Job Title: Super Hesse
Job Type: Temporary, fixed term from Wednesday 10 June – Monday 29 June 2026
Location: Aldeburgh Festival 2026: Snape Maltings and surrounding areas
Department: Performance Programme
Application Close: Friday 13 March 2026
About us:
Britten Pears Arts (BPA) is a pioneering Music & Arts based charity, situated on the beautiful Suffolk coast, working across a wide range of activities. Music-related charitable work includes Artist Development, a year-round Performance Programme, Music in the Community and Creative Health and our Living Heritage Museum and Archive at The Red House. Together, these activities uphold the artistic legacy of our founders and continue their mission to make the arts useful and accessible to all.
The Aldeburgh Festival, founded in 1948 by composer Benjamin Britten and his life partner Peter Pears, remains one of the most distinctive and celebrated classical music festivals in the world. Every June, it brings together new commissions, world premieres and internationally acclaimed artists on the stretch of Suffolk coastline that so deeply inspired Britten and Pears. This year, we will be celebrating our 77th Festival and our 67th year of the Hesse Scheme.
The Hesse Scheme was launched in 1959 when Princess Margaret of Hesse and the Rhine wanted to ensure that more people, particularly young people, had access to the Aldeburgh Festival. Princess Margaret was a President of the Festival and a generous supporter for many years, establishing the Hesse Lecture Fund after the death of her husband, Prince Ludwig. The opportunity she created for people interested in music, heritage and the wider arts industry remains at the heart of the scheme today.
The role of Super Hesse is fixed term from Wednesday 10 June to Sunday 28 June 2026, and applicants should only apply if they are available to attend for the entirety.
Role Description:
The Super Hesse is a supervisory role, responsible for managing the scheduling, care and day-to-day coordination of those in the Hesse Scheme attending the Aldeburgh Festival. Ideally, applicants will have previous experience in the Hesse Scheme, Super Hesse or Artist Liaison at the Aldeburgh Festival.
Working closely with the Assistant Producer, you will manage the schedule of Hesse activities, arrange and lead daily briefings and act as the first point of contact for them. You will maintain communication with them across multiple sites during their working day, ensuring they feel well supported, informed and confident in their responsibilities.
You will also gain first-hand experience of managing a team at an international arts festival, assisting with Festival logistics and attending a wide range of Festival events. Throughout the programme, you will meet staff at all levels across BPA and have opportunities to ask questions, explore career pathways and develop a greater understanding of what it is like to work within a major arts and heritage organisation.
You will report to the Assistant Producer, Performance Programme, who will support you in your role and answer any queries you may have.
Key Responsibilities and Person Specification
* Attending preparatory meetings with the BPA music programme
* Managing and overseeing the schedule for all Hesse activities across the Festival
* Arranging and leading daily briefings with the Hesse
* Coordinating travel arrangements for the Hesse with the Festival Transport team, ensuring they arrive safely at all required locations and return to their accommodation at the end of each working day
* Liaising with relevant departments as necessary
* Maintaining regular contact with the Hesse throughout their working day
We are looking for an applicant who has:
* Excellent communication skills
* Great pastoral skills, and is supportive, approachable and caring
* The ability to remain calm, organised and flexible when dealing with last-minute changes
* Experience of working in a fast-paced, quickly changing environment
* Experience in a supervisory role
* A high level of organisation and attention to detail
Due to the nature of the Festival, some irregular and evening hours are required, but we always make sure you are well supported and able to take appropriate breaks.
There may be a requirement to use pool vehicles during Festival and therefore applications must be aged 21 or over and hold a full, clean UK driving licence.
What we offer you:
This is a wonderful opportunity to gain first-hand experience with an internationally renowned arts organisation, and whilst you are with us, we will provide:
* A fixed fee of £2,000
* Self-catering accommodation in Aldeburgh/Snape
* One hot meal per dayat one of the Snape Maltings catering outlets
* Reimbursement of your domestic travel expenses to and from Snape Maltings (up to the value of £100)
* Hands-on experience of an arts and heritage organisation and world-renowned Festival
* Career advice from industry professionals
* Free entry to concerts at The Aldeburgh Festival (where possible)
We are an equal opportunities employer and believe that diversity strengthens and enriches us. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates of all ages and from all backgrounds, in particular from global majority backgrounds and disabled candidates who are currently under-represented at Britten Pears Arts.