Legal & Industrial Relations Manager

INDEPENDENT THEATRE COUNCIL; London; On-site; GBP 27,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading organization in the independent performing arts sector seeks a part-time Legal Advisor to provide legal and management advice to its members. The successful candidate will have a legal background and experience in negotiation and dispute resolution, contributing to the support of over 450 venues and companies. This role offers flexible working hours and is based in London.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of employment, contract, intellectual property, charity, and company law.
• Ability to deliver practical advice in a clear manner.
• Strong internet research capability and computer literacy.

Responsibilities

• Delivering legal and management advice to ITC members.
• Researching and updating legal materials.
• Negotiating with entertainment unions on terms.

Skills

Negotiation

Dispute Resolution

Problem Solving

Analytical Skills

Listening Skills

Education

Legal Qualification (e.g., LCP, SQE)

Job description

ITC is the UK’s management association representing the independent performing arts sector. We are a community of over 450 venues, touring companies, and producers working in drama, dance, opera, musical theatre, mime, physical theatre, circus, puppetry, street arts, and mixed media.

ITC is run on a day-to-day basis by a small and committed team with legal, financial, and performing arts management expertise. The staff team is supported by a large, active, and engaged board, made up of managers, producers, and directors from within our membership.

ITC offers its members a wide range of benefits including legal, management & financial advice; training & professional development opportunities; online resources such as template contracts, specialist help sheets & an industry newsletter; networking events & conferences. We offer member organisations practical help with company registration, charitable status, and DBS applications. We advocate for the industry and represent it to policy makers.

ITC believes that…

• That the performing arts thrive when people are put before profit
• That the performing arts have the power and potential to change lives
• That the performing arts should be available to the many not the few
• The value of a community of performing arts professionals

Job Description & Terms

The successful candidate will have legal training and experience of advice giving, negotiation, and dispute resolution. The work is varied, interesting, and rewarding and requires excellent listening and problem-solving skills.

Responsible to: CEO

Part-time/Flexible working: 21 hours (0.6)

Full-time salary: £45,000 (Pro rata £27,000)

Office: The Albany, Deptford, London SE8 4AG

How to Apply:

Please find an application form and equal opportunities form on our website with instructions on who to send them to.

Application closing date: 9am, Monday 16th June 2025

Interview date: Tuesday 24th June 2025

This appointment will be dependent on the receipt of satisfactory references, proof of right to work status, and successful completion of a DBS counter-signatory application.

Key Responsibilities:

• Delivering Legal and Management advice to ITC members (companies and individuals) over phone, email, or in person on issues including employment, contracts, intellectual property, company & charity law.
• Researching, creating, and updating help-sheets, articles, guidelines, legal updates, model contracts, policies, and other written materials to supplement the advice service.
• Negotiating with entertainment unions (Equity, Writers’ Guild, BECTU) on terms and conditions for sector workers (e.g., actors, stage managers, directors, designers, writers, technicians). Producing and updating recognition agreements and minimum terms.
• Mediating disputes between ITC member companies, employees, freelancers, and venues.
• Representing ITC members in disputes with unions.
• Devising and delivering seminars, webinars, courses, and podcasts on legal and management issues to groups of ITC members and arts practitioners.
• Advising ITC’s Board and CEO where necessary.
• Working with ITC’s CEO on advocacy relating to legal or management issues.
• Developing projects to support the management of ITC members’ companies.
• Maintaining advice records, monitoring, and evaluating ITC advice service.
• Promoting and raising awareness of ITC advice service.

Person Specification:

Essential skills:

• Knowledge of employment, contract, intellectual property, safeguarding, charity, and company law.
• Ability to deliver accessible, practical advice over phone, email, or in person.
• Ability to explain legal issues in a jargon-free way.
• Concise, clear writing style.
• Excellent listening and analytical skills.
• Excellent negotiation and mediation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work cooperatively within a small team.
• Strong internet research capability and computer literacy (self-servicing).
• Good presentation and public speaking skills.
• Legal qualification/experience (e.g., LCP, SQE, or similar).

Desirable skills:

• Understanding/experience of working with Trade Unions.
• Understanding of legal, operational, and information needs of small businesses.
• Knowledge/experience of UK arts sector.
• Understanding of membership organisation.

In your supporting statement, we actively invite you to draw from your broad life experience to show how you meet the person specification. ITC actively encourages applicants from a broad range of society and is happy to consider flexible working to accommodate caring commitments, disability, and other life circumstances.

Research shows that while men tend to apply for jobs when they meet around 60% of the criteria, women and people with protected characteristics tend to only apply when they check every box. So if you think you have what it takes but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still apply.