Bush Theatre is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and highly organised Human Resources professional to support the administration of the theatre and promote a continued positive work culture with the company.

 

Please note that this position requires working on site. 

 

We want you to have the opportunity to really tell us about yourself and explain why this position is right for you in whatever way feels most appropriate for you. Please send one of the following, alongside a basic written CV:

 

●      A personal statement (500 words max)

●      Presentation - Keynote or PowerPoint

●      Short video or sound file (5 minutes max)

 

All applications will be judged on content not on format. We have suggested some options above, but if you would like to suggest an alternative for you to use just let us know.

 

All applications should address the following questions:

 

●      Tell us a little about yourself and why this position interests you.

●      Tell us what experience you have had that means you meet the person specification outlined in the job description; please include practical examples for us to consider.

●      What would you be bringing to this role?

●      Do you have any qualifications you want to tell us about?

 

1. Read the Job Description and Person Specification. 

 

2. Apply through our recruitment portal Breathe HR. 

 

You can upload video or sound files using the We Transfer service https://wetransfer.com/. When using this service, please include the We Transfer link in your Breathe HR attachments by including the link in your CV or submitting it on a separate document.  Please don’t forget to include your CV. 

 

3. Complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring form.  This helps us to better understand if our recruitment practices are accessible and equitable to all.

 

If you have any need for this information in a different format please contact our Theatre Administrator Pauline Walker by emailing jobs@bushtheatre.co.uk or phone 020 8743 3584.

 

Deadline for applications: 23.59 on Sunday 23 March 2025

First Interview date: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 

Second Interview date: Monday, 7 April 2025

 

Interviews will take place in person at the Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 8LJ.  The nearest tube stations are Shepherd’s Bush Market on the Hammersmith and City Line and Shepherd’s Bush on the Central Line

 

We produce new plays and develop artists who see the world from a different vantage point and who write stories for the many communities in contemporary London. Our diverse team and their range of experiences are vital to the Bush’s success, but we have ongoing work to do to make sure the team always fully represents the communities we work and engage with. 

 

If you are excited about this role and the work we do we want to hear from you even if you don’t meet every criteria of the job specification.  We are particularly keen to receive applications from underrepresented and marginalised groups such as people of North African, Sub-Saharan African, West Asian, East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander and Indigenous backgrounds, Migrants, LGBTQIA+ people and those who are disabled or neurodiverse.

 

 

As part of our Minimum Criteria Guaranteed Interview scheme, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role.  If you consider yourself to have a disability or long-term condition and would like to apply through this interview scheme, please let us know by stating ‘I would like to apply through the Minimum Criteria Guaranteed Interview scheme’ anywhere in your application.

 

Your application and any associated personal information will be stored and processed in accordance with our Data Policy and destroyed after six months. We will keep your equal opportunities form for a period of up to 6 months, after which the data will be anonymised and aggregated for monitoring purposes. If you are engaged by us, the information you supply will be kept securely and form part of your record with us.

 

Opened in 1972, the Bush Theatre is internationally renowned as ‘the place to go for ground-breaking work as diverse as its audiences’ (Evening Standard).  

 

A champion of playwrights and operating in one of the most culturally diverse areas of London, the Bush Theatre is committed to its local community and the wider artistic community. Braiding these two strands of work together, the Bush produces an engaging and challenging programme that reflects the world we live in. 

 

Recent successes include multi-award-winning productions Red Pitch by Tyrell Williams and Shifters by Benedict Lombe which both transferred to the West End and Invisible by Nikhil Parmar which transferred to Off-Broadway.  Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer, Igor Memic’s Old Bridge, Waleed Akhtar’s The P Word, and Sleepova by Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini won the Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre’ in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively.  

 

The Bush Theatre’s talent development programmes discover and develop the very best of the UK’s leading artists. The Bush team believes the theatre has a responsibility to programme and generate opportunities for new and established makers and, with long-term residencies, add to the sustainability of their careers.

 

The Bush continues to create a space where all communities can be part of its future and call the theatre home.

 

Meet the Bush team
 

Responsible to:               Deputy Executive Director (Line Manager)

 

Working closely with:      Heads of Department

 

To be responsible for the delivery of a range of general HR duties, including recruitment, training, performance management, Equal Opportunities report and general HR administration. Overall to provide proactive, consistent and people-focused HR support for the Bush Theatre.

 

●      Management of central HR inboxes ensuring queries are responded to in a timely manner.

●      Maintaining staff and Board member records including the updating of contact information, holiday usage, sickness, training and performance management.

●      Manage our HR system, BreatheHR and be the key contact for internal support needs.

●      Produce a range of employee letters and correspondence when required (e.g. variation to contract letters, maternity letters, pay review letters).

●      Support the Executive team with reporting requirements for Arts Council England, Board and other stakeholders, including managing Equal Opportunities monitoring.

●      Assist with HR project administration, including conducting research, collating and writing reports and supporting the management of relationships with the board, local authority, Arts Council England and other key stakeholders as required for the Executive team.

●      Support the Deputy Executive Director with data management compliance.

●      Together with the Deputy Executive Director, review and ensure that company policies and procedures comply with all relevant employment regulations.

●      Support the Executive team with the implementation of any new employment policies.

●      Provide policy advice and support to managers about onboarding, probation, flexible working requests, absence queries and raising of concerns, escalating to the Executive team as required.

