Director, Theatre Consulting EMEA in Bristol

Welcome! We are seeking a new Director to join our Theatre Consultancy EMEA (TCEMEA) Board of Directors. Within Charcoalblue, the TCEMEA team provides design consulting in the areas of theatre planning, theatre design, and technical systems design for a variety of project typologies at all scales.

Application Instructions: To apply, please write a cover letter responding to the following prompts (1-2 pages max):

• What motivates you to take on the Director role, and what would you bring to it?
• Briefly describe your motivation and the value you would contribute to the leadership of TCEMEA.
• What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities in our industry and region? Outline how you would help address these challenges and support future growth.
• Which leadership areas are you most passionate about? For example: people leadership; marketing and business development; finance; business operations and project delivery; operational systems and infrastructure; or governance and strategic leadership.
• How will you reflect and promote our company values through your leadership? Describe how you would embed our values in your approach and day-to-day decision-making.

We look forward to receiving your application by 5pm your local time on Tuesday 26th May. Please submit your application via our online applicant tracking system. If you are invited to interview, the process will include a meeting with the current TCEMEA board. Interviews will be held with all applicants in May and June. Dates and times will be confirmed once all applications have been received.

About the Role: Theatre Consulting EMEA (TCEMEA) provides design consulting in the areas of theatre and venue planning and design, technical systems design (stage engineering, stage lighting, audiovisual and broadcast) and operational advice. As a Director, you are a senior leader, jointly responsible for its performance, culture, future growth and diversification. Working closely with the Managing Director and Director colleagues and the wider company, you will help shape strategy, drive commercial success, and lead people and projects at the highest level. Directors share collective responsibility for the success of TCEMEA, alongside individual areas of focus aligned to skills and business needs.

What you’ll do:

• Lead TCEMEA in partnership with your Director peers, ensuring strategic goals and business objectives are met.
• Act in the best interests of TCEMEA at all times, identifying opportunities, risks, and priorities.
• Contribute to strategic thinking, long-term planning, and the growth plan.
• Share fiduciary responsibility for TCEMEA, including budget setting, financial oversight, and maintaining commercial profitability.
• Participate in quarterly Board meetings, helping shape and approve major initiatives, policies, and strategic direction.
• Lead major initiatives and process improvements to drive innovation, quality, and efficiency.

Shape strategy across Charcoalblue:

• Collaborate with other Charcoalblue colleagues and project teams to influence company-wide strategy.
• Champion TCEMEA priorities across the wider business, using data and insight to challenge assumptions and solve problems.
• Identify industry trends, R&D opportunities, and emerging areas of focus.
• Actively contribute to TCEMEA Training & Development, supporting the creation and delivery of learning sessions.
• Be a visible role model for and exhibit Charcoalblue’s cultural values.

Grow our profile and pipeline:

• Contribute to marketing and business development, including conferences, panels, thought leadership, and client relationships.
• Build and maintain a strong external network, representing Charcoalblue in senior-level meetings.
• Lead major project proposals alongside Team Leaders and the Marketing & Business Development (MBD) team.

Day to day: Alongside Fellow Directors, You Will:

• Support TCEMEA by taking on leadership responsibilities aligned to your strengths and business needs.
• Spend an agreed proportion of your time on billable project work, acting often in the role of ‘Project Principal’.
• Act as the senior commercial lead for major clients and projects, overseeing service delivery, resourcing, billing, and financial performance.
• Lead projects to successful outcomes by balancing strategic, commercial, and operational priorities.
• Line manage and mentor Associate Directors and consultants, fostering performance, development, and wellbeing.
• Lead Annual Development Reviews and regular one-to-one meetings with direct reports.
• Provide day-to-day people management oversight, including approval of leave, expenses, training, and conference attendance, in coordination with HR and Business Support.
• Contribute to senior leadership forums, including TCEMEA Director and leadership meetings, cross-discipline groups, and Marketing & Business Development forums.
• Lead or support major project proposals with Team Leaders and the MBD team.
• Support workforce planning through resource reviews and operational oversight.
• Monitor financial performance, pipeline, invoicing, and debtors in collaboration with Finance and senior leadership.
• Maintain accurate CRM, project, and reporting data using Charcoalblue’s ERP systems.
• Uphold Charcoalblue’s professional standards and contribute to internal process and quality improvements.
• Deputise for the Managing Director or other Directors when required.
• Occasional national and international travel according to project requirements.

This role will continue to evolve, shaped by your strengths, interests, and the needs of the Business Unit.

What you bring:

• Proven leadership experience in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Experience in either theatre, performing arts, architecture or construction industries highly desired.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with attention to detail and follow-through.
• High levels of self-motivation, organisation, and initiative.
• Confidence identifying and developing new business opportunities.
• Excellent relationship-building and networking skills.
• Clear, adaptable communication with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong project leadership and people management experience.
• The ability to work calmly through complexity and ambiguity, delivering tangible results.

What’s in it for you? This is a permanent, full-time role with flexibility built in. You’ll be UK-based, working a 40-hour week with flexible hours between 8am–8pm, Monday to Friday, and enjoy a hybrid setup with a minimum of 2 days per week working in one of our studios, balanced with studio collaboration, site visits, and project meetings.

• Ability to request an unlimited number of days off under our “Take What You Need” leave policy.
• Studio closure over Christmas and New Years.
• Annual company bonus scheme.
• Pension auto-enrolment.
• Monthly live event tickets allowance to stay inspired by the industry we design for.
• Home working contribution towards internet and utilities.
• Private Health Insurance after two years for you and your dependants.
• Laptop and peripherals provided.
• Company mobile phone scheme.

Start Date: July 2026

Salary: The salary range for this role is £80,000 - £95,000 per annum for a 40-hour week. Please state your salary expectations in your application in line with your experience.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Overview: Charcoalblue is committed to creating an inclusive, accessible and respectful workplace where everyone can thrive. Our recruitment is open to all, and we encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds to reflect the communities and clients we serve globally. We believe that everyone – employees, partners, clients and collaborators – is entitled to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect, and we are committed to providing services and workplaces that are accessible and inclusive across all regions. We prioritise accessibility throughout the recruitment process. If you require this application in an alternative format or need reasonable adjustments, please contact Kabir Naidoo at kabir.naidoo@charcoalblue.com or +44 207 928 0000. Note that the role is available to candidates with the right to work in the UK and does not require visa sponsorship.

Charcoalblue is widely regarded as the most exciting and innovative theatre, acoustics, and experience consultancy in the world. We specialise in the performing arts, live entertainment, media, technology, education, experiential, hospitality, workplace and cultural sectors. We imagine, design, and deliver captivating spaces that entertain, educate, and transform individuals through collective experiences. Guided by listening, collaboration, and a passion for innovation, excellence, emotion, and theatricality, we strive to create extraordinary moments. Since our inception in the UK in 2004, Charcoalblue is now the largest organization of its kind, delivering projects to every corner of the globe. We operate as a cohesive and collaborative team with studios in London and Bristol in the UK, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco in the US, and Melbourne in Australia.