The Royal Ballet & Opera is partnering withNurole, the leading board-level search specialist, to find a new Trustee. You can find out more and applyhere. To arrange an informal conversation or in case of any other queries, please contact [email protected]
About Royal Ballet and Opera
Home to The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) brings together world-class performers and trailblazing creative teams to share unforgettable performances with audiences near and far. Its theatres are in London s Covent Garden, but its work is accessed and experienced across the UK and globally through streams, tours, cinema relays, radio broadcasts and TV output.
RBO has one of the busiest theatres in the world, delivering over 400 performances and around 1,350 learning events each year. It employs 1100 permanent staff and generates a turnover of £135m, attracting 1.5m attendances in Covent Garden and in cinemas, further extended via broadcasting, digital activity and collaboration with touring companies.
RBO strives to develop audiences across the UK and internationally, and to break new ground in the presentation of lyric theatre. As times have changed, it has remained at the vanguard of innovation in the ways in which audiences can experience opera and ballet. The aim is for audiences to interact, create and engage in RBO s artforms, physically and digitally. Public service values, and the need to be financially sustainable, sit right at the heart of this ambition. RBO seeks to inspire audiences through exceptional and accessible music and dance, opera and ballet.
Role specification
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of RBO and is its ultimate decision-making body. Supported by the Executive Team, it is responsible for overseeing the delivery of RBO`s mission and aims. As well as the main Board, this particular Trustee will also sit on the Finance and Commercial Committee.
All Trustees act as advocates for RBO, actively supporting fundraising efforts, attending events and mobilising their networks and relationships in support of our charitable objectives. In addition, every Trustee is expected to give financially, at a level appropriate to their means.
Person specification
The Royal Ballet and Opera is looking for a strategic advisor focussed on enabling innovation and growth. The successful candidate will have significant creative experience in a commercial environment. They will be values driven and understand the need for excellent people leadership and collaboration across multifunctional teams. They will be a team player with the skills and experience to act as a sounding board for relevant executive directors, and to lead board discussion at key decision points. As RBO looks to the future to ensure its continued success, it is looking for someone who can help bringing together talent, fresh thinking and commercial challenge to deliver this.
On a personal level, the successful candidate will share the Board s interest in and enthusiasm for RBO`s artforms, as well as their commitment to its goals and values, the importance of exceptional integrity and trust, and an understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. They will need to have a broad appreciation of the key challenges faced by the arts sector and the ability to bring their experience to bear on these challenges.
Board composition
Sir Lloyd Dorfman CVO CBE, Chair
Zeinab Badawi
Caroline Britton
Tim Bunting
Lisa Burger CBE
Lord Browne of Madingley
Philipp Freisse
Susan Hoyle OBE
Dan Ison
Stephen Lucas
Alan Stanton
Jo Streeten
Alistair Summers
Janis Susskind OBE
Sir Alex Younger
Alex Beard CBE, CEO
Patrons
His Majesty The King, Patron
Dame Vivien Duffield DBE, Hon. Vice-President
Sir Simon Robey, Hon. Vice-President
You can find out more about the Board here
Diversity
RBO strongly welcomes applicants from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. In line with the Disability Confident scheme and given that, as a protected characteristic disability is under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, RBO may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
Terms of Appointment
This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Board meets six times per year, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning for three hours; going forward, these will be in person. Trustees are also expected to sit on one of the Boards Sub-committees. The appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.
Location
Board meetings are currently held in Covent Garden. Candidates will therefore be UK-based or be able to travel to London regularly.
Nurole Process
After we have closed the application window on the Nurole platform, our team of experts carefully assess your application against the criteria outlined in the role specification. We will select a group of the most suitable candidates to present to the organisation, who will then be able to view the full application. We will always get in touch to let you know the outcome of your application.
As the organisation will view the applications without edits, we advise applicants to avoid using `see CV` or `please call me to discuss further` in your application as it may restrict your chances of progressing to the next round.
Read more about what to expect from the Nurole process at https://www.nurole.com/nurole-candidate-process
Take a look at Nurole guides on how to submit a strong application at https://www.nurole.com/news-and-guides/good_application_guide
Connected Parties
Please do not contact the organisation directly. Instead, if you know someone at the organisation, please mention it in your Reason for Application. Nurole members who do not respect this may risk having their membership terminated.
Role timetable
Deadline for applications: Midnight on 14th November
Candidates can expect to be contacted by: 28th November
Candidates can expect the process to be completed by: 31st December
