Lighting Control & Visualisation Assistant Manager (Programming and Documentation bias)

Royal Ballet and Opera; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Ballet and Opera Lighting Department is recruiting an experienced Lighting Control programmer and leader to join the team in Covent Garden, London. You will work with leading lighting designers to program and operate shows for world-class opera and ballet productions, guiding a team of programmers and developing their skills.

This permanent role supports an ongoing lighting upgrade programme, shaping workflows and documentation, and contributing to safety, efficiency and artistic

Qualifications

• Track record in lighting console programming (ETC preferable) from live performances or events.
• Ability to programme and operate the lighting console for new and revival productions on the main stage.
• Maintain the highest artistic and technical standards in house, at outside venues or on tour.
• Knowledge of Lightwright, Vectorworks and MLA.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of programmers and develop their skills.
• Program and operate shows for world-class productions on the main stage.
• Collaborate with leading lighting designers and cross-functional teams.
• Support the lighting upgrade programme and help develop workflows and documentation.

Skills

Lighting console programming

Team leadership

Mentoring

Communication skills

Tools

Lightwright

Vectorworks

MLA

Job description

Salary: £50,492.64 per annum for average 42.5 hours per week (flexible around the RBO rehearsal and performance schedule)

Permanent position

Based in: Covent Garden, London

Prior to commencing your application

please review our application guide here.

The Royal Ballet and Opera continues to lead the way in opera, ballet, music and dance both live on stage and through multiple digital platforms, from live streaming to worldwide cinema screenings. Our Covent Garden theatre has been at the heart of London and British cultural life for three centuries. We are home to two world-class Companies: The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera.

The Royal Opera House describes the place we work, not who we are. The whole is always more than the sum of its parts – we may be a House, but three quarters of our audiences experience what we do outside this building. While our Covent Garden theatre is the nerve centre, the impact and influence of the organisation can be felt in every corner of the country, and around the world.

The Role

Our Technical, Production and Costume Department plays a leading part in ensuring our performances are of the highest quality by delivering excellence for every performance, rehearsal and event. We are now looking to recruit into our Lighting Control team, embedded within the wider lighting Department. An experienced programmer and leader, you will work closely with colleagues to ensure operational and production requirements of rehearsals and performances are carried out to the highest possible standard of safety, efficiency and quality.

You will be working alongside some of the world’s leading lighting designers, programming and operating shows for world class opera and ballet productions, with the opportunity to work both nationally and internationally. You will be working with the Manager and two other Assistant Managers (with networking and visualisation biases) to help lead a team of programmers, develop their skills and spearhead the sector with our visualisation suite and innovative technology. You will have the opportunity to grow and manage your own areas of specialism to help provide first‑class service to the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet Companies and their visiting creative teams.

In addition, you will be joining The Royal Ballet and Opera Lighting Department during a critical part of their lighting upgrade programme. This project will result in the improvement of the venues' lighting equipment and production lighting infrastructure during a phased timeline whilst also continuing our repertoire of shows. This position will play a key role in developing workflows and procedures for the Lighting Control team for both new and revival productions.

What You’ll Bring

Our ideal candidate will be an experienced and capable programmer, with an interest in working across a varied repertoire. You will have excellent communication skills, the ability to mentor and motivate a team and a collaborative approach to leadership.

You Will Also Be Able To Demonstrate

• A track record in lighting console programming (ETC preferable), gained from working with the latest technology on live performances or events. Current experience is essential.
• The ability to programme and operate the lighting console for new and revival productions on the main stage.
• Maintain the highest artistic and technical standards in house, at outside venues or on tour.
• Good understanding of software such as Lightwright, Vectorworks and MLA along with other documentation tools an advantage.
• An aptitude for developing and maintaining relevant documentation and a passion for improving processes and workflows.
• A positive leadership style, leading by example.
• Strong relationship management skills and a clear and proactive approach to communication.

We value the diversity new hires can bring to our workforce. A working knowledge of our repertoire is not essential, but the ability to learn quickly is.

The Royal Ballet and Opera is one of the UK’s leading arts organisations and our aim is to inspire imagination, ignite emotion and make the extraordinary for everyone. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion underpin all that we do. We want our people to be representative of the diversity in the UK. We understand the creativity and innovation that diversity can bring and strive to create an inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive.

We encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and skills to join our teams. We particularly welcome applications from those who are from a global majority background and/or those who are disabled, as they are under‑represented within our organisation.

We are a Disability Confident Employer, which means that we are actively working to ensure that candidates with disabilities and long‑term health conditions feel supported, engaged and able to fulfil their potential in the workplace. We will endeavour to offer an interview to candidates who tell us they wish to participate in the scheme and who demonstrate in the application that they meet the essential criteria for the role, though sometimes due to the volume of qualified candidates with declarations this is not possible.

The RBO is also committed to safeguarding and protecting all children, young people, and adults and we implement robust safer recruitment practices. Due to our safeguarding promise, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check before commencing employment with us, which will be indicated in the advertising.

Closing date for applications: 11:59pm, Monday 31st August 2026.

Interviews will be held the week of 7th September 2026.

To ensure a fair process, late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.

Applicants must have work authorisation for the UK. No agencies.