Assistant Producer (Producing and Touring)

Candidate Pack

Dadderrs by Frauke Requardt and Daniel Oliver, photograph by Zoe Manders

About The Place

The Place is the UK’s premier contemporary dance centre, based in central London. Since its inception in 1969, The Place has been a driving force for contemporary dance in the UK and Europe and one of the world's key resources for dance development. It has pursued a global vision for a world with more dance and is a world-leading centre of artistic excellence, creating an ecosystem for dance unlike any in the world. 

The Place offers conservatoire education and training through London Contemporary Dance School; a busy programme of boundary-pushing performances in our theatre supported by innovative audience development activities; an extensive professional artist development programme; a growing producing and touring house; and learning and participation opportunities for all ages and skill levels. The commitment to artistic development underpins a portfolio of residency, workshop, training and commissioning projects for professional artists from the UK and the rest of the world. Our reputation in the field of contemporary dance reaches beyond the borders of the UK. 

As an organisation, The Place is involved in the entire lifecycle of dance – from education and training to the creative process that leads to new ideas and conception of new work, through to its creation, production and performance. 

Our mission...Powering imagination through dance 

We do this by fostering a learning culture which promotes innovation, deep human connections and critical thinking; by developing dance opportunities which span a lifetime and by creating experiences through dance that make us more alive. 

The Place receives funding as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Annually, it commissions over 45 professional artists and supports over 100 artists. In addition, the theatre and artist development team present over 120 performances to audiences in excess of 25,000 in London with 77,000 audiences reached nationally and internationally through the touring programme. There are over 2,000 learning and participation sessions with engagement from 6,000 pupils from local schools, whilst there are over 30,000 participation sessions primarily for adults, via the highly popular evening and weekend programme of classes and courses.  

Theatre and Artist Development at The Place

The Place is a world-renowned dance organisation. Our Programming teams at The Place work together to present more than 120 performances a year in one of Europe’s busiest dance theatres and support choreographers to create new dance works by commissioning and producing shows that are seen in London, across the UK and all over the world. We run a class programme attracting over 30,000 children and adults each year and our creative learning team deepen and grow our connections to our audiences and local schools. All our teams are active members of many UK and international networks - National Dance network, European Dancehouse Network and the Aerowaves network and have ongoing projects with these and other national and international partners.

Major projects in 2019/20 include:

· Resolution – An annual 6-week platform for new choreography featuring more than 80 companies

· Performances by and for families and young people throughout the year including annual Family Dance Day

· A unique associate artist scheme – Work Place

· Shape It – a European Union funded international project focused on co-creating work for young people

· Choreodrome and Touchwood - summer residencies and work –in-progress performances.

· Ongoing Classes for Children and Adults including Summer Dance Courses

· Get Camden Dancing – a project to deepen our connection to local schools and communities

· A collaboration with National Rural Touring Forum, Take Art and China Plate, funded through Arts Council England Strategic Touring Fund, to tour dance to rural locations across the UK

· Producing and co-producing new shows by Requardt & Rosenberg, Sivan Rubinstein, Uchenna Dance, Frauke Requardt and Daniel Oliver. Future projects under discussion with Lost Dog and Avant Garde Dance

· Ongoing expansion of our wraparound programmes (Spectator School) connecting our theatre’s work to even more of our local audience

Staff

The team has 26 core staff working on the theatre programme, producing and artist development, classes and courses, creative learning, technical operations and front of house/box office. They are supported by a team of freelance technicians, box office and front-of-house staff, teachers, accompanists, directors, and interns and many freelance artists.

Job Description

Assistant Producer (Producing and Touring)

Role

A core member of the TAD team, the Assistant Producer (Producing and Touring) works closely with the Projects Producer, Senior Producer and other colleagues to assist in developing and producing in house productions and co-productions.

You will be the first point of contact across all projects and a key communicator for the department. You will also be responsible for maintaining administrative processes and coordinating a variety of projects from initial idea and research and development, through creation and onto touring.

This role reflects The Place’s ambition to provide producing support for artists to realise ambitious new performance projects at The Place and on tour. The works supported by the Assistant Producer might be works that are touring the UK and/or internationally, part of the Rural Touring Dance Initiative or work for outdoor spaces.

Reporting to: Projects Producer

Working closely with: Projects Producers, Youth and Families Producer and Senior Producer

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Research

Research funding opportunities, venues, outreach and marketing opportunities.

Contribute to departmental discussions about policy, planning, future strategy and budgets.

Research the feasibility of specific initiatives as required.

Maintain and expand individual knowledge of the UK dance sector by researching relevant material, attending and taking part in meetings, watching performances and attending events with the guidance of the Projects Producers.

Communication

Meet visitors and respond to phone/email enquiries in a polite, warm and professional manner

Work with the Theatre and Artist Development team to build and maintain excellent working relationships with artists, producers, other arts venues and stakeholders

Use discretion and sensitivity when working across teams, maintaining a professional and approachable manner.

In liaison with the Communications department, update and maintain the information provided on the Theatre and Artist Development sections of The Place’s website

Update and develop the Producing & Touring Newsletter, liaising across the organisation and with relevant stakeholders for updates and information, ensuring accurate information is kept and updated as required.

Maintain social media channels and assist with marketing shows.

Projects

· Maintain close working relationships with the project team, and company production teams for touring shows, fostering a sense of trust and reliability.

· Undertake financial administration tasks e.g. coding invoices, administering per diems and petty cash, maintaining & updating project budgets and collating receipts.

