Information
Location: Gloucester office & home working, with travel to Hereford and Worcester.
Hours: 0.6FTE (annualised hours)
Period: 12 months
Salary: £25-£28K pro-rata
Closing date : Midnight 9th March 2025
Interview date: Tuesday 18th March in Gloucester
Start date: 28th April 2025
The Role
The Three Choirs Festival is seeking a Production Manager to oversee logistical and technical operations. This role focuses on the infrastructure in the cathedrals at the heart of the festival, and the Festival Village that surrounds them, but you will also be involved in planning events in outlying venues. With a loyal and passionate audience, the festival atmosphere and the meeting points outside of concerts – for food, drink or simply some time-out in the sun – are as much a part of the festival’s character as the programme itself. Therefore, this role would be ideally suited to someone who can think about a festival-goers experience in the round.
Working with the Artistic Planning Manager and Chief Executive on a programme devised each year in consultation with a local Artistic Director, the Production Manager will work with a wide range of stakeholders while being responsible for delivering H&S and environmental best practice, and high-quality production values. They also lead on the use of our core planning software, Artifax, and organise temporary freelance staff and volunteers during the festival. From liaising with contractors in the cathedrals to organising temporary structures and facilities in our festival village, overseeing risk assessments, managing a team of freelance staff and overseeing the administration of a large team of volunteers, you will be a key part of our public-facing administration, alongside the Production Coordinator.
Reports to: Chief Executive | Management responsibilities: Production Coordinator, seasonal operations team; volunteers
Duties
This role works to ensure the smooth delivery of the festival and a high-quality experience for our audiences. You will be involved in all aspects of festival delivery, from securing venues to planning site facilities and ensuring that our audience, artists, staff and volunteers are operating in a safe and welcoming environment. It is expected that some duties in whole or in part will be delegated to the Production Coordinator, while remaining the overall responsibility of the Production Manager. This list sets out the main requirements of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive:
Finance
* Under the guidance of the Finance Manager, manage the annual production budget, maintaining accurate records of your committed and estimated spending to support the production of quarterly forecasts.
* Provide accurate figures as requested to support the work of the fundraising team, and work with other departments to obtain costings to meet their technical and logistical requirements.
* Liaise with external companies to exploit commercial opportunities (e.g. bar providers, street food sellers, retailers). Prepare tender documents and secure trader arrangements that contribute to budgeted income.
Venues
* Make availability and cost enquiries and secure dates for venues and other ancillary buildings to support the festival’s operation, carrying out venue risk and accessibility assessments.
* Establish and maintain good relationships with venue staff, particularly the staff and clergy of the cathedrals, working together to plan infrastructure that is sensitive to the daily life of its community.
* Take responsibility for the overall festival schedule, maintaining details of rigging, resources, equipment and volunteer rotas. Using Artifax to store and distribute information, ensure artistic planners, friends’ committees and the fundraising team are keeping information about rehearsals and events up to date.
Logistics
* Obtain quotes and book temporary structures and facilities (e.g. marquees, staging and seating, toilets, catering and bar equipment, lighting & AV, radios, PA), always striving to maintain high-quality balanced with an economical approach. During the festival, oversee the work of all contractors on site and ensure that work is at all times compliant with Health and Safety regulations.
* Liaise with local councils to ensure the festival is a positive presence in the city and prepare the Event Management Plan for each festival, sharing it with all relevant parties.
* Take overall responsibility for the festival village and wider festival site, ensuring plans are rigorously prepared, that signage is clear and installed according to the plan, and care has been taken to keep the festival accessible.
* During the festival, establish a local office and make all relevant arrangements for its operation, providing additional facilities and accommodation for staff as required during Festival period. Lead on site support and checks that H&S procedures are followed at all times.
Artistic Support
* Be mindful of operational factors that might impact on artistic decisions and be proactive in alerting the Chief Executive, Artistic Directors, Artistic Planning Manager to any areas of concern.
* Assist in arrangements for instrument hire and tuning, stage furniture, event-specific technical riders, and backstage facilities.
Staff and Volunteers
* Recruit a team of freelance staff to cover key temporary operational roles (e.g. Event Managers, Cathedral Front of House Production Assistants and Stage Managers).
* Oversee the recruitment of volunteers. Co-ordinate and brief volunteers and temporary staff during festival week, ensuring clear protocols are in place for handling emergencies at all venues and that plans for evacuation or medical intervention are clearly understood by all staff and volunteers.
Policy and Processes
* With the Chief Executive, regularly review policies and procedures relating to operational delivery, and write a Health and Safety evaluation report to present to the board of Directors annually for review.
* Review TCF’s Environmental Policy and write an Environmental Assessment and Action Plan on an annual basis with the Production Coordinator.
* Maintain the log of accidents and incidents, taking action or reporting to RIDDOR as required.
* Oversee the renewal of annual insurance policies for both day-to-day operations and the festival period.
Skills and attributes
Essential
* At least 2 years’ experience in events management and/or production.
* Experience of managing budgets and obtaining supplier quotes.
* Understanding of current H&S regulations, particularly regarding audience safety.
* IT literate, with a good knowledge of MS office packages, especially excel.
* Self-motivated and able to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines.
* Ability to communicate confidently and build good relationships with people fulfilling a range of roles, from volunteers and committee members to suppliers and contractors.
* Excellent attention to detail.
* Access to independent transport (some venues have limited public transport access).
* Experience of reading and understanding technical specifications.
Desirable
* Experience of using Artifax (or ability to quickly learn new planning database software through available online training).
* Understanding of environmental impact assessment.
* First Aid and H&S Qualifications.
* Understanding of safeguarding best practice and experience working with children.
* Knowledge of and interest in classical music.
* Experience of working with visiting performers.
Working at Three Choirs
We are a small, friendly permanent staff of 11 people, augmented by casual box office staff between March and July, and a freelance crew during the festival period. Our office is in the heart of Gloucester, in the grounds of the beautiful Gloucester cathedral, and easily accessible by public transport. The age and location of the office means that we do not have step free access (though a ramp can be provided). If you’d like to discuss access arrangements in advance of an application, please contact David Francis (Chief Executive) at info@3choirs.org.
The full-time working week is 35 hours, and normal hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. A number of people work flexibly, and you are welcome to discuss flexible working requests at interview. TCF operates a hybrid working model, with everyone present in Gloucester on Mondays and on average up to 50% of contracted hours worked from home. Please note that this role is critical to the build and strike of the festival, and so the postholder is unlikely to be able to take leave or work remotely during the lead into, during and immediately post the festival. (c. 3 weeks from mid-July). Some work will be required at evenings and weekends during the festival itself.
There is a three-month probationary period for this post. Please note that the successful applicant will be required to complete a DBS check, or have their certificate verified via the DBS Update Service before assuming this role.
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