Thankyou for your interestin theroleofDevelopment OfficerattheUnicorn Theatre.
TheUnicorn iscommitted tobeing anequal opportunitiesemployer,andwelcomesapplicationsfromall sectionsof thecommunity.
The Unicorn
TheUnicorn istheUK’sleading professional theatrefor young audiences,dedicated toinspiring and invigoratingyoung peopleof all ages,perspectivesand abilities,andempowering themtoexplorethe world–on theirown terms–through theatre.
Year-round,theUnicornworkswith someoftheworld’smostexciting theatre-makerstoproduce, presentandtour asurprising,innovativeand broad range of workthatishonest,refreshing and internationalin outlook.
AttheUnicorn,we believein:
- bringing art to young people and young people to art
- pushing the boundaries of what theatre for young audiences can be
- opening our doors to everyone
- speaking to the audience of today, not just creating the audience of the future
- diversity. Because the world is diverse.
AttheUnicorn,westrivetopush the boundariesof imagination in everything thatwe do;welcoming families,schools,and young peoplefor unforgettabletheatricalexperiencesthatwill expand horizons, changeperspectives,and challengehowweall seeand understand eachother.
TheUnicorn iscommitted tobeing anequal opportunitiesemployer,andwelcomesapplicationsfromall sectionsof thecommunity.
About the Unicorn
The Unicorn was founded in 1947 by Caryl Jenner, with the aim that ‘the best of theatre for children should be judged on the same high standards of writing, directing, acting and design as the best of adult theatre’, a value which still holds very much true today. Since its early days as a touring company, the Unicorn has become a key player, not only in children’s theatre in the UK but across Europe, and within the ecology of British theatre as a whole. The Unicorn moved into its current purpose-built home in Tooley Street in 2007 and currently stages around 15 shows a year, the majority in-house productions and commissions, and enjoys a reputation as a leading innovator in new work for young audiences.
Since autumn 2011, the Unicorn has been jointly run by a Chief Executive team of Purni Morell (Artistic Director) and Anneliese Davidsen (Executive Director), working to a Board of Trustees. In August 2018, we look forward to welcoming Justin Audibert as our new Artistic Director. The theatre is subsidised by Arts Council England and is currently the fourth most highly-funded theatre in London, with £1.3m annually committed until 2022 following a £300,000 grant uplift in 2015. In 2015 the Unicorn was nominated for The Stage London Theatre of the Year alongside the Young Vic and the Almeida.
Between 2011 and 2018, the company will have produced and presented 140 theatre productions, and toured 30 in the UK and internationally, to young audiences of over 400,000.
The Unicorn has a turnover of £2.8 million, with over 20% coming from Box Office – with almost all tickets being sold to children at concessionary rates – and a similar amount from fundraising. The theatre’s audiences are broadly defined as families and schools, and the theatre currently plays to all ages from six months to adulthood. Weaimtohavea showfor each agegroup everyseason,andmaintain astrong commitmenttorepresenting diversityinour audiencesaswellason ourstages. The Unicorn has a unique and in-depth Learning Programme in schools, a busy range of Accessible performances, and has developed a strong programme of activities out in the community. Commercial activities – café, merchandise, events – are growing fast.
The Unicorn has strong relationships with a number of European theatre makers and companies, with a recent history of co-producing partnerships with and presentations of major overseas work.
The Unicorn’s business priorities are:
- To maintain the Unicorn’s position as an artistic innovator in the cultural life of the UK and beyond
- To maintain a stable business model
- To build our reputation and brand, including abroad
- To work with schools to maintain access to the arts for all London’s children
- To represent the diversity of London
- To ensure the future viability of the Unicorn, creating a strong rolling legacy for the theatre’s next custodians.
JOB POST
Development Department
The Development Department works to raise funds to support the charitable aims of the theatre. This work is divided into three strands: trusts and foundations, individual giving, and corporate partners. The department raises £500,000 each year from across these areas.
