Director of People & Culture

ABOUT US

With a mission to enrich the cultural life of our region, Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the most popular theatre complexes in the UK. Varied productions in our 1,850-seat auditorium (dating from 1899), and in our 200-seat Patrick Studio ensure we play a key role in the region’s world-class cultural scene. With c.400 live performances annually in our main house, we present nothing but the best in touring musical theatre, ballet, dance, opera, pantomime, drama, and comedy.

Our Patrick Studio welcomes a range of smaller-scale productions and is an important base for dance and for the development of new artistic work.

Department
:
Directors

Job Title of Line Manager
: CEO & Artistic Director

Direct Reports
:
Head of People, Culture and Talent

Contract
:
Permanent, Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Location
:
Onsite at Birmingham Hippodrome with flexibility for hybrid working

Salary
: £75,000 - £80,000 per annum

The Director of People & Culture sits within the Executive Leadership Team and, along with the Artistic Director & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Creative Programmes, Director of Operations and Executive Director. The Executive Team are responsible for striving towards achieving the vision to create ‘a distinctive, world‑class Birmingham cultural scene with the Hippodrome at its heart’ and succeeding in the mission to ‘provide that “goosebumps” feeling through memorable and extraordinary experiences’.

The Director of People & Culture plays a key strategic leadership role in shaping an inclusive, values‑led and high‑performing organisation where people can thrive. Working as part of the Executive Leadership Team, they lead the development of people, culture and talent strategies that support Birmingham Hippodrome’s mission, people and future growth, while also acting as a key liaison with the Board on people and culture matters.

You’ll need significant senior leadership experience in People/HR/OD, including with people strategy, organisational strategy, workforce planning, and culture change. You’ll have strong experience of employee relations, consultations, restructures, change leadership, and employment law; plus strong experience of leading EDI&B, managing senior stakeholders, and advising executive leaders and Boards.

You’ll have a CIPD Level 7 or equivalent, and ideally additional accreditation in areas such as mediation and leadership development. You’ll also need financial leadership skills with the ability to control organisational people spend and manage budgets.

Recognising under‑representation in our workforce of the global majority, and people with disabilities, we particularly welcome applicants from those backgrounds.