· Ensure project management documents are up-to-date and accurate and share updates across project teams.

· Be the central point of contact across project teams and partners.

· Organise meetings, taking notes where required

· Organise call outs, process applications and arrange interviews/auditions as required

· Organise spaces for rehearsal & R&D, liaising closely with the Artist Development Assistant Producer, Space Hire Administrator and external contacts.

· Organise press and guest nights, and pre/post show events

· Attend shows and sharings and organise workshops on tour

· Undertake contract administration tasks e.g. drafting documents, printing & sending out project contracts.

· Maintaining and update systems and databases for departmental information, ensuring efficiency of process and accuracy of information.

· Contribute to funding & evaluation reports, assist with drafting of fundraising applications.

· Book travel & accommodation on tour & as required; maintain a tour book.

General & Other

· Adhere to good practice in administrative, financial, contracting and customer care systems, as directed by the Director of Operations and Strategic Projects.

· With the Assistant Producer (Artist Development) and the Programme Assistant, be responsible for the day to day operation of the office; to include providing an appropriate environment for visitors and staff, developing and implementing office systems, photocopying, filing, taking and collecting the department’s post

· Minimise expenditure at all times while ensuring quality and meeting The Place’s cultural objectives.

· Advocate for and represent The Place in all appropriate situations, including at venues on tour.

Any other duties that may reasonable be requested by the Projects Producer, Youth & Families Producer or Senior Producer.

Person Specification

Essential

Desirable

Demonstrable administrative experience in an arts environment

Experience of project coordination and administrative work, in a dance environment

Demonstrable knowledge of performing arts in the UK, either broad or specialist; this may be demonstrated through work experience, voluntary experience or education

Demonstrable knowledge of contemporary dance in the UK & internationally

Proven organisational skills, including the ability to set up schedules and systems, monitoring budgets and organise events

Knowledge of publicly funded projects e.g. Arts Council England Strategic Funds, Creative Europe

Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to relate to a wide range of people in person, by telephone and email

Demonstrable experience of working with artists and engaging with them sensitively in a constructive and supportive way

IT skills including confidence & proficiency in using a range of software packages

Experience of Spektrix box office system and SurveyMonkey

Proven ability to work on own initiative with tenacity and detail, and prioritise a range of tasks with minimal supervision

Experience of compiling and presenting reports to a high standard

Good interpersonal skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Recent experience of working in a team

Good numerical skills with keen attention to detail

Experience of budgeting

Enthusiasm and confidence to deal with a constantly changing and evolving artistic environment

Commitment to ongoing development of own skills and abilities

Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally as requested

Willingness to work out of office hours when required

Salary, Hours of Work and Benefits

Salary

£23,725 per annum rising to £24,325 per annum upon completion of the six-month probationary period.

Salaries are reviewed in April each year when any cost of living increases are made. No salary changes are made until the post holder has completed a six-month probationary period.

Contract

This is a full-time, open ended permanent contract. Whilst in the six-month probationary period the notice period will be two weeks. Once this period is successfully completed the post holder will be confirmed in post and the notice period will be eight weeks.

Hours

The Place’s normal working hours are 40 hours per week. This is a full-time position inclusive of a one-hour paid lunch break each day. Hours are recorded annually to reflect fluctuations in workload. Your hours of work will be agreed with the line manager.

The post requires a flexible approach as there will be evening and weekend work for which time off in lieu will be given in agreement with your line manager.

Pension

All employees will be automatically enrolled in our pension scheme after three months service. We offer two contribution levels for both employee and employer, an entry level where you contribute 5% and we contribute 5%, or a higher level in which you contribute 6% and we contribute 9%.

Holiday

The Place’s full-time holiday allowance in 25 days plus 8 bank holidays per year. The annual leave allocation runs from January to December each year, holiday entitlements will be pro-rated for postholders starting in the middle of the year.

Other Benefits

· Interest-free season ticket loan (after three months)

· Theatre ticket allowance of up to £100 per year

· Free and discounted access to The Place’s evening classes (subject to availability)

· Subsided café and bar prices

· Salary sacrifice scheme for the purchase of bicycles and related equipment

· Subsided staff yoga/Pilates and staff choir

Applications and Interviews

Information Event

We will be holding two information events for this role, Thu 12 Dec 1pm-2pm and Fri 13 Dec 6pm- 7pm. These will provide an opportunity to learn more about The Place, to meet some of the Theatre and Artist Development Team and to ask questions about the role and application process. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to jobs@theplace.org.uk

How to Apply

Completed applications should be returned to jobs@theplace.org.uk by 12 noon Mon 6 Jan 2020.

Equal Opportunities

The Place is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

In accordance with our Equal Opportunities Policy, we ask that each applicant complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring form, this can be accessed here. Monitoring information is collected and processed separately to applications, if you do not wish to disclose this information please return a blank monitoring form.

Interviews will be held Thu 16 and Fri 17 Jan 2020 at The Place.

The Place is an equal opportunities employer and we are keen to ensure everyone applying for employment has an equal experience when attending an interview. Should you have any queries about, or wish to make us aware of, any support required to attend an interview or to work at The Place or would like this pack in alternative format please contact Laura Naldrett, HR and Administration Manager who will be happy to discuss this with you in confidence on 020 7121 1002 or email: laura.naldrett@theplace.org.uk

We apologise that we are unable to respond to every application individually. If you have not heard from us by one month after the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Thank you for your interest in The Place.

Dec 19

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