National Theatre

The National Theatre (NT) makes world-class theatre for everyone, reaching millions of people every year through live and digital. The NT creates and shares unforgettable stories with audiences across the UK and around the world. On its own stages in London, on tour, in schools, on cinema screens and streaming at home, it strives to be accessible, inclusive and sustainable. The NT empowers artists and craftspeople to make world-leading work, investing in talent and developing new productions with a wide range of theatre companies at its New Work Department. Our nation thrives on fresh talent and new ideas, so the NT works with young people and teachers right across the UK through performance, writing and technical programmes to ignite the creativity of the next generation. Together with communities, the NT creates ambitious works of participatory theatre in deep partnerships that unite theatres and local organisations – showing that nothing brings us together like theatre.

The National Theatre is now seeking an Executive Director to succeed Lisa Burger, who will be stepping down from the role in Summer 2022. The Executive Director will report to Rufus Norris, Chief Executive and Director of the NT (“the Director”) and will have responsibility for the business management and organisational leadership of one of the world’s most ambitious, successful and complex performing arts organisations. The Executive Director also has a direct reporting relationship to the NT Board and this role will be appointed by the Director and the Board jointly. The Executive Director is involved in every area of the National Theatre’s activities and will have direct responsibility for the day-to-day management of an organisation with pre-COVID revenues of £100m and a company of more than 2,000 employees and freelancers. Supported by a strong and talented senior team, the person appointed will need to demonstrate creativity, vision, leadership, and the ability to represent the NT to the outside world. Candidates will bring a commitment to artistic excellence and ideally substantial experience at senior management level or above in a creative organisation. The post-holder will need to be strategic, resilient, entrepreneurial, able to provide leadership to the Senior Management Team, and confident in managing financial and creative risk.

The NT wants its workforce to be representative of all sections of society and welcomes applications from everyone. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for our vacancies.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the National Theatre on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference ETNB. Alternatively, telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Friday 27th August 2021.