Executive Director (Maternity Cover)

Liverpool, Lancashire
UNITY THEATRE
Executive Director (Maternity Cover)

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

Unity Theatre is a values-led venue with a busy programme and a complex funding mix. This maternity cover Executive Director role is central to keeping Unity stable, compliant and financially resilient whilst also strengthening the systems and income pipelines that help the organisation thrive.

You’ll be the organisation’s senior lead for governance, finance controls and trusts/grants fundraising, ensuring the Board has clear information for decisions, the team is well-supported, and Unity’s public work can happen safely and sustainably. This is a hands-on leadership role where good judgement, strong relationships and clear process can make a visible difference within 9 months.

PURPOSES OF THE ROLE

To provide operational and strategic leadership for Unity Theatre during a 9-month maternity cover period, ensuring strong governance, financial oversight, HR good practice, safeguarding policy oversight, and delivery of an effective trusts and grants fundraising programme.

A key focus of this role is not only continuity, but improvement – strengthening income pipelines, decision-making information, and internal systems so Unity is consistently in a better position.

YOUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Governance and Company Secretary

• Act as Company Secretary for Unity Theatre, ensuring strong governance practice and compliance with legal/regulatory requirements.
• Plan the annual board cycle; prepare agendas and board papers; ensure decisions and actions are accurately recorded and followed through.
• Maintain governance records (minutes, registers, filings as applicable, conflicts/declared interests, key policies) and ensure Trustee communications are timely and clear.
• Support Trustees to make informed decisions by providing clear reporting, risk information and recommendations.

Strategic leadership and organisational management

• Lead Unity’s organisational planning and delivery of the business elements of the Strategic Plan and annual business plan, reporting progress to Trustees.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to the staff team (line management as applicable), ensuring clarity of responsibility, good internal communication and steady delivery.
• Build an effective working partnership with the Artistic Director to align operational capacity and resources with programme needs (without overlap in artistic decisions).

Finance leadership, controls and reporting

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and cashflow oversight; prepare management reports for Trustees.
• Work closely with the Bookkeeper to maintain robust finance processes and ensure accurate records in the finance system (e.g. Xero).
• Approve invoices and authorise payment runs, ensuring appropriate controls, documentation and audit trail.
• Maintain and enforce financial procedures (authorisation thresholds, procurement value-for-money, segregation of duties, reporting and monitoring).

Payroll oversight

• Collate payroll inputs (hours, changes, starters/leavers as applicable) from managers/admin roles and submit to the payroll provider (Adding Value).
• Conduct final checks and sign-off payroll submissions, resolving discrepancies and ensuring deadlines are met.

Fundraising leadership – trusts and grants (core priority)

• Lead Unity’s fundraising programme focused on trusts and grant applications, including pipeline development, writing/submissions, relationship management, and reporting. Maintain a clear funding calendar and ensure timely delivery of applications and funder reports, coordinating input from colleagues as needed.
• Ensure applications are evidence-led, aligned with Unity’s strategy, and build a strong case for support (including budgets, outcomes, evaluation planning).
• Steward key relationships with funders and sector stakeholders, representing Unity professionally.

HR leadership and people management

• Lead HR processes and people management across the organisation, including recruitment, contracts, performance support, wellbeing and professional development.
• Manage HR compliance (right to work, induction, training records, DBS processes where applicable), and handle staffing issues fairly with appropriate professional advice where needed.

Safeguarding lead (policy and organisational oversight)

• Act as Safeguarding Lead, with responsibility for ensuring safeguarding policies and procedures are current, robust and embedded.
• Ensure staff, freelancers and trustees understand safeguarding responsibilities and that training and reporting pathways are in place and followed.

Risk management, compliance and operational oversight

• Maintain oversight of organisational risk management: risk register, mitigations, incident learning and reporting to Trustees.
• Ensure appropriate organisational oversight of health & safety and operational compliance through competent leads (e.g. Technical & Building Manager; Operations & FOH Manager).
• Lead business continuity thinking and decision-making during incidents, disruptions, or high-risk situations.

External relationships and reputation

• Act as a senior organisational representative with funders, partners, civic stakeholders and professional networks, strengthening Unity’s reputation and opportunities.
• Support development of earned income streams (e.g. hires) through organisational planning and internal coordination, where relevant to overall sustainability.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Senior leadership experience in a charity/arts/mission-led environment (or demonstrably transferable leadership experience).
• Strong governance competence: working with Trustees/boards, producing papers, supporting effective decision-making, and managing sensitive/confidential matters.
• Proven ability to lead trusts and grants fundraising (pipeline, writing, budgets, reporting, relationship management).
• Strong finance capability: budgets, cashflow awareness, controls, approvals, and working confidently with a Bookkeeper and auditors/accountants.
• HR leadership experience, including recruitment and handling people matters fairly and consistently.
• Excellent judgement, prioritisation and discretion; confident managing risk and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Commitment to inclusion, access and values-led leadership.

Desirable

• Experience in a venue-based organisation (theatre/arts centre/events) and understanding of operational realities.
• Familiarity with Arts Council/local authority funding and reporting expectations.
• Experience acting as Company Secretary or supporting comparable governance responsibilities.

Working arrangements

Unity operates an agile working policy. For this role, we expect a minimum of 60% (3 days per week) of working time to be based on-site at Unity Theatre. You are, of course, welcome to work on-site more than this if you prefer.

Please note: due to the nature of a venue-based organisation, you will be expected to work outside of core hours from time to time (including occasional evenings and weekends) to meet the needs of the organisation.

Annual leave

Annual leave for a full-time role is 25 days per year, plus UK bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time working).

Non-contractual time off

Unity normally closes on the working days between Christmas and New Year (excluding bank holidays). This closure period is provided as non-contractual additional time off and may vary slightly each year depending on operational need.

Theatregoing and sector engagement

Unity staff champion theatre and the work of our artists and partners. Where appropriate, this includes attending theatre productions at Unity and in the wider

sector to stay connected to current work, strengthen relationships, and build insight into audiences and practice.

• Staff are offered complimentary tickets for performances at Unity (subject to availability).
• From time to time, staff may also be invited to attend opening nights or partner productions elsewhere, where this supports organisational relationships and learning.

Attendance is encouraged where it supports the role and organisational priorities but will be balanced with workload and operational needs.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send:

• Your CV, and
• A supporting statement answering Questions 1-3 below.

These questions are designed to help us understand your experience, judgement and motivation for the role beyond what is captured in your CV.

We recommend a total word count of no more than 750 words across your answers (but you are welcome to write less).

Questions

1. Please describe your experience of working within or managing a senior leadership office (e.g. Executive Director/CEO or Board-facing role). Include your experience of supporting governance or board processes (papers, minutes/actions, decision-making). What have you found most challenging about this kind of role, and how have you approached it?
2. Trust, judgement and relationships are central to this role. Please give an example of a situation where your judgement or approach helped build confidence, manage sensitivity, or resolve a complex issue. (For example: governance risk, finance controls, HR . click apply for full job details