Work With Us
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We're currently looking for Theatre Centre's next Executive Director/CEO.
The Executive Director/CEO (ED) is a key role in the executive structure, working alongside the Artistic Director (AD), and together they make up the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The SLT work together to plan and deliver the Company’s programme of work and lead the core staff members to achieve the strategy outlined in the Business Plan and the NPO Funding Agreement. The ED is the lynchpin between governance and day to day operations and will have sole CEO responsibilities, formally line managing all core team members and sharing leadership duties with the AD and acting as the executive producer for the artistic work.
The postholder is the strategic and business planning lead for Theatre Centre (TC) and is responsible for reporting to Theatre Centre’s Board of Trustees. Their strategic and management focus will be on finance, resources and capacity, administration, HR, governance, legal and stakeholder management, income generation, business/enterprise development, profile and partnerships, and future planning.
The ED will have oversight on all other areas of TC including Future Makers (our current model for all participation work), line producing, tour booking, development and fundraising, marketing and communications. This may include managing core and/or freelance staff and consultants.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Contract type: Full-time, permanent
Salary: £47,000 per year, rising to £48,500 on successful completion of probationary period.
Location: Theatre Centre is based at Unit 4 Crawley Business Centre, Stephenson Way, Crawley, RH10 1TN. This role is primarily office based and the ED will need to be present in the office at least three days a week, unless in other locations for meetings etc.
ACCESS AND INCLUSION
We are particularly keen to hear from applicants from underrepresented communities in the cultural workforce, particularly when considering disability, class and ethnicity, and people whose lived experience reflects the communities we work with. We guarantee to interview any disabled or neurodiverse applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the post and we have a budget to support access. If you have any questions about access, please email Emma Rees, Executive Director at emma@theatre-centre.co.uk.
If you are considering applying, we’d encourage you to speak to us first. You can do this by arranging a one-to-one chat by emailing emma@theatre-centre.co.uk.
KEY DATES
Deadline for applications 20th April 2026, 10am
First interviews 30th April 2026
Second interviews 7th May 2026
HOW TO APPLY
Please use our application portal HERE. The portal will ask you for:
your personal details
your personal statement in response to the Job Description and Person Specification (equivalent to a cover letter)
your CV (a summary of your skills and experience)
A complete Equal Opportunities form.
Your personal statement is your chance to show us who you are, why youʼre right for this role, and how your skills and experience match the key criteria in the person specification. Please make sure to cover the following points:
What excites you about applying for this role
The skills and ethos you would bring to the role
How your experience has prepared you for success in this position
Your personal statement can be submitted in the following ways:
A written personal statement of up to 1,000 words
A presentation in either Keynote or PowerPoint of up to 8 Slides
A short video or sound file no longer than 5 minutes
If something works better for you then feel free to email us and chat it through. Applications will be scored based on content, not format.
You must complete this Equal Opportunities Form HERE along with your application.
We want to help you submit the strongest application you can, so please bear in mind that we use a criteria-based scoring system to shortlist and we will make decisions based on what you tell us about how well your skills and interests align with the Job Description and Person Specification. If you’d like to know more about what this means, then please email emma@theatre-centre.co.uk.
ACCESSIBLE PROCESS
Your application will be read by at least three people.
All interview candidates will be offered the questions in advance at both stages.
The first interviews will be via Zoom with captions available.
The second interviews will be in person in our accessible offices in Crawley (travel expenses paid).
You will see at least three people at each interview.
Applicants who are invited for a second interview may be asked to prepare a presentation or similar task(s).
We will offer feedback to all unsuccessful candidates at each interview stage.
Weʼre sorry but we will not be able to offer feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interviews.
We will offer feedback to all unsuccessful candidates at each interview stage. We’re sorry but we will not be able to offer feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interviews.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions and would like an informal chat before sending in your application, we'd be delighted to meet you on a Zoom or phone call. Please contact Emma Rees, current Executive Director to set this up at emma@theatre-centre.co.uk
We are an ITC Ethical Employer and use ITC Equity Ethical Manager Contracts. We are also a disability confident employer.
