As Venue Director, you will be the driving force behind the success of your venue – shaping its vision, leading its people, and ensuring its place at the heart of both the local community and Trafalgar Theatres’ national portfolio.
This is a leadership role for a dynamic, commercially minded, and creative individual with the ambition to deliver exceptional customer experiences, achieve outstanding business results, and position the venue as a cultural destination of choice for audiences, artists, and producers alike.
You will balance strategic vision with operational excellence, inspiring your team to deliver first-class service and innovative approaches, while ensuring commercial growth, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
Through strong and capable leadership, the Venue Director has a direct responsibility for the ongoing success of the venue; driving a process of continuing improvement; embedding a culture that is focussed on results; and ensuring the effective management and motivation of the venue team.
The Theatre Director reports to the Regional Director and has wide-ranging relationships with others across Trafalgar Entertainment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Commercial Leadership:
* Own the venue’s strategy and business plan (short, medium, long-term) to achieve or exceed budgeted EBITDA and growth targets. Track KPIs/OKRs and course-correct decisively.
* Plan and forecast budgets, maximise profitability across all revenue lines (primary and secondary), and ensure strong financial controls and timely reporting with central finance.
* Allocate resources smartly and proportionately to deliver targets; monitor labour efficiency and cost as a % of profit.
* Create and pursue new income streams (e.g., hires, corporate partnerships, sponsorship) aligned to venue vision and group strategy.
Programme, Product & Marketing:
* Contribute actively to venue programming with the central Programming team; bring ideas, relationships and local intelligence, and take ownership for delivery and results.
* Ensure timely, accurate contracting for events, performances, hires and activities in line with company policies.
* With the venue marketing team, shape in-venue marketing strategies to support campaigns to deliver attendance, revenue and brand targets; share performance insights to inform future plans.
* Develop strong, positive and collaborative relationships with the central Campaign. CRM and Content teams to ensure marketing activity is aligned and executed excellently
People & Culture:
* Lead, inspire and develop a capable, motivated management team and wider workforce. Set clear goals, review performance, and address issues promptly.
* Embed Trafalgar values; create a positive, respectful, inclusive, collaborative culture that nurtures potential, supports wellbeing and champions innovation.
* Agree and monitor personal, business and service targets with managers
* Create a talent pipeline, identifying key roles
Operations & Standards:
* Ensure excellence in customer service across all touchpoints; achieve attendance and service KPIs.
* Oversee local contracts for cleaning, maintenance and H&S; maintain security, statutory compliance and the highest standards of health & safety.
* Uphold best practice in recruitment, retention, admin, compliance and financial control.
Partnerships, Community & Group Collaboration:
* Build productive relationships with producers, promoters, local authorities, media, tourism and cultural agencies, education providers, amateur societies and community partners.
* With the Creative Learning team, develop impactful community engagement programmes that position the venue as a hub for creativity and learning.
* Work cross-functionally with Trafalgar businesses to unlock shared opportunities and alternative revenue streams. Be an effective ambassador for the venue and the group
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
* Venue Profitability and EBITDA Contribution
* Achievement of business plan objectives, KPIs, and OKRs
* Attendance, customer satisfaction, and service excellence metrics
* Growth of secondary income and new revenue streams
* Staff engagement, retention, and development
* Delivery of community engagement and partnerships