●      Maintain all standing documentation including the review and update of the Company Welcome Pack, policy documentation and action plans ensuring the documents are relevant and useable.

●      Support the Deputy Executive Director with any organisational projects, such as culture change, engagement and recruitment initiatives.

●      Support the Executive team to manage our approach to Equal Opportunities, Cultural Diversity and Inclusive practice, Environmental Sustainability and Organisational Culture.

●      The administration and coordination of recruitment campaigns for permanent, casual and freelance staff. 

●      Supporting hiring managers to review job descriptions and create a recruitment plan in liaison with the Deputy Executive Director.

●      Creating job posting on candidate tracking system and website.

●      Promoting job opportunities including creating job adverts, researching the best places to post roles, monitoring application levels and equal opportunity data and adjusting approach as required.

●      Coordinating the shortlisting processes including monitoring diversity of the applicant pool, creating reports for hiring managers and the Senior Management team.

●      Coordinating interviews including room bookings, and creating interview schedules.

●      Contacting all applicants with the results of their application.

●      Coordinating feedback for candidates as appropriate.

●      Archiving closed roles and deletion of personal data in line with our GDPR policy.

 

●      Managing the on-boarding processes for all permanent, casual and freelance staff, including drafting contracts, conducting right-to-work and DBS checks, obtaining references, new starter paperwork and updating our HR system BreatheHR.

●      Providing relevant starter details and training, including welcome pack, organisational policies and first day induction and tour.

●      Assigning a relevant desk and assigning appropriate equipment, supporting line managers to conduct a visual display unit assessment.

●      Processing all leavers, including leaver forms, equipment return and conducting all exit interviews, reporting to senior management any issues or trends identified, update the HR system BreatheHR as appropriate.

●      Share starter and leaver details with Finance, including outstanding payments, holidays or TOIL entitlements for leavers.

 

●      Track any changes to pay and other terms and conditions and prepare a monthly payroll amendments summary for review by the Deputy Executive Director and processing by Finance.

●      Support the Deputy Executive Director in performing the annual  salary review, including benchmarking salaries and creating proposed salary levels.

●      Prepare the pay review documentation, including the pay review letters.

 

●      Coordinate the biannual performance review process providing teams with appropriate resources and documents.

●      Ensure current performance review documentation is up to date and fit for purpose.

●      File all documents relating to performance in relevant personnel files.

●      Support managers with performance improvement plans as required.

●      Arrange training as appropriate using internal and external providers.

 

●      Support the Deputy Executive Director with documentation and process management of Disciplinary, Grievance, Capability and Appeal processes, including organising meetings, preparing packs for attendees, taking minutes etc.

●      Attend hearings as appropriate and when needed.

●      Send all correspondence to individuals in relation to formal processes.

●      Support managers on informal approaches to issues raised by staff.

●      Work closely with our Executive team and any external HR support, where needed to resolve any relevant issues raised.

●        Attend read-throughs, sharings, Preview, Press and Supporters Nights and other Bush Theatre events as required. 

●        To keep up-to-date with productions and news in the theatre sector.

●        Actively develop and implement green policies and practices for the department. 

●        Adhere to, and actively contribute to all Bush Theatre policies, including Equalities (diversity, access and equal opportunities), Environmental and Health & Safety.

●        To maximise income and minimise expenditure wherever possible, without jeopardising the quality of the work or the reputation of the Bush Theatre.

●        To act always in the best interest of the Bush Theatre.

●        Any other duties as reasonably required.

●        An affinity for the mission, vision and work of the Bush Theatre and a passion to help achieve the theatre’s success.

●        Experience of Human Resources administration and providing support to Heads of Department.

●        Working knowledge of UK employment regulations.

●        Proven ability to manage the implementation of effective employment policies and procedures.

●        Excellent organisation and planning skills with proven ability to work flexibly under pressure, to prioritise and to meet deadlines.

●        Proven excellent communication skills, written and verbal including simple report writing, human resources documentation such as job descriptions and adverts and staff inductions, including an excellent eye for detail and exemplary proofreading and formatting skills.

●        A positive attitude with a high level of self-motivation and the ability to work using your own initiative solving or pre-empting potential problems.

●        An understanding of equal opportunity and cultural diversity issues in the delivery of our service.

●        A demonstrable commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming work environment.

 

●        Experience of working in an arts administration role.

●        Experience of Arts Council England Reporting.

●        Experience of using Microsoft Office suite and Google suite.

●        Project management experience in a theatre or events setting.

●        An up-to-date knowledge of the theatre sector particularly contemporary theatre and new writing.

 

Hours:                   21 hours per week excluding an hour unpaid break, across four days, two full days and two half days, although additional hours may be necessary to fulfil the requirements of the post. Regular working day between 10am and 6pm.

Salary:                   £30,000 per annum pro rata.

Holidays:               30 days per annum inclusive of Bank Holidays.

Probation:             Three months.

Contract type:       Permanent.

Notice period:        1 month during probationary period, 3 months thereafter.

 

 

●      Interest-free season ticket loan (after probation) for employees.

●      Cycle to work scheme for employees.

●      Complimentary tickets to all Bush productions subject to availability.

●      Enhanced holiday and additional holiday for length of service.

●      Birthday holiday.

●      Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave policies.

●      20% discount on food and drink at the Library Cafe Bar.

●      Access to a confidential counselling service.