Head of Stage

Location: Onsite – this role will be based at Derby Theatre. The Stage Department Head oversees the Stage Department within Derby Theatre, managing staff, ensuring safe and efficient production of shows, maintaining high standards of technical performance, and coordinating with production, design, rehearsals and performances.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the team of stage technicians, ensuring the wellbeing, motivation, professional development and satisfactory conduct of all assigned staff.
• Directly supervise the work of technicians.
• Instruct team members, allocate work and ensure work is processed accurately and on time.
• Oversee and run fit-ups, get-outs and operating shows in accordance with staff rotas.
• Administer the running of the department; provide schedules, budgets and time sheets as required.
• Recruit, supervise and manage all Stage Department team members working at Derby Theatre ensuring their time is scheduled as effectively as possible in adherence to the UK Theatre/BECTU Agreement.
• Use judgement, technical knowledge and expertise to provide advice, guidance and solutions in specialist areas of risk and expenditure.
• Influence outcomes to achieve long‑term resilience for the department.
• Keep yourself and your team aware of developments and issues in Derby Theatre and the wider theatre industry.
• Deputise in the absence of the Technical Manager.
• Work closely with touring companies, directors and designers to ensure their artistic vision can be safely delivered within timescale and budget.
• Act as Duty Technician when required, taking responsibility for the security of the building, its occupants and associated equipment.
• Remain familiar with and comply with current Health & Safety regulations relevant to the industry and keep abreast of changes to such regulations.
• Implement and oversee Health & Safety in all backstage and onstage areas, including the scenic workshop, adhering to Health & Safety regulations and the in‑house policy.
• Responsible for creating and monitoring suitable risk assessments and method statements for all department‑related activities, and producing and maintaining LOLER, PUWER, COSHH and other Health & Safety records relevant to the department as required.
• Liaise with the Head of Production regarding production or building Health & Safety issues that may affect performing or incoming companies.
• Set and lead standards for in‑house safe working loads and work with designers and directors to ensure incoming sets can be safely mounted.
• Translate complex design plans and hanging plots to the stage, using expertise at the design stage to negotiate, influence and inform the creative team to produce workable schemes.
• Build set elements and props as necessary.
• Manage the workshop builds for produced shows in conjunction with the Head of Production, ensuring deadlines and scenic budgets are met.
• Book and schedule freelance scenic carpenters and artists for produced builds.
• Ensure time management whilst adhering to the set budget.
• Ensure that assigned budgets are managed efficiently and assist the Head of Production and Technical Manager in financial planning and budgeting objectives.
• Identify additional income generation opportunities from the stage resource.
• Keep up to date with environmental best practice in the theatre industry, such as the Green Book and Julie’s Bicycle monitoring tools.
• Monitor the use of materials in our sets, keeping track of types of materials and levels of re‑use and recycling; champion and develop the use of more environmental policies in the production department.
• Actively support Derby Theatre’s Learning Theatre model, including engaging with the University of Derby’s Theatre‑related higher education provision.
• Lead and facilitate learning opportunities and support the theatre’s wider role as a learning environment.
• Keep up to date with developments in the industry as they relate to your role, and contribute to the overall development of the department and organisation.
• Ensure that Derby Theatre’s policies, procedures and values are observed in every area of the department’s work.
• Engage with multiple stakeholders within Derby Theatre and beyond as a subject matter expert, delivering technical expertise to productions, design, rehearsals and performances.
• Be responsible for the safe and efficient storage, maintenance, and record‑keeping of all Stage Department equipment and ensure that backstage areas are kept in an excellent state of cleanliness at all times.
• In conjunction with the Technical Manager and other Heads of Departments, plan and carry out repairs, alterations and improvements to the stage and workshop.
• Provide the highest level of customer and audience care at all times.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in Health and Safety.
• Recognised rigging qualification.
• IPAF and/or Tallescope certificate.
• First Aid training.
• Full UK driving licence.

Experience

• Experience of powered stage machinery including stage lifts, motors and revolves.
• Experience of running a small workshop, maintaining stocks and machinery.
• Experience of drawing up and managing budgets.
• Experience working with students and/or young people.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge and practical experience of stage and rigging techniques.
• Proven knowledge of Health and Safety procedures and policies, including a working knowledge of COSHH, LOLER, and other related legislation.
• Proven set and scenic construction skills, including excellent carpentry and/or metalworking skills.
• Ability to work from technical drawings.
• Ability to carry out the physical demands of the role, including get‑ins and get‑outs, working at height, and evening and weekend work as required.
• Knowledge of working with and implementation of the UKT/BECTU agreement.
• Willingness and ability to support learners of different ages, including students and young people.
• Skills in CAD software such as AutoCAD or Vectorworks.
• Ability to program and operate theatre lighting and sound desks.
• An understanding of environmental issues and how theatre production contributes to them.

Employment Details

Salary: £29,091 to £32,323 per annum plus overtime and UKT/BECTU Get‑Outs as applicable. Requires a full DBS check due to working with young people. Applicants must be within the UK and do not require sponsorship for the Skilled Worker route.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At Derby Theatre we aim to actively champion and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all those we work with and encourage applications from individuals regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. We positively encourage disabled people, people of African or Caribbean heritage, South Asian heritage, East Asian heritage, West Asian heritage, Central Asian heritage, South East Asian heritage and people of Middle East and North African heritage and those who have experienced racism.

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.