Summary
More Details
Key responsibilities and duties
Programming, producing and co-productions (supported by the Producer)
- Running the Unicorn’s producing function from R&D projects and commissioning through to full production, in line with the Unicorn’s strategic aims and artistic vision.
- Oversee producing of all shows, with the Producer responsible for delivering 4 – 5 shows per season.
- Lead on or support producing of digital projects as part of Unicorn Online (around one per year)
- Contribute to the programming process from the earliest stages, including script reading, idea generation and project development.
- Leading on scheduling in liaison with technical, general management, Creative Hub and communications departments.
- Support the Creative Hub Director across the co-creation and co-design process with children and young people, ensuring artists are supported throughout.
- Negotiate and issue contracts for all aspects of the Unicorn’s programme in line with UK Theatre, Equity, Bectu and Writer’s Guild agreements whilst negotiating in the Unicorn’s best interests.
- Check availabilities, make offers, negotiate fees and issue contracts as required and within budget working within statutory and best practice employment guidelines.
- Support directors, the Producer and freelance Casting Directors in the casting of productions.
- Produce the Unicorn’s touring work, responding to venue enquiries, and maintaining a database of national and international contacts and interest.
- Work closely with the Co-Executive Director on the management of co-producing partnerships, national and international touring agreements and to support further exploitation.
- Schedule production related activity within the building, working with the Executive team to set annual planning schedules, and with the Marketing team to devise and manage detailed and effective performance schedules, and to communicate these internally.
- Liaise with all departments to develop the requirements of Unicorn and external productions or projects, ensuring that the management team are up to date with all production developments and their impact on each department.
- Work closely with the Technical department to welcome artists into the building and to ensure their wellbeing, attending production meetings and providing a point of liaison and communication for all artists.
Budgets
- Set, manage and reconcile all production budgets, including monitoring and authorising expenditures, adhering to the Unicorn’s financial procedures.
- Working with the Technical & Production Director to ensure that all productions remain within budget and communicate areas of concern to the Co-Executive Director in a timely manner.
- Working with Technical and Finance colleagues, to ensure that Equal Opportunities forms, starter forms, timesheets, royalties and fee settlements are processed for timely and accurate accounting.
General
- To attend preview, Press performances and end of run company events, special events and training as required
- Contribute to the Unicorn’s Sustainability Action Plan and support sustainability goals across productions including implementation of the Green Book.
- To be mindful at all times of the Unicorn’s commitment to inclusion in performing and non-performing artist recruitment and practice.
- To represent the organisation at external meetings, events and conferences, deputising for the Directors where appropriate.
- To work with the Technical & Production Director in maintaining union and other external relationships, maintaining best practice around H&S, Safeguarding and Licensing.
- As part of the senior team, to support the Unicorn’s short- and medium-term planning, running weekly meetings to update on producing developments, highlighting areas of risk and financial status.
This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and you may be required to perform duties outside of this as operationally required and at the discretion of your line manager.
Person Specification
Essential experience:
- Significant, demonstrable experience working on in-house and co-produced theatre projects and productions across a range of scales.
- Experience of budgeting and effective management of production and event project budgets.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the demonstrable ability to work flexibly under pressure, to prioritise and meet deadlines.
- Experience of contract negotiation and contract composition, building and maintaining positive and professional relationships with agents and artists.
- Knowledge or experience of national and international touring planning.
- Knowledge of industry practice, statutory and union requirements, benchmarking and rules.
Essential approach:
- An understanding of and interest in the artistic vision of the Unicorn and its work.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the creative ability to get the best out of freelance, artistic and production teams.
- Collaborative and collegiate approach to work with a wide range of freelance artists and staff.
- The discretion, sensitivity and tenacity to work with a wide range of people and to manage the pastoral care of incoming artists.
- Ability to work closely with producing teams, and to work effectively with other departments across a venue, balancing multiple priorities of a busy building.
- A commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity.
- A willingness to work flexible hours and travel occasionally.
Desirable:
- Interest in and knowledge of sustainability issues and to improving and implementing good practice across productions and building maintenance.
- Experience of partnership working such as co-producing, and good networks within the theatre industry.
- Experience of managing staff.
- Awareness of relevant regulations and statutory requirements for the staging of theatrical productions such as the Equity Sub-rep agreement (the Pink Book).
How to Apply
To apply for this post, please email jobs@unicorntheatre.com with the following:
- Your CV
- Our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
- Our Additional Information Form
- A letter or video, telling us how you meet the Person Specification for the role.
CVs and letters should each be no longer than 2 A4 pages each, videos no longer than 10 minutes. If sending a video please use WeTransfer to send the file.
Salary: £40,000 per annum. Unicorn staff are auto-enrolled into the NEST pension scheme.
Contract: One Year Fixed-Term, full-time (40 hours per week). We will consider applications for flexible working.
Holiday: 20 days, plus bank holidays
We will request a Basic Level Check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as part of any conditional offer employment.
Closing date for applications: 10am Monday 29th July
Interviews: w/c 12th August
If you require this information in an alternative format, please contact jobs@unicorntheatre.com in the first instance.
We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and actively encourage people from a wide variety of backgrounds, experience and skills to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We particularly encourage applications from Black and global majority people, and candidates who self-identify as disabled.
All candidates who self-identify as disabled and who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for an interview, in line with the Equality Act 2010.
The Unicorn Theatre is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
