Head of Commercial & Operations

At Nottingham Playhouse, we’re embarking on an exciting new chapter, and we’re looking for a bold, entrepreneurial leader to drive our commercial and operational strategies forward. As the Head of Commercial & Operations, you will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and will be the driving force behind our efforts to maximise income, enhance the visitor experience, and take our operational and commercial activities to new heights.

Purpose of the Role: In this new role, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of the Playhouse by integrating and driving the growth of our commercial, operational, and customer-focused activities. You will lead the development and implementation of initiatives to increase visitor spend, revenue generation from venue hires, events, music programming, and conferences, all while ensuring seamless operational delivery. Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, your entrepreneurial mindset will be key in identifying new business opportunities and commercial revenue streams.

About You: We are looking for an entrepreneurial, dynamic, and strategic senior leader with a proven track record in both commercial growth and operational excellence. You will be dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, constantly seeking innovative ways to grow income and optimise operations. Your ability to identify and capitalise on new opportunities will be crucial to the success of this role. You’ll have a strong commercial and operational background, ideally within a theatre, venue, or similarly complex environment, and you’ll be adept at managing diverse teams to deliver exceptional results.

What You Will Do:

• Lead with entrepreneurial thinking: Develop and execute a commercial strategy to identify and capitalise on new business opportunities, maximising revenue from venue hires, events, hospitality, and other commercial activities.
• Grow income streams: Drive the creation and execution of value-added events and experiences, including corporate, community, and creative events, working closely with colleagues to ensure alignment with both cultural and business objectives.
• Innovate for success: Take a proactive approach to generating new income streams, devising unique events, and identifying creative ways to maximise use of our venue and hospitality spaces.
• Operational excellence: Oversee building operations, maintenance, and health & safety, ensuring all activities meet statutory requirements and run smoothly.
• Enhance the visitor experience: Lead efforts to continually improve the customer journey, delivering exceptional service at every touchpoint and exceeding visitor expectations.
• Collaborate and communicate: Build strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, using your exceptional communication skills to influence and inspire others towards shared goals.
• Lead with financial acumen: Manage P&L responsibilities, including budget oversight and financial reporting, ensuring that all activities contribute to the financial success of the organisation.
• Champion change: Proactively manage change, working with your team to implement new initiatives that will drive growth and success in all commercial and operational areas.

What You Will Bring:

• Proven experience in a leadership role, overseeing both commercial and operational functions, ideally within a complex venue, arts, or hospitality environment.
• A track record of entrepreneurial thinking and action, identifying, developing, and executing new business ventures that drive growth and profitability.
• Extensive experience in commercial strategy development, event management, and revenue generation.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget oversight, P&L responsibility, and financial forecasting.
• A customer-first attitude with a passion for delivering exceptional service and enhancing the visitor experience.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, motivate, and lead diverse teams.
• Experience managing complex building operations, health & safety, and compliance with statutory regulations.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and nurture relationships at all levels.

Why Join Us? Awarded the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre by UK Theatre in 2023, and Regional Theatre of the Year 2019 by The Stage, Nottingham Playhouse is one of the country’s leading producing theatres. We are renowned for creating ambitious and diverse productions, many of which tour across the UK and transfer to the West End and Broadway. We want our theatre to be a space where everyone feels they belong, and we use our stage to tell diverse stories that reflect our city. Our wide-reaching participation programmes create life-changing experiences for our community and we also support the next generation of theatre-makers in the East Midlands through our extensive Amplify programme. We are also a registered charity and of the funds we raise help to ensure we’re reaching as many people as possible to give them new opportunities and create lasting memories.