Lead Producer

Do you have significant experience of developing and producing exceptional large-scale theatre productions? Can you work within a busy team across multiple departments? Have you got advanced experience in negotiating, drafting and contracting agreements with artists and their representatives? Do you have strong leadership skills, with the ability to ensure the successful delivery of quality work?

This newly created role will contribute to the strategic development and delivery of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey's artistic programme at the RSC, across performance spaces in Stratford-upon-Avon. In this role you will be primarily responsible for:

• Negotiating and contracting with artists and their representatives
• Senior line management and budgeting
• Facilitating and collaborating with innovative artistic teams to create ambitious theatrical experiences.
• Supporting the Executive Producer through facilitating the overall producing operation.

Reporting to the Executive Producer (Stratford) and with responsibility for 3 Producers and Freelance teams, key areas of responsibility include (please see the full job description and person specification for the comprehensive list):

Producing (delivering approximately 4 productions per season in Stratford):

• Leading on the delivery of specific, allocated productions in Stratford, retaining oversight of multiple productions in current and future seasons, ensuring that work is produced to the highest standard.
• Ensuring productions are delivered on time, to budget and within any defined parameters, ensuring the smooth and efficient navigation of productions through creative, financial or logistical complexities.
• Taking an active role in the recruitment of creative teams.
• Ensuring supportive and positive relationships with all artists and creative partners, managing resources and scope of production budgets.

Contracts and Negotiations:

• Negotiating all elements of creative team deals on specific RSC productions in line with the RSC fee framework, policies, values and aspirations.
• Ensuring that all negotiations are in line with industry best practice and current legislation including UK Theatre/BECTU/Equity agreements.

Resource Management:

• Line management and leadership of three Producers, supporting them in their negotiations, set up and delivery of their assigned shows.
• Managing, inspiring, coaching and motivating direct reports by providing sufficient direction, support and development; role modelling RSC values at all times.

Finance, Health and Safety and Safeguarding:

• Working closely with colleagues to forecast and manage budgets, cash flow and projections, ensuring productions are delivering within the financial framework.
• Leading on Health and Safety for the Producers' Department to ensure that best practice on productions and within the department.
• Supporting with the implementation of key RSC policies, including Child and Adult Safeguarding.

To be suitable for this role, it is essential that you have the following:

• Significant experience of working in a producing theatre and/or experience of producing first class UK productions or tours in commercial or subsidised theatre settings.
• Demonstrable proven experience of developing and producing large-scale productions.
• Advanced experience in negotiating, drafting and contracting agreements.
• Strong leadership and line management skills.
• Experience of artistic collaboration and facilitation, with sound creative judgement.
• Strong financial management skills with experience of managing large-scale production budgets.
• A sound grasp of current best theatre practice in the UK and internationally.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with excellent attention to detail.

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Stratford-upon-Avon with travel to various locations, including London for some rehearsal periods. You will be working 40  hours per week, Monday to Friday with occasional weekend and evening work required. We are committed to a culture of flexible working. This role will provide the opportunity for some flexibility in hours and location of work, ensuring that the specific remit of the role is delivered.

Application Process

All applications should be made online using the RSC website. If you need any assistance when applying, please email jobs@rsc.org.uk

The interviews will be a two-stage process, with the first stage in person, in Stratford-upon-Avon on 23 and 24 July, the second stage will be held in London in the week commencing 28 July.

About the RSC

The RSC strives for excellence, and values creativity, inclusivity, sustainability, collaboration, and accountability. 

We can offer great benefits and aim to create a welcoming, supportive environment which is happy, healthy and safe. We place great importance upon developing a diverse, highly motivated and energised workforce to help achieve our priorities. We put our values at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all individuals.

We believe that safeguarding children and adults is everyone's responsibility, and everybody working at the RSC has a duty to place safeguarding at the heart of their work. We welcome candidates who will support and advocate the RSC's environmental objectives continuing to improve our sustainability work and actions both on and off stage.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (no. 212481) is a registered charity.