Head of Education and Community

As Head of Education and Community you will oversee education and community engagement and be responsible for the delivery of secondary schools, careers and Emerging Theatre Professionals work. These projects will serve particular strategic objectives as defined in The Old Vic Business Plan. You will also contribute to organisation wide initiatives

Department/Team: Education and Community

Responsible to: Education and Community Director

Contract: Permanent, full time position

Location: Mix of home working and from The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB

Hours: Usual working hours are Monday–Friday, 9:30am–5:30pm with some occasional out of hours work (e.g. evenings and weekends)

NB – we would be open to considering candidates looking for an 32 hours contract (0.8 FTE).

Salary: £46,000 – £49,000 per annum

Direct Reports: The Education Manager (Schools Club), The Education Manager (Take The Lead) and The Participation Manager

The Team

The Education & Community department is led by the Education & Community Director and also includes the Community Manager, the Education and Community Coordinator, the Education Manager (Primary), the Education Manager (Schools Club), The Education Manager (Take The Lead), the Participation Coordinator and The Participation Manager. This team is also supported by a network of freelance artists and administrators.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Oversee the delivery of work for secondary schools, Emerging Theatre Professionals and careers projects ensuring it is meeting its objectives and reviewing this regularly and delivered to the highest standards
• Support on the primary and community programmes where necessary
• Work with the Education and Community Director to develop new Education and Community programmes as set out in the Old Vic business plan
• Oversee the running of the Clore studio and the transition of Education and Community projects into the space, including managing partnerships.
• Deliver on key targets as set in the Education and Community two-year plan
• Deputising for the Education and Community Director where necessary
• Work closely with the Education and Community Director and other SMG to ensure connection and collaboration between Education and Community programmes and the wider theatre
• Support the Development team in applying for funding streams for Education and Community programmes as well as supporting and maintaining key funding relationships
• Work with the production team on the development of work for mid-career artists
• Work with the marketing team to support marketing of Education and Community projects
• Work with the People team to deliver The Old Vic’s placement strategy
• Oversee the development of the Education Hub
• Be an advocate of The Old Vic and the Education & Community team both internally and externally

Staff management

• To line manage The Education Manager (Schools Club), The Education Manager (Take The Lead), and The Participation Manager.
• To appraise direct reports on an annual basis
• Mentoring and developing the Education and Community team, Facilitators and Associates to engage with and deliver innovative content for participants
• Run an inclusive recruitment and selection process in line with The Old Vic recruitment guidebook where required
• Oversee the training and line-management of all Education and Community freelancers

Operational activity

• Work with the Inclusion and Access Lead to ensure all projects are contributing to and run in line with the theatres Belonging and Inclusion strategy and approach and support wider theatre initiatives
• Oversee the recruitment processes for participants, ensuring they receive appropriate support and pastoral care
• Oversee all data collection processes, ensuring that GDPR policies are adhered to
• Oversee risk assessment processes for projects ensuring they are completed and adhered to
• Responsible for setting and managing day to day budgets ensuring projects across the department are delivered to budget
• Work closely with the marketing team to create marketing material for the Education and Community team, in line with Old Vic branding guidelines
• Work closely with the production team ensuring opportunities for collaboration across the departments
• To lead on the evaluation processes for the department and support annual reporting through provision of data and interpreted evaluation reports
• Support The Old Vic’s Development department to ensure supporters’ needs are met, that information is available in a timely and appropriate fashion and that projects meet their targets also attending Development events as requested
• Maintain an awareness of best practice in community arts settings and a detailed knowledge of changes to the current education system and practical understanding of the effects on schools
• Oversee DBS checks for Education and Community staff and freelancers
• Contribute to regular staff meetings sharing information and connecting staff with the activity of all Education & Community projects
• Maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders from participants to supporters to professionals involved in the department’s activity

Person specification

The post holder must be able to demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Experience of developing participatory arts projects in schools and with emerging theatre professionals and mid-career artists
• Experience of delivering and facilitating high quality participatory arts projects in schools and with emerging theatre professionals and mid-career artists
• Experience of leading a team in a participation setting delivering multiple projects
• Budgetary management experience to a minimum of £500K
• Familiarity with safeguarding policies and practices, particularly relating to
• children and young people
• Exemplary organisation skills as well as written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience of line managing staff and freelancers
• Robust understanding of best practice and new developments within a theatre educational and youth employment context
• A strong team player.IT literacy, with good experience of the Microsoft Office suite and Excel in particular. (Training will be given on software programs as required.)
• Proven experience of evaluation design, analysis and reporting and experience of writing copy for content and marketing materials

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check as the role may interact with vulnerable adults and/or children.

17/08/2025

Permanent, Full Time, Part Time