis
- Undertaking other duties appropriate to the level of the post.
- Comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR 2018 i.e. it is the responsibility of individual staff members to protect data and to take all reasonable steps to ensure all data is kept securely.
- Comply with the College’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults (including PREVENT) policies.
Person Specification
Candidates should be able to demonstrate the following:
ACADEMIC
Essential
Level 3 qualifications
Degree in a Business or Arts Management related subject or equivalent industry experience
Desirable
Post graduate qualification in an Arts Management subject
OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Essential
Minimum of 2 years management experience, preferably in an arts/culture environment
Fundraising and applying for significant core and revenue funding
Evidence of successfully working with partnership organisations and communities
Strategic planning
Budgeting and financial planning
Successfully managing and leading a team
Marketing and PR experience
IT literate, including PCs and all Microsoft Suite
Desirable
Programming either live shows and/or film
Experience of working for a National Portfolio Organisation
Management and/or overview of commercial café-bar or hospitality operation
Knowledge of Performing Arts pedagogy
Knowledge of show production
Knowledge and understanding of the technical workings of a theatre
Experience of using a Box Office system, especially Spektrix
Experience of using Adobe Suite
Health and Safety, First Aid and Food Hygiene certificates/qualifications
Personal Licence Holder
Knowledge of the local area and customer base
SPECIAL APTITUDES/SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
Organised and systematic
Innovative and entrepreneurial
Excellent team and partnership working skills
Able to prioritise activities and develop realistic plans to achieve them
Commitment to excellent customer service
Excellent Communication Skills
Committed to achieving agreed performance standards
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Hardworking and committed to the arts in rural areas
Appreciation and understanding of community and educational priorities
Self-motivated and a completer finisher
Ability to manage constant and often conflicting demands and priorities
Acceptance of others, ensuring access for all
Flexibility
Terms and Conditions
1 This a full time appointment – minimum of 37 hours per week for 52 weeks per year. Hours are flexible and include some evenings and weekends worked on a rota basis. This is a demanding role and there is an expectation that you will work such hours as are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of your duties and responsibilities.
2 Salary is at Scale £31,380 per annum. It is a condition of appointment that salary is paid directly into a bank or building society account.
3 The successful applicant will be required to apply for an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Further information about the Disclosure scheme can be found at www.disclosure.gov.uk or by contacting the information line on 0870 90 90 811
4 The post is subject to a six-month probationary period. This is seen as essentially a supportive time however unsatisfactory performance may lead to termination of contract. During the probation period 4 mandatory training units must be undertaken. The training sessions are Safeguarding Children, Health and Safety, Disability Discrimination Act and Equal Opportunities.
5 Holiday entitlement is 29 days per annum.
6 The post-holder will be automatically brought into the Local Government Pension Scheme but will have the opportunity to opt out. Contributions are 6.5% of salary.
7 Sick leave will be in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Strode College Board of Governors.
As an equal opportunities employer, Strode College particularly welcomes applications from those who are disabled or members of ethnic minorities since these groups are at present under-represented on the Strode staff.
Details on how to apply can be found here: https://www.strode-college.ac.uk/college-info/working-at-strode/how-to-apply/
Completed application forms should be returned to Carol Corbett, Human Resources Officer, Strode College, Church Road, Street, Somerset, BA16 OAB by 2pm Monday 5th August 2019
Locality
Somerset
Contact Details
Carol Corbett (Human Resources Officer)
01458 844 450
