The role…

Do you have experience of working in a management position in an entertainment or hospitality venue? Are you looking for an exciting new challenge?

We are looking for a Deputy Theatre Manager to join our team at The Gillian Lynne Theatre. Supporting our Theatre Manager in maximising the profitability of the theatre, you will be responsible for delivering a first-class service to ensure that our audiences are always centre stage.

As Deputy Theatre Manager, you will ensure the smooth running of operational systems and guest services and assist the Theatre Manager in delivering our brand mission; to stage the extraordinary.

What you’ll be doing…

- Responsible for the practical delivery of the front of house operation at all resident productions, concerts, events and hires. This will be achieved by building good relations with our clients and effective line management of the Assistant Theatre Manager and front of house team.
- Responsible for delivering quality across the entire food, beverage, retail and hospitality operation throughout the theatre.
- Lead on the design of staff training programmes and monitor processes to ensure the highest standard of customer service.
- Responsible for consistently staging the extraordinary and ensuring the theatre team put our customers at the heart of everything we do by delivering the highest standards of customer experience throughout the front of house (including the food, beverage, retail and hospitality operation).
- Ensure the successful running of front of house operations through the provision of services and supply of goods and products.
- Establish a visible and accessible management team, overseeing activity and building strong relations with our clients and customers.
- Manage/respond to general enquiries and customer feedback.
- Through line management of the Assistant Theatre Manager and front of house team, support the Company’s commercial team with creating and implementing sales initiatives/ incentives to ensure targets set by the Company are met.
- Work closely with the wider theatre management team and the Company’s commercial team to analyse P&L’s for the food, beverage, retail and hospitality operation to maximise Company profits.
- Review the front of house operation cost base and try to find cost savings wherever possible. Manage weekly front of house spending against the Company’s Service and Estate Charges and hire fees.
- Oversee the delivery of front of house services that have been outsourced or contracted to a third party provider ensuring value and agreed service levels are met.
- Responsible for the correct use of the EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system, and ensure the integrity of stock and cash handling within the theatre.
- Through line management of the Assistant Theatre Manager, ensure the front of house team are aware of and follow the Company’s HR policies.
- Accurately process/sign off the weekly payroll.
- Responsible for selecting, recruiting, training, developing, managing and motivating the front of house team.
- Collaborate with the entire theatre team, the wider LW teams and our partners, to ensure we’re always ‘acting as one’.
- Responsible (under the direction of the Theatre Manager) for the practical application of the Company’s Health and Safety Policy, Security Strategy, Fair Access Policy, Customer Charter and other applicable management arrangements, policies and procedures across the front of house operation.
- Ensure the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene across the food, beverage retail and hospitality operation with effective management arrangements in place.
- Work with the Theatre Manager, the Company’s Property and Estates team and the theatre’s technical and property teams to ensure that the theatre is being well maintained to the highest standard and is safe for public use.
- Responsible for ensuring the theatre’s emergency procedures are understood and regularly rehearsed by the entire theatre team.
- Ensure compliance with the theatre’s Premises Licence.
- Responsible for the delivery of the Company’s front of house security arrangements; this will involve managing the day-to-day performance of outsourced security officers.
- Responsible for carrying out a front of house security risk assessment in advance of each production, concert, event and hire, ensuring that recommendations from those assessments are acted on.

What we need…

- Considerable experience of working in a theatre/hospitality/entertainment management position and managing a high performing team.
- Excellent understanding of the Health & Safety requirements associated with theatre management.
- Ability to improve working practices and lead change.
- Capable of adapting style to build relationships and establish credibility with colleagues and the public.
- Commercially focused.
- Drive and passion to deliver the best in customer service and the ability to motivate others to want the same.
- A flexible approach with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and step up to cover the Theatre Manager position as and when required.
- Strong communication skills.
- Solid working knowledge of the SOLT/BECTU agreement.
- First Aider (training given if required).
- Personal Licence Holder (training given if required).

Salary: Â£46,000 per annum

Deadline for applications: Friday 28th January 2022


Diversity & Inclusion

At LW Theatres, we pride ourselves on being a family of individuals and actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds – it’s one of our core values and we believe celebrating our differences is key to success.

At the heart of our Company is a culture of inclusion where everyone feels seen and heard and can be themselves at work. Regardless of your background, all we ask is that you have the skills and experience required and the desire to succeed. In return, we pledge to ensure that our selection process is both transparent and fair.

We are also open to discussing opportunities to work flexibly.

This role may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received