Overview
Duty Manager – Derby Theatre (0244-26) – Derby, DE22 1GB
About the University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the College/Department
At Derby Theatre, we are a charity and a National Portfolio organisation for Arts Council England, and we’re known for artistic excellence. We’re committed to education. And we believe that theatre can change your life.
Previously Derby Playhouse, we have a long and important theatrical history. As Derby Theatre, we work in partnership with the University of Derby and are a home for higher education students. We produce new plays and projects, collaborate with artists and local people, and offer training for young people too, with opportunities for learners of all ages. It’s all about empowering people to tap into their potential and achieve.
About the Role
As Duty Manager, you will play a key role in delivering an exceptional customer experience across Derby Theatre. You will supervise Customer Service Assistants, oversee the smooth delivery of events and productions, and ensure the safety, security and accessibility of the venue and its visitors.
You will be a visible and welcoming presence, providing confident leadership, coordinating teams across the venue and responding effectively to customer feedback and complaints. You will also support the successful day-to-day operation of the theatre, including cash handling, reporting, risk management and venue presentation.
Working closely with café, bar, box office and front of house teams, you will help maximise secondary sales opportunities while ensuring high standards of service, communication and professionalism are maintained. This is a varied, hands-on role for someone who thrives in a busy customer-facing environment and enjoys supporting both people and operations.
Please note the working pattern for this role is 30 hours per week working 4 days over 7 with usual shifts being 16.30 – 23.30 / 9.00 – 16.30 / 8.00 – 15.30
However, we would welcome applications from candidates who wish to be considered for a job share. The role is required on a 30 hour per week basis therefore a job share could only be offered should a suitable arrangement be available with the days and/or hours of work to be agreed on appointment. Please indicate in your application your preference of days and/or hours you would be available to work.
About You
We’re looking for a confident and experienced supervisor who thrives in a busy, customer-focused environment and enjoys leading a team. You will have demonstrable experience in a supervisory or Duty Manager role, ideally within a theatre, arts, cultural or public venue, or be able to demonstrate strong supervisory experience in a similar setting.
You will have excellent customer service skills and the ability to lead by example, maintaining high standards while creating a positive and welcoming environment for both customers and colleagues. Confident communication is essential, with the ability to deliver clear, effective staff briefings and ensure key operational information, commercial priorities and income-generating initiatives are understood across the team.
Calm, organised and proactive, you will be comfortable making decisions on shift, responding to challenges and ensuring procedures are followed while delivering an exceptional experience for every visitor.
What should I expect if I am invited to an interview?
We aim to make the interviews as accessible and engaging as possible, and we want you to talk about yourself and your work experience in a relaxed and friendly setting.
We believe an interview is a chance for you to find more information about the role, us as an organisation and for you to get a sense of whether this is the right environment for you.
With this in mind, we have designed an interview process which will enable potential candidates to meet members of the team and partners, see some of the spaces you might be working in, and of course a chance to talk about you and your work experience.
Benefits
Please refer to the job description for Derby Theatre benefits. Please note benefits from University of Derby do not apply.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Ruth Brailsford, Front of House Manager via R.brailsford@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.
To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.
The Theatre is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.
Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.
Closing Date: 04 Oct 2026
Area: Operational Support
Salary: £27,232 to £30,258 per annum pro rata
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
