Company Manager: Freelance in Bristol

We’re looking for a freelance Company Manager to help us make multi‑artform work rooted in social justice and resistance. This key role supports the day‑to‑day running of Viv Gordon Co – working closely with our Exec Producer & Artistic Director to keep our projects, people & systems moving.

Contract: Freelance, fixed term – 12 months @ £8,160, 48 days/1 day per week

Location: Hybrid; a combination of remote working and occasional in‑person work in Bristol/Gloucestershire. We recommend applicants are based within approximately one hour of Bristol or Gloucester, to enable regular in‑person working with the project teams. Please note that travel to Bristol would usually be at the freelancer’s own expense.

Overview of the Role: We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Company Manager to support the smooth coordination and day‑to‑day running of Viv Gordon Company. This role plays a key part in ensuring the organisation operates effectively across projects, partnerships and core activity. You will work closely with the Executive Producer and Artistic Director to coordinate delivery, maintain organisational systems, and support a small, values‑driven team.

Viv Gordon Company is an arts and social justice organisation led by artist and activist Viv Gordon. We create bold, beautiful and urgent art and performance work that centres the voices of adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Our work blends theatre, music, poetry and collective action to build creative communities of belonging, pride, power and resistance.

Our current work includes Restless, a punk music project; UpFront Survivors delivering workshops, leadership training and co‑produced work by, for and with CSA survivor communities; and Beyond Trauma Informed our cross‑sector training offer to improve access and inclusion for our community.

This role is suited to someone who enjoys coordinating people and priorities, keeping systems running smoothly, and enabling others to focus on creative and strategic work.

Key Tasks:

• Operations & Coordination: Support day‑to‑day organisational workflow, capacity and priorities across projects and core activity. Act as a central coordination point for communications, including monitoring the company’s inbox. Coordinate team diaries, availability and scheduling in line with delivery needs. Track key deadlines (e.g. project delivery, reporting, funding applications) and flag pressures or conflicts. Support weekly team meetings (including note‑taking and follow‑up actions). Maintain and improve organisational systems, templates and processes. Manage organisational subscriptions, services and overheads (e.g. insurance, software, banking, storage). Support Access to Work coordination and administration, as required.
• Governance & Compliance: Support governance processes, including preparing papers and taking minutes for advisory meetings (as required – the advisory board currently meet twice a year). Maintain and review organisational policies in collaboration with Co‑Directors (typically annually). Ensure compliance with data protection, safeguarding and organisational procedures. Oversee DBS checks and related compliance requirements (as needed). Liaise with relevant partners (e.g. insurance brokers) to ensure appropriate cover for organisational activity, with the Executive Producer. Maintain organisational handbooks and key company templates.
• Freelance Team Coordination & Support: Draft and manage freelance contracts (with Executive Producer oversight and sign‑off). Act as an operational point of contact for team queries (e.g. processes, logistics). Support onboarding and off‑boarding of freelancers where required (e.g. access to relevant G‑drive folder). Contribute to team communication, wellbeing and inclusive working practices (shared with Artistic Director and Executive Producer). Support access needs and ensure team members are aware of available support.
• Fundraising & Partnerships (Support Role): Support the development of budgets for funding applications and commissioned work. Track fundraising and reporting deadlines. Support application and reporting processes during key periods (this work is typically episodic and shared across the team). Assist with funder research as needed.
• Finance (Awareness & Process Support Only): Support the Executive Producer in preparing information for funder reporting where required. Follow organisational financial processes (e.g. filing receipts, making agreed purchases, booking travel).

Essential Experience:

• Has strong experience in operations, coordination or company management within a small organisation or project‑based environment.
• Is highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Is confident coordinating people, workflows and systems.
• Has experience of governance, compliance or organisational processes.
• Communicates clearly and professionally, with strong attention to detail.
• Is proactive, solutions‑focused and able to work independently.
• Brings a collaborative, empathetic and inclusive approach to team working.
• Has working knowledge of the Social Model of Disability and access & inclusion.
• Is confident using shared systems (e.g. Google Drive, Gmail, Canva).
• Has experience working in the arts, cultural or social impact sectors.
• Has experience supporting fundraising or partnership development.
• Is motivated by and aligned with Viv Gordon Company’s mission.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience working with freelance teams.
• Understanding of Community Interest Companies.
• Experience using Xero (or similar) for interpreting financial information.
• Experience (personal or professional) engaging with survivors of sexual violence or other activist‑led spaces.

Equality and Inclusion: Viv Gordon Company is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, disability, race, sex, religion/belief, sexuality, gender identity, marital/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and working patterns. We are keen to have staff that appropriately represents all the communities we serve.

Lived Experience: We recognise that applicants may have direct or indirect lived experience of CSA or other forms of sexual trauma, whether disclosed or not. We are committed to placing lived experience at the heart of all we do. All our work is CSA survivor‑led (51% CSA survivor representation across all teams). Colleagues who choose to share their personal expertise can do so openly and with organisational support. If there is any discussion during the recruitment process regarding a candidate’s personal experience of trauma, it will be treated confidentially and will not be shared outside of the interview panel.

To Apply: A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your interest and relevant experience, your CV (maximum 2 pages), details of 2 referees. Send your application to . Subject line: Company Manager Application (Your Name). Deadline for applications: 9am on Monday 4th May. Interviews: Wednesday 13th May (in person, Bristol). Start date: Week commencing 25 May, with some flexibility possible for the right candidate.