Development Officer
Reporting to the Development Director, this post is a core part of the Development team, working to achieve the yearly target. Areas of particular focus will be working with the Development Director and Associate in all areas of individual giving, including cultivation and stewardship of individuals including major donors, patrons and members. The Development Officer will also work to organise events for both individual and corporate supporters and workas part of the team to support achieving the overall target for the Unicorn Theatre. This position provides the perfect opportunity to gain a strong grounding in fundraising within the charitable arts sector, with multiple opportunities to shape the role and bring to it past experience.
Key responsibilities
Individual donors
- To provide efficient and welcoming stewardship for all donor relationships.
- To support the Development Director and Associate in identifying and cultivating new relationships with prospects and donors.
- To work with the Development Director and Associate in maintaining and developing existing donor relationships through bespoke communications, meetings and tailored engagement activity.
- To develop regular branded communications for current Members and Patrons, drafting newsletters and mailings.
- To process new memberships, creating welcome packs and communications, ensuring delivery of benefits, and recording and reporting all gifts and donations.
- To provide administrative support across the team including drafting correspondence and applications, collating paperwork for Gift Aid and grant claims and funding reports and providing a first point of contact for enquiries from prospective and current members and patrons.
Corporate support
- To provide efficient and welcoming stewardship for all corporate relationships.
- To administer corporate memberships, nurturing existing relationships and ensuring ticket and benefits’ allocations are delivered and, with senior support, renewing corporate and individual members.
Events
- In the preparation and delivery of events, to work in tandem with other departments, to research, plan, deliver and follow up.
- To attend events at the Unicorn as a representative of the Unicorn Theatre and the Development team, supporting the work of cultivation and maintaining relationships.
Reporting
- To ensure the recording of all activity on the Spektrix database, with rigorous attention to detail.
- To manage and record all direct debit information and on a monthly basis, liaising with the Finance Department to process all income.
- To provide information for the creation of progress reports, forecasts and contributions to board papers when requested.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
-Excellent administrative skills, including impeccable written and verbal communication skills
-Demonstrable experience in cultivating new contacts, developing relationships and bespoke communications
-Experience in researching prospects or identifying possible new donor relationships
-Comfortable and confident when dealing with key Unicorn Theatre stakeholders, and nurturing ongoing relationships
-Commitment to developing a career in fundraising
-A commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity
-Self-motivated with a strong teamwork ethic
-Strong attention to detail and ability to work to multiple deadlines
Desirable
-Event management experience
-Database experience
-A good understanding of data protection issues
-Experience of working within a Development team
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Salary: £19,000 - £24,000 (dependent on experience)
Holiday:25daysper annum,risingtooneadditionaldayeveryyear afterthefirstfull calendaryear of service,up toa totalof30 days.
Contract: Full-time, permanent, following a three month probationary period.Usual hours are 10am – 6pm Monday to Friday but you will need to work flexibly and be available some evenings and weekends. Applications to work flexibly will be considered.
Other:
- Auto-enrolment into the NEST pension scheme
- TOIL (Time of In Lieu) for evenings/weekends worked , as agreed by your manager
- Complimentary tickets for Unicorn shows
- Access to UK Theatre’s mentoring scheme
Application procedure:
Toapply pleasecompletetheapplicationformand return to ,or by post to:
Stage Door
Unicorn Theatre
147Tooley Street
London
SE12HZ
Pleasenotethatonlyapplicationsmadein thiswaycan beaccepted;CVswill not beconsidered.
If you need this information in an alternative format, please contact in the first instance.
The Unicorn Theatre is supported using public funding by Arts Council England. We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applicants from the broadest range of backgrounds, with different skills and experiences to bring into our organisation.
All candidates who identify as disabled and demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for an interview, in line with the Equalities Act 2010.
Closing date for applications: 10am on Monday 9 April 2018
First interviews will be on Monday 16 April 2018
(with the possibility of a second interview the following week)