Head of Commercial & Operations

Nottingham Playhouse Trust Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading arts organization in Nottingham is seeking a Head of Commercial & Operations to drive commercial and operational strategies. This permanent, full-time position involves overseeing business development to maximize income from events and venue hires while ensuring operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in leadership, financial management, and a collaborative approach to enhance visitor experiences and foster relationships. A passion for innovation and a history of successful commercial growth are essential.

Benefits

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted parking and travel

Discounts on bars

Enhanced Holiday and Sick Pay

Free and/or discounted tickets

Free Playhouse Pass membership

Flexible Working opportunities

Paid day off for birthday

Relaxed working environment

Staff pension

Training and professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a leadership role within a complex venue, arts, or hospitality.
• A track record of driving entrepreneurial thinking and action for new business ventures.
• Extensive experience in commercial strategy development, event management, and revenue generation.
• Strong financial management skills including budget oversight and P&L responsibility.
• A customer-first attitude with a passion for enhancing the visitor experience.
• Collaborative leadership style with diverse team management.
• Experience in managing complex building operations, health & safety, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a commercial strategy for revenue maximization.
• Drive creation of value-added events and experiences.
• Proactively generate income streams through unique events.
• Oversee operations, maintenance, and health & safety compliance.
• Improve the customer journey and service at all touchpoints.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders for alignment.
• Manage P&L responsibilities ensuring financial success.
• Lead change initiatives for growth and operational success.

Skills

Commercial growth

Operational excellence

Entrepreneurial thinking

Financial management

Exceptional communication

Job description

Head of Commercial & Operations

At Nottingham Playhouse, we’re embarking on an exciting new chapter, and we’re looking for a bold, entrepreneurial leader to drive our commercial and operational strategies forward. As the Head of Commercial & Operations, you will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and will be the driving force behind our efforts to maximise income, enhance the visitor experience, and take our operational and commercial activities to new heights.

Purpose of the Role

In this new role, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of the Playhouse by integrating and driving the growth of our commercial, operational, and customer-focused activities. You will lead the development and implementation of initiatives to increase visitor spend, revenue generation from venue hires, events, music programming, and conferences, all while ensuring seamless operational delivery.

Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, your entrepreneurial mindset will be key in identifying new business opportunities and commercial revenue streams. From developing value-added events and hospitality offerings to forging new partnerships, you’ll have the ability to think creatively and act decisively to expand the Playhouse’s reach and profitability. Your leadership will also encompass overseeing building operations, health & safety, and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Location: Nottingham, UK

Salary: £40,000 - £42,000 per year depending on experience

About You

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, dynamic, and strategic senior leader with a proven track record in both commercial growth and operational excellence. You will be dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, constantly seeking innovative ways to grow income and optimise operations. Your ability to identify and capitalise on new opportunities will be crucial to the success of this role.

You’ll have a strong commercial and operational background, ideally within a theatre, venue, or similarly complex environment, and you’ll be adept at managing diverse teams to deliver exceptional results. With a collaborative approach to leadership, you’ll inspire your teams and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You’ll have a passion for creating new business ventures, driving change, and leading by example to deliver tangible results.

What You Will Do

• Lead with entrepreneurial thinking: Develop and execute a commercial strategy to identify and capitalise on new business opportunities, maximising revenue from venue hires, events, hospitality, and other commercial activities.
• Grow income streams: Drive the creation and execution of value-added events and experiences, including corporate, community, and creative events, working closely with colleagues to ensure alignment with both cultural and business objectives.
• Innovate for success: Take a proactive approach to generating new income streams, devising unique events, and identifying creative ways to maximise use of our venue and hospitality spaces.
• Operational excellence: Oversee building operations, maintenance, and health & safety, ensuring all activities meet statutory requirements and run smoothly.
• Enhance the visitor experience: Lead efforts to continually improve the customer journey, delivering exceptional service at every touchpoint and exceeding visitor expectations.
• Collaborate and communicate: Build strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, using your exceptional communication skills to influence and inspire others towards shared goals.
• <>Lead with financial acumen: Manage P&L responsibilities, including budget oversight and financial reporting, ensuring that all activities contribute to the financial success of the organisation.
• Champion change: Proactively manage change, working with your team to implement new initiatives that will drive growth and success in all commercial and operational areas.

What You Will Bring

• Proven experience in a leadership role, overseeing both commercial and operational functions, ideally within a complex venue, arts, or hospitality environment.
• A track record of entrepreneurial thinking and action, identifying, developing, and executing new business ventures that drive growth and profitability.
• Extensive experience in commercial strategy development, event management, and revenue generation.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget oversight, P&L responsibility, and financial forecasting.
• A customer-first attitude with a passion for delivering exceptional service and enhancing the visitor experience.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, motivate, and lead diverse teams.
• Experience managing complex building operations, health & safety, and compliance with statutory regulations.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and nurture relationships at all levels.

Apply Now

For more information about the role and working at Nottingham Playhouse, please download the Job Pack.

Nottingham Playhouse is committed to a policy of diversity and inclusion, creating a workforce representative of the diverse communities we work with. Our workforce is currently under representative of certain communities and we are taking positive action for equal opportunities through the recruitment process.

Application closing date: Sunday 04th January 2026 (end of day)

Interviews: W/C 12th January 2026 (may be subject to change)

Hours

Full-time 37.5 hours per week

Cycle to Work scheme, Discounted parking and travel, Discounts on our bars offer, Enhanced Holiday and Sick Pay, increasing with length of service, Free and/or discounted tickets, Free Playhouse Pass membership, Opportunities for Flexible Working, Paid day off for your birthday, Relaxed working environment with informal dress code, Staff pension, Staff social events, Training and professional development opportunities

Job attachments

Head_of_Commercial_Operations_Job_Pack_December_2025_-_updated.pdf