Senior Producer

Job Title: Senior Producer

Job Reference: N/A

Location: Birmingham Rep Theatre

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £40,419 - £42,759 per annum

Hours: 39 hours per week

Holidays: 20 days per year plus public holidays

Notice Period: 1 week during probation, 2 months after successful completion of probation

Contract Type: Permanent

Job Summary:

The Birmingham Rep Theatre is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Producer to join our Producing Team. As a key member of the team, you will be responsible for producing projects that are part of our programme in the House, Studio, and Door. You will work closely with the Executive Team, Producing Team, and staff to ensure that our work is fully integrated into the fabric of the organisation and is supported by colleagues across the building.

Main Responsibilities:

• Deliver productions, co-productions, and tours of the theatre's work at the highest levels of creativity and professionalism.
• Be an active part of the Producing Team, participating in discussions about the overall programme at the Rep and delivering the produced activities around productions which form a core part of the department's remit.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Team, Producing Team, and staff to ensure that our work is fully integrated into the fabric of the organisation and is supported by colleagues across the building.
• Line manage the Assistant Producer and the Producing Co-ordinator.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with the Artistic Director, Deputy Artistic Director, and Director of Producing and Programming on the creation of Rep productions, co-productions, and tours, and leading on the delivery of them including scheduling, budgeting, artist negotiation, liaison, and contracting.
• Managing several overlapping projects at differing stages of their delivery, including R&D, pre-production, rehearsal, running touring periods, and ensuring that all projects are delivered on time and to budget.
• Assisting and supporting the Artistic and Executive Directors and Director of Producing and Programming in the programming of the theatre by contributing to the identification and choice of possible artists, productions, co-productions, and work by visiting companies.
• Communicating clearly and effectively with all artists and freelancers involved in each Rep production.
• Facilitating the work of the artists we welcome into The Rep to enable them to give of their best, whilst also being responsible for making sure that creative ambitions are held within the limitations of agreed budgets for line-produced projects.
• Negotiating and agreeing commissioning and rights agreements with writers and contracts with creative team members, actors, musicians, stage managers, and freelance production staff, ensuring that Union agreements are observed.
• Working with the Director of Producing and Programming to negotiate, agree, and monitor contracts with relevant co-producers, touring venues, and visiting companies which aim for the best possible outcomes for The Rep's work; supporting the Director of Producing and Programming to strive for the best conditions for work beyond our stages.
• Taking responsibility for budget management and reconciliation, and reporting on costs and expenditure to the Director of Producing and Programming on a weekly basis.
• Liaising with project partners in order to ensure that agreed contractual, budgetary, and quality commitments are met.
• Assisting and supporting freelance Casting Directors with casting arrangements.
• To lead on some casting where appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Programming Administrator - Schedule access/assisted and relaxed performances and liaising with colleagues for their promotion and management.
• Working with the Finance Director to prepare Theatre Tax Relief claims for all permissible expenses on productions.
• Working with the Finance department to deliver royalty and settlement statements.
• Alongside the Deputy Artistic Director lead on R&Ds and workshops including talent development.
• Collate and respond to contact from artists and ensure Producers are aware of upcoming talent Deputise for the Director of Producing and Programming where necessary.
• Lead on Safeguarding for all Productions and attend Safeguarding Forum meetings.

Line Managing:

• Ensure that systems and processes are in place for the Assistant Producer and Producing Co-ordinator to aid the smooth running of all stages of a production.
• Appraisals for reports to the Senior Producer.

Key Relationships:

This role forms part of the Producing team and reports to the Director of Producing and Programming. The department also includes another Producer, an Assistant Producer, a Producing Co-ordinator, and a Programming Administrator.

This structure may change from time to time based on business need, but reflects the broad areas of responsibility.

Internal:

• Liaising with relevant Rep senior staff, including the Head of Production, over production logistics, schedules, targets, budgets, and contractual obligations.
• Ensuring a timely and accurate information flow between all departments involved in the producing process, understanding the particular needs and points of access required by different departments.
• Liaising with all other members of the Producing Team and helping to maintain clear and regular channels of communication.
• Ensuring the Marketing and Communications Department are suitably informed to deliver impactful marketing campaigns.
• Attending relevant meetings and participating in training activities as and when identified by the Artistic or Chief Executive and/or Director of Producing and Programming.

External:

• Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with the agents for writers, actors, creative teams, and musicians, and industry bodies including Equity, BECTU, the MU, and UK Theatre.
• Developing and extending the theatre's relationships with appropriate external agencies and organisations in theatre production and fostering partnerships where appropriate.
• Keeping abreast of local, national, and international developments in theatre production and the emergence of performers and creative team members to ensure that the theatre is at the forefront of development in such areas.
• Attending a wide range of work including festivals, workshop performances, and work-in-progress.

Person Specification:

You must have:

• A love of theatre/the arts and an understanding of the impact it can have on the lives of individuals and communities.
• An enthusiasm for and experience of making work with multiple collaborators.
• Experience of artistic collaboration and facilitation.
• Experience managing large-scale productions.
• Proven ability to take the initiative and lead teams under pressure.
• Ability to manage multiple time-sensitive priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience in negotiating and contracting artists.
• Experience of managing partnerships and building relationships.
• Experience of working with creative talent and with technical/production teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication and influencing skills.
• Strong financial and budget management skills.
• A commitment to championing the equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level of the organisation and the proven ability to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Excellent IT skills including all Microsoft applications.
• Ability to show resilience when dealing with change and ambiguity.
• An eye for detail and accuracy.

It would be great if you had:

• Five years proven experience of developing and producing productions on the mid-large scale.
• Experience of working with the Equity/BECTU/TMA subsidised rep agreements.
• Experience of theatre contracts and co-production agreements.
• A track record of supporting and developing talent in the West Midlands region.
• A good working knowledge of the guidelines around Theatre Tax Relief, especially with regard to co-productions, and an understanding of how to maximise legitimate claims.

Terms and Conditions:

Period of work: This is a permanent contract, subject to successful completion of a probationary period of three months.

Pay: Salary: £40,419 to £42,759 per annum (dependant on experience).

Hours: 39 hours per week.

Holidays: 20 days per year plus public holidays rising to 25 days plus public holidays. The holiday year runs from 1 September to 31 August each year.

Notice period: The notice period will be one week during the probationary period and two months after successful completion of probation.

Location of work: Your main place of work will be at The Rep in Birmingham, but you may be required to work temporarily at other locations, especially if supporting a tour.

Other benefits:

• Contributory staff pension, 5% employee and 3% employer.

Non-contractual benefits:

• A day off for your birthday.
• Free-to-use employee assistance service.
• Staff ticket discount.
• Staff discount in The Rep food and drink outlets (when available).
• 25% Season Ticket discount on parking at Q-Parks £5 day rates at Utilita Arena North and South Car Parks.
• Access to salary sacrifice schemes including Bike to Work scheme and Health Cash Plans.
• We actively encourage all staff to see shows as believe that being part of The Rep product enhances everyone's experience as an employee and ambassador.

To ensure everyone has a chance to attend shows every staff member is invited to attend press night for all The Rep's own productions along with further complimentary tickets where possible as well as competitive discounts throughout the year.