Senior Producer (Head of Producing)

Senior Producer (Head of Producing)

Job Description

Responsible to:Executive Producer

Job purpose

To lead the producing and planning of the National Theatre of Scotland’s annual programme of productions and projects. To be responsible for managing the producing team to deliver all productions and projects. As a member of Senior Management to participate in the development and strategy of the National Theatre of Scotland.

Responsible for

Producers, Casting Director, Senior Production Coordinator

Key responsibilities

Project Planning and Evaluation

To lead on the producing of the National Theatre of Scotland’s dynamic and diverse artistic programme.
To develop the overall annual artistic programme and project budget and schedule, in conjunction with the Executive Producer
To build budgets, schedules and develop touring plans for each new or revived production or project within the overall annual subsidy available to the company for each programming year.
To lead the company’s Production and Planning meetings to share production plans with all departments, and to adapt and amend project planning as required to meet all departmental objectives and staffing capacity.
To contribute to the risk analysis of each production and project, and to the presentation of project plans and schedules across the annual schedule of inter-departmental, artistic strategy and Company meetings and to the Board on a quarterly basis, or as required
To ensure that effective and informed communication continues across all departments of the organisation in relation to productions at all stages of planning, delivery and future development.
To lead on the evaluation process for each production or project, ensuring that learning is identified and applied on a rolling basis to inform future planning and to ensure the highest standards of delivery for all Company productions and projects.

Project Delivery

To manage the work of the team of in-house producers, and to bring in freelance producers as required, to ensure all Company productions and projects are realised with the highest standard of producing expertise.
To be responsible for the overall programme delivery budget and to oversee the work of each producer in managing the budgets for each production or project
To work closely with the Director of Finance and Administration and the Finance Manager, reporting on income and expenditure on a regular basis, and at Production and Project Finance meetings, to ensure that the budgets for all productions are regularly and efficiently monitored and work within available resources.
To support and inform the Finance team’s work on the company’s obligations around UK and international tax, HMRC and Theatre Tax Relief
To undertake direct producing responsibility for selected productions, where appropriate and realistic in relation to the other duties of the post and as agreed with the Executive Producer
To oversee the scheduling of Company productions into venues and locations across Scotland, the UK and overseas to ensure the company is presenting its work in a coordinated and cost-effective way, and achieving optimum geographic and audience reach.
Working with the Executive Producer, to negotiate deals and contracts with venues, co-producers and presenting partners which serve the best interests of National Theatre of Scotland and respects the ethos of the company’s ‘Theatre without Walls’ approach to partnerships across the theatre sector.
To manage the Casting Director and ensure that the Company casts its productions and projects from as wide and diverse a pool of prospective performers as possible, in line with good equalities practice.
To ensure that all performers, crew and creative team members for all productions and projects are contracted appropriately and consistently for their work, adhering to Equity and other contractual obligations and within available resources.
To ensure that all contracts with venues, co-producers and presenters and with company members meet the needs of the Development department, and help achieve the company’s fundraising objectives
To ensure that the company adheres to all its contractual obligations in relation to venues, company members and partners at all times
To manage the Senior Production Coordinator and to oversee the work of the Production Coordinators in delivering the travel and accommodation requirements, and other logistics, for each touring company and the work of the Artistic Development department
To work closely with the Technical department on the technical development and delivery of all productions and projects
To support and represent the company on tour to ensure good relationships and communications are in place and effective at all times.

Production Development

To contribute to the development of existing Company productions for future touring and further exploitation, responding to interest, building on existing and developing new partnerships, co-producing and presenting relationships with the potential to benefit the company in terms of audience reach, artistic development and financial return.
To contribute to the rigorous assessment of further UK and international touring proposals against the company’s artistic, strategic and financial objectives, for consideration by the Artistic Director, Executive Producer and Board, as appropriate

Organisational Requirements

Work towards the achievement of National Theatre of Scotland’s organisational goals
Take part in organisational projects as required.
Maintain a high standard of customer care
Use ICT applications to service the post’s administrative needs

As the post holder may be the first point of contact for many external organisations, and individuals, the Head of Producing is expected to remain up to date with, and aware of, developments within National Theatre of Scotland and its work.
As the post will require handling, processing and recording of restricted information, confidentiality is requires to be maintained at all times.
Attendance at performances of the National Theatre of Scotland and other companies, to develop and maintain an understanding of developments within the company’s work and the wider sector
Comply with National Theatre of Scotland’s Health and Safety Policy and statutory regulations

Person Specification

Educated to degree level or equivalent
Experience of working at senior management level within a cultural organisation
Experience of contributing to corporate strategy and business development
Sustained experience of producing a busy and diverse programme of theatre productions and projects at an executive level for a large-scale theatre company
Extensive international theatre contacts and experience of negotiating and managing international touring and presentations, including in Europe, the United States and Australia
Experience and expertise in negotiating contracts with co-producers and with commercial presenters, including for West End of London or Broadway presentations.
Direct experience of producing work with artists from under-represented groups.
High level financial fluency, with proven complex budgeting and financial management experience
Experience of managing high-level negotiations with industry Unions
Experience of initiating, managing and sustaining a diverse range of individual and business partnerships to achieve artistic, financial and operational goals
Experience of leading, managing and developing a staff team
Mature, confident and effective communication and presentation skills

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Annual salary:Commensurate with level of experience

Holiday entitlement:34 days per annum, including 9 days public holiday

Probationary period:6 months

Notice period:3 months on both sides

Hours of work:35 hours per week and as necessary to fulfil the scope of responsibilities within the post.

Place of work: Based at Rockvilla in Glasgow; also expected to attend events, performances and briefings across Scotland and beyond

Pension:The Company makes an 8% contribution into the company’s group personal pension plan on condition that the employee makes a minimum contribution of 4%.