Deputy Chief Executive Officer / Director of Operations

Circomedia; Bristol; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent cultural organization in Bristol seeks a Senior Leadership role combining Deputy CEO and Director of Operations responsibilities. The successful candidate will oversee strategic operations, financial systems, and foster a supportive culture. Strong leadership and financial management experience is essential, alongside advocacy for the arts. This role offers a chance to shape the future of circus and physical theatre.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading operations within charity or cultural sectors.
• Experience managing outsourced HR and financial teams.
• Understands charity governance and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Deputize for the CEO and represent the organization externally.
• Manage the financial and operational systems of the organization.
• Foster an inclusive culture and support staff wellbeing.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Financial management

HR management

Strong communication

Line management

Health & safety leadership

Advocacy for the arts

Education

Accountancy or HR qualification

Job description

Overview

This is a new senior leadership role, combining Deputy CEO responsibilities with Director of Operations duties.

As Deputy CEO, you will deputise for the CEO at Board meetings and external events, represent Circomedia in networks, and help shape strategy and direction.

As Director of Operations, you will ensure Circomedia is well-run with the systems and information in place to support our ambitions.

You will join the Strategic Team (joining the CEO, Director of Engagement & Participation, Director of Education & Training) and play a pivotal role in nurturing future generations of circus and physical theatre artists.

Governance and Leadership

• Ensure the organisation has appropriate and effective organisational policies, processes, systems and management structures, including human resources management, health and safety, communications, customer relationship management systems, sustainability, data management and data protection
• Support the CEO by writing the operational reports for the Board and attending Board meetings, preparing agendas, minutes, meeting arrangements (places and dates), onboarding and offboarding Trustees, and ensuring compliance requirements are met
• Attend monthly Strategy Group and staff meetings and quarterly SMT meetings, taking the lead on sessions where appropriate

Finance

• Ensure appropriate and effective systems for financial management and internal financial controls, including budgeting, business planning, forecasting, management accounting, delivering financial targets and financial compliance
• Manage the outsourced finance support (bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, invoicing)
• Contribute to funding bids and prepare reports for successful bids

People

• Support an organisational culture that nurtures staff and freelancer wellbeing, implements fair and competitive pay benchmarked to the subsidised arts sector and provides professional development opportunities with clarity of progression routes
• Establish a Salaries & Remuneration Working Group
• Manage the outsourced HR team to: use Breathe HR software effectively, deliver fair recruitment, induction, onboarding and offboarding ; oversee line management, job reviews and contract, collect equality data and run the annual staff wellbeing survey
• Keep HR policies and procedures compliant and up to date

Property

• Work with the CEO and Board to ensure that Circomedia has the space needed to provide first class circus and performance training ; liaise with landlords on maintenance, repairs and lease discussions; arrange purchase or repair of infrastructure and equipment as needed; manage cleaning and maintenance contracts ; oversee the property maintenance checklist and ensure the correct licences and insurance are in place
• Maintain robust administration and Health & Safety systems, ensuring staff are trained (IOSH/NEBOSH), follow procedures, and keep thorough records

IT and Data

• Support IT functions to remain user-friendly, fit for purpose and cost effective with essential planning in place to manage risk
• Audit and review evaluation and data collection systems that contribute to the draft evaluation framework and train staff in the use of these systems.
• Access and use data to write and contribute to information for stakeholders and to influence decision making

Personal Specification

Essential

• Champions an inclusive working culture that welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and promotes creativity, equality, accessibility, learning and enjoyment.
• Senior leadership experience in operations, ideally within the charity, education, or cultural sectors.
• Proven track record in financial management and HR.
• Strong understanding of charity governance and compliance.
• Experience as a line manager including managing outsourced provision.
• Experience of leading health & safety.

Desirable

• Accountancy, HR, or Health & Safety qualification.
• Experience managing property portfolio.
• Experience in the arts or subsidised cultural sector.

Other skills

• Strong advocate for the arts.
• Strong communicator, written and verbal.
• Confident and reliable to lead under pressure.
• Ability to build relationships and represent the organisation.
• Commitment to achieving environmental good practice.

Circomedia’s Values

• Ambitious: We push boundaries in education, performance and participation.
• Collaborative: We work with artists, communities and partners to create opportunities and share knowledge.
• Creative: We embrace innovation and celebrate difference.

How to Apply

• Access Needs
• If you need any access support for your application, please reach out to us.
• What to Send
• Your CV including contact details for two referees in a Word document or pdf format to [e-mail]. One of your referees must be your most recent employer/client and neither will be contacted until the position is offered and we have your consent.
• A covering letter (no more than 2 pages) in a Word document or pdf format OR a short video (max. 5 minutes – send via We Transfer).
• What to Cover
• In your application, written or video, please tell us:
• Why you want to join Circomedia.
• How your skills and experience match the responsibilities in this pack.
• How you embody our values: ambitious, collaborative, creative.
• What excites you about helping us grow the future of circus and physical theatre.

The Process

Closing date: 12noon Monday 3 November 2025.

Shortlisting: We’ll review all applications against the person specification.

First Stage Interviews: will take place online on 12 November. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a short task.

Second Stage Interviews : will take place in person in Bristol on 19 November.

Final decision: We aim to appoint shortly after the second interviews.

C1EO