The Gate brings people together from across the world to engage with theatre, performance, art and ideas. Founded in 1979 to stage ground‑breaking international plays, the Gate has become a platform for radical artists, writers and directors from across the globe: known for its transformative ability to push the boundaries of what theatre is and could be. It is a place where creatives have been gathering to imagine storytelling differently, and where experimental thinking is front and centre.
At a time when the world and our own nation grow increasingly insular, we believe it is important to foster communication and understanding across borders, across languages, across cultures. The Gate works with artists in the UK to tell stories from beyond our borders, celebrating the multiplicity of identity within our artists and our audiences through the power of theatre. As a home for new voices and new ideas, we also have a reputation as a training theatre. Gate shows enable artists to take risks and to develop and advance their own talent, and their own professional journey, by making high quality work that moves the artform and the sector forward.
The monumental events of the pandemic have drastically changed the theatre landscape and ecology, with its effects being keenly felt through unpredictable audience behaviour, and rising costs. As the nation navigates the cost‑of‑living crisis, the arts continue to face devastating funding cuts and challenges, including the withdrawal of much local council arts provision and the increasing competition for resources across trusts and foundations. At the Gate, we have used this moment of transition to interrogate both our founding mission and what the needs of the sector are today. The Gate is now operating as a theatre producer as opposed to a venue, and seeks collaborations and partnerships in a variety of places to continue championing international voices through theatre.
The Executive Director is also the Chief Executive, with responsibility for the organisational and financial health of the Gate, securing funding for programme and working closely with the Artistic team to ensure the art is kept at the heart of our strategy.
Please note the Gate will be exploring succession planning for artistic leadership in the coming months and the incoming Executive Director will be involved in this Artistic Director recruitment process.
The Gate is seeking a confident, collaborative and compassionate leader, with deep understanding of income generation and experience in securing funding for the arts.
Leadership, Strategy and Planning
With the Artistic Lead and incoming Artistic Director, develop and lead the Gate's vision, mission and values
Oversee the delivery of the company's Business Plan, ensuring that objectives are met and revising the plan annually to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and in line with the company's long‑term vision
Lead on income generation for the company, developing strategy for multi‑year funder partnerships including future NPO bids, and ensuring the organisation is financially stable
Create a working environment and culture that enables the Gate to realise its creative ambition whilst recognising the limitations of its financial, time and human resources, ensuring the long‑term sustainability of the organisation and adherence with employment and health and safety legislation
Be responsible for all major stakeholder relationships, including The Albany, Arts Council England and Big Issue Invest.
Lead on the planning and delivery of the organisation's venue ambitions; in the short term developing relationships with co‑producers and receiving houses.
In collaboration with the Communications Manager, lead on the development and implementation of the Gate's Communications Strategy, seizing opportunities to raise the Gate's profile in the theatre sector both in London, nationally and internationally
Seek exciting and like‑minded partner organisations and charities in our local community, and beyond, to create shared activities which strengthen the Gate's mission
Line‑management responsibilities for the Artistic Director, Senior Producer, and Development Manager
Funding and income generation
Develop the company's ACE core funding applications, working with the Artistic Director, and associated reporting and evaluation
Manage the relationship with Big Issue Invest, ensuring responsible repayment of social investment and timely updates on forward plans
Cultivate relationships with potential funders, taking a hands‑on approach at events and meetings with donors and overseeing all funding applications to Trusts and Foundations
Oversee the Development Manager in creating a long‑term fundraising strategy and case for support, and support them in meeting the ambitious annual targets for Individual and Trust fundraising
Manage freelance fundraising consultants brought on to support ad‑hoc project targets
Financial management
Set and monitor the annual budget for the company and productions, working closely with the Senior Producer on programme expenditure
Work closely with the Board's Finance Trustee in annual budget setting and quarterly reporting, and ensure the continued financial viability and strength of the organisation
Create and present quarterly management accounts and cashflows to the Board and funders as required
Work with the Accountant on the annual audit process
Ensure that all staff adhere to the Gate's Financial Controls Policy and internal finance guidelines
Governance
Build strong relationships with the Chair and Board members
Oversee the preparation and distribution of board papers, ensuring that the Board receives accurate and timely information
Arrange and attend Board Meetings and ensure Board members are kept fully informed on artistic, finance, legal and HR issues
Act as Company Secretary, including submitting relevant paperwork to Companies House and the Charities Commission
Proactively manage the Risk Register for the Gate
Ensure implementation of and compliance with all policies, procedures and legal requirements, including employment law and GDPR
Ensure that the Gate's work in anti‑racism, equality, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability is placed at the centre of the Gate's decision making. Ensure that effective policies and plans are in place to promote these, with regular monitoring and reviews to reflect best practice
Productions, Operations and HR
Work with the Communications Manager to ensure the effective delivery of sales campaigns and a sustained programme of audience development
Explore opportunities for the Gate to take its work elsewhere including on tour and within its local community
Oversee the Senior Producer in their delivery of the day to day activities of the theatre and their budgets
Negotiate with co‑producing and partner companies
Work with the Senior Producer to negotiate authors' rights and commissioning contracts
Negotiate terms for premises agreements and maintain stakeholder relationships regarding all property related issues
Lead on all HR matters to include: recruitment; employment contracts; day to day positive people management, and ensuring all HR policies and procedures are maintained and implemented
Nurture a culture of organisational and personal wellbeing and support the team in their professional development
Shared responsibilities with all staff members
Uphold and promote the Gate's values in everything we do
Promote the work of the Gate both within the industry and to all potential audience members.
Adhere and actively contribute to all policies and procedures including health and safety, anti‑racism, safeguarding and Green Gate
Additional tasks as required, commensurate with the overall purpose of the post
Skills
Essential
Demonstrable affinity with and commitment to the Gate's mission and values
Strategic leadership experience at SMT level in an arts organisation
Significant fundraising experience, securing gifts of over £50,000 and a comprehensive understanding of the fundraising climate
Understanding of the business planning process
Ability to collaborate with creative practitioners to translate an artistic vision into an annual programme within defined parameters of time and budget
Experience in managing relationships with funders and other key partners
Understanding of the London and national theatre ecology
Experience of financial responsibility for multiple projects/productions, including setting and managing annual budgets
A personal drive to create an inclusive, diverse and accessible world
Experience of HR and positive people management
Experience of a range of contract negotiations
A confident leader and collaborative team member
A clear decision maker with strong communication and presentation skills
Ability to lead on the creation and implementation of a fundraising strategy
Desirable
Experience of leading an organisation
Experience of co‑production and creative team contracting
Experience of developing and implementing business plans
Knowledge of audience development and marketing
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