Head of Public Programmes

Job Summary

The National Centre for Circus Arts is one of Europe's leading providers of circus arts training, based at the striking Shoreditch Electric Light Station in Hoxton. This role leads the strategic and operational delivery of the National Centre's wide reaching public programme, including the Adult and

Job Description

The Head of Programming will lead the development and delivery of public facing and professional programmes, ensuring that they are innovative, engaging, and financially viable. This involves strategic oversight of the Recreational Programme, Open Training programme, as well as the organisation's marketing efforts and data and systems provision. The role will also involve close collaboration with other departments to ensure a cohesive and strategic approach to public engagement and commercial opportunities.
The postholder will directly manage the Recreational Programme Manager, Marketing Manager, and Systems and Memberships Manager, with wider oversight of Circus Arts Teachers, Support Workers, and Programme and Facilities Coordinators. They will also take on the role of Deputy Safeguarding Officer, contributing to Safeguarding and Health and Safety Committee meetings.

Job Requirements