Manager - Arts Partnerships & Tours

The Manager, Arts Partnerships & Tours (AP&T), plays a key role in the planning, delivery and commercial success of international touring projects. Working closely with Directors, Associate Directors and Tour Managers, the postholder supports the development and execution of touring strategies for orchestras and artists, ensuring projects are delivered to the highest artistic, operational and financial standards. The role combines relationship management, project coordination and commercial awareness.

The Manager works collaboratively with artists, orchestras, promoters and internal teams to support sales activity, contract delivery and long-term client relationships, while ensuring complex tour logistics, schedules and communications are managed efficiently and accurately. In addition, the Manager contributes to the effective day-to-day operation of the AP&T team by supporting workflows, budgets and financial controls, maintaining clear information flows, and assisting senior colleagues in managing deadlines and resources. The role also involves mentoring junior team members, acting as a professional ambassador for HarrisonParrott, and contributing where appropriate to wider company initiatives and strategic objectives. This position requires a high level of organisation, attention to detail, commercial judgement and flexibility, with regular international travel and occasional on-tour management responsibilities to ensure the smooth delivery of major touring projects worldwide.

Key Accountabilities

• Contracting, scheduling and general correspondence: Assist with the preparation of contracts between orchestras, promoters and HarrisonParrott, reporting to the appropriate Tour Manager/Director. Maintain and update tour schedules throughout the period of tour/project from draft to final stages. Responsibility for maintaining up-to-date records on each project. Establish with Tour Manager/Director a schedule of deadlines for payments, issuing of contracts and other necessary documents, applications for visas and monitoring the progress on such a schedule. Act as first point of contact for touring clients, promoters and travel agents, coordinating all communication and leading on logistical arrangements including load-in and rehearsal schedules, coordinating wraparound activity and generally servicing each tour as required.
• Travel & accommodation: Research, negotiate prices and arrange national and international travel; Select and supervise the booking of hotels, negotiate rates, ensure details of check-in, payment schedules, catering etc; Supervise and research processing of applications for work permits and visas - to ensure efficient logistical planning and arrangements – mostly with the involvement of travel agents. Compile or facilitate hotel, flight and visa lists as required. Make regular and pro-active evaluations for Tour Manager/Director on the progress in such arrangements.
• Financial: Assist with the preparation and maintenance of detailed tour budgets and cash flows; As directed, liaise with Manager/Director to plan timing of payments/receipts and foreign currency requirements; Deal with issuing of invoices, seek Manager’s/Director’s approval of all expenses incurred by HarrisonParrott; Assist with the preparation and reconciliation of final statement of account. Responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of all appropriate information to ensure the effective financial management of tour/project by Manager/Director.
• Liaison: Maintain effective continual liaison and information flows between orchestras, promoters, HarrisonParrott project staff and HP Artman (where applicable) on all aspects of tour arrangements at all times; maintain and develop contacts with hotels, airlines, travel companies etc.
• Tour Management: You will be required to accompany orchestra/group on tour to ensure smooth running of tour.
• Administration: Provide general and flexible administrative support as required to assist with the smooth running of the department – to include some digital filing, arranging couriers, taxis, administering concert ticket requirements, and maintaining departmental records (such as holiday charts, the list of tours and whereabouts). If necessary, assist with travel and hotel arrangements for business trips, assist with expense management for Managers/Directors. As required, provide some sales support for senior staff (mailings, research etc.) Office management/back-office support as required.
• Publicity: Ensure that up-to-date publicity material is maintained - to include collecting, assessing and presenting reviews of recordings and performances, liaison with artist management and clients for publicity material and dealing with all promoter publicity requests. Collecting, and in some cases translating or arranging to have translated, biographies and other material in the appropriate language. Ensure that HP web site communicates effectively the work of the department and is updated on a timely basis.

Additional Information

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds.

Person Specification

To be successful in this role you must be highly organised with great attention to detail to manage a large number of complex tasks with varying deadlines; be numerate and possess excellent sales, influencing, negotiation and communication skills to ensure you represent the Harrison Parrott brand and our leading roster of artists and orchestras at the highest level. You will need to be energetic, flexible, focused, responsive and an entrepreneurial thinker; educated to at least degree level (or equivalent) with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the classical music business. You must be willing to travel frequently to manage major international touring projects. Fluency in another language and experience with touring orchestras or other large groups will offer a distinct advantage.

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to at least Degree level (or equivalent).
• Deep and constantly evolving knowledge of and active interest in classical music, including repertoire and trends within the wider classical and arts world.
• A good and contemporary awareness of marketing and media in classical music.
• Proven experience and competency in assisting managers on international touring projects bases and ability of managing complex touring projects and artists yourself.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage and focus on a large number of varied tasks with multiple deadlines.
• Entrepreneurial attitude, internationally respected, confident in presentation with an ability to “think outside the box”.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail and solid organisation skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly.
• Professional level fluency (both written and verbal) in English and competence in at least one other language.