Applications Are Invited for the Post Of: DEPUTY SALES MANAGER

The Royal Court is the writers’ theatre. It is the leading force in World theatre for vigorously cultivating writers – undiscovered, new and established. Through the writers we are at the forefront of creating restless, alert, provocative theatre about now. We seek stories from everywhere and create theatre for everyone and we see our audience as one of our chief collaborators.

Applications are invited for the post of: DEPUTY SALES MANAGER

Responsible to: SALES & TICKETING MANAGER

The Royal Court is the home of the English Stage Company Limited (ESC) and is the UK’s leading theatre dedicated to new writing.

Up to 16 plays a year are staged between two theatre spaces (the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs) at the Royal Court’s home on Sloane Square. Over 100,000 people visit the Royal Court every year and thousands more see our work elsewhere, including transfers to the West End and New York, National and International touring, digital platforms and London residencies in Tottenham and Pimlico.

A significant amount of play development activity takes place year-round. This work aims to find and nurture the most talented new writers and develop the highest quality plays, for which the Royal Court is internationally renowned. There is an ongoing programme of writers’ attachments, readings, workshops and playwriting groups.

The Royal Court Theatre also has two commercial subsidiaries, Royal Court Theatre Productions Ltd (RCTP), which facilitates the transfer of Royal Court productions to the West End and ESC Catering Limited set up to run the catering operation at the theatre.

The Royal Court is the home of the English Stage Company Limited (ESC) and is the UK’s leading theatre dedicated to new writing.

MAIN PURPOSE:

Ensure that the Royal Court provides an excellent Box Office service by telephone, in-person and via email, capturing data accurately and effectively using the computerised ticketing system (currently Spektrix). Working with the Sales and Ticketing Manager to maintain and develop the Box Office ticketing system, analysing customer data to provide useful feedback on audiences and sales. Suggesting and implementing new working practises, making sure that the Box Office reaches its financial targets and achieves the best possible customer service.

The Deputy Sales Manager works closely with all other departments in the theatre and is responsible for the management of the box office team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES

Staffing

·  Supervising the Box Office sales team on a day-to-day basis, including general office admin and communication of necessary information.

·  Drafting and distributing the staff rotas on a monthly basis.

·  Managing the budget for casual staff and liaising with the Finance Director on a regular basis to ensure costs are effectively managed.

·  Responsibility, alongside the Sales and Ticketing Manager, for staff development, training and appraisals.

·  Read in advance and encourage all Box Office staff to read and see the plays programmed at the Royal Court and agree amongst the team the best way to talk about plays to potential customers.

·  Ensure staff adhere to the Royal Court’s customer service policy, and develop new customer service initiatives and strategies.

Box Office and Sales

·  Supporting the Sales and Ticketing Manager in the overall co-ordination and management of the box office, including the system management of the ticketing and CRM system.

·  Supporting the Sales and Ticketing Manager in updating the Royal Court website, using a CMS platform.

·  Setting up performances on Spektrix.

·  Help to maximise ticket sales in co-operation with the Communications Department, and to promote the work of the Royal Court on an ongoing basis.

·  Support the Sales and Ticketing Manager in the development of a long term Box Office strategy, evaluating customer trends in order to establish good return on investment and patron loyalty.

·  Manage internal allocations for Royal Court departments (including press, production, development and others), ensuring enough seats are held off sale to satisfy internal demand whilst still maximising general sales.

·  Manage Press Night lists and allocations for productions in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, and other events in/outside the Royal Court including West End/Broadway transfers and Theatre Local projects as required.

·  Liaise with writers, actors, creative teams and co-producers to manage contractual ticket allocations on a show by show basis.

Financial and reporting

·  Provide financial reports and detailed sales and data analysis

·  Responsibility for banking reconciliation on a weekly basis.

·  Assist the Sales and Ticketing Manager in setting up, monitoring and evaluating ticket offers

·  Manage house seat requests from other arts organisations and VIPs

·  Reconcile the sale and redemption of Theatre Tokens with the Society of London Theatres on a weekly basis.

·  To manage invoicing and the reconciliation of ticket agent sales on a monthly basis.

General

·  Working as part of a team in the day-to-day operational running of the Box Office, managing the full-and part-time Box Office Sales Assistants in conjunction with the Sales and Ticketing Manager.

·  Providing excellent levels of customer service, striving to be friendly and personable, and to promote the same high levels of service to the Sales Assistants, ensuring that consistent standards are maintained.

·  Representing the Royal Court with diplomacy, discretion and courtesy at all times, and to be knowledgeable, and provide accurate and useful information, about the Royal Court’s productions and facilities.

·  Adhere to the Royal Court’s health and safety, equal opportunities and environmental policies at all times and observe disciplinary procedures along the guidelines laid out in the staff handbook.

·  Deputise for the Sales and Ticketing Manager in their absence.

To carry out any other duties required by the theatre in pursuance of the above objectives.

Personal specification

A successful candidate should have at least one year’s experience working in a busy sales or marketing environment and knowledge and training in the following areas:

·  Online and offline ticketing

·  Sales

·  Customer service

·  Administration

·  Data analysis

·  Database management

·  Strong PC and Microsoft Office skills

·  Cash Handling

·  Marketing principles

· 

Essential skills / attributes

·  Approachable, confident, organised, professional with excellent communication skills

·  Ability to supervise, motivate and develop a small team of permanent and casual staff

·  Invested with the diplomatic skills to recognise and address the unique needs of customers, VIPs, school groups, other staff and visiting companies

·  Ability to work well under pressure

·  Adept at thinking on your feet and problem solving

·  Able to work quickly and accurately, to meet targets and deadlines

·  Excellent attention to detail and proof-reading skills

·  Hard-working, self-motivated, resourceful and able to thrive on the challenges the Royal Court presents

·  Skilled in evaluating and interpreting data

·  Basic budgeting and budget management

·  An awareness of the importance of accessibility in theatres and an ability to sensitively manage and facilitate patrons’ access needs.

·  Interest in and passion for theatre and new writing in particular.

·  Previous experience of using Spektrix an advantage

Terms & Conditions:-

Title of post: Deputy Sales Manager

Hours: 40 hours per week

Due to the nature of this role some evening and week end work will be required

Salary: £25,000 per annum

Holiday entitlement: 20 days per year, plus 8 days for statutory holidays.

Rising to 25 days per year after 2 years’ service.

Contract: Permanent

Notice period: 2 months

Pension: The Royal Court operates a contributory company pension scheme for all permanent employees. Thecompany contributionis capped at 5% of basic salary.The employee is free to contribute at any level.

We also operate an alternative workplace pension scheme.

Details of both schemes will be available at point of contract.

Other Benefits:

·  Complimentary tickets for preview performances, subject to availability and the Royal Court’s staff ticket policy.

·  Interest free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, free life assurance, subsidised exercise classes.

·  Discount on meals and drinks in the Royal Courts bar and Kitchen.

·  Discount on all purchases in the theatre’s Bookshop, subject to discount policy.

Application Procedures:-

Please note that only applications submitted on the Royal Court’s standard Application Form can be considered. Application Forms can be downloaded from: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/jobs.asp

Once the Application and Equal Opportunities Forms are completed please return, by the closing date below, to:

Email:

By post: Recruitment, English Stage Company

Royal Court Theatre

Sloane Square

London

SW1 8AS

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 6 June 2017 12pm

Interviews will be held during the week commencing: w/c 12 June 2017

The Royal Court is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and encourages applications from minority ethnic and disabled groups, as they are under-represented amongst our staff.

The English Stage Company (no. 231242) is a publicly funded registered charity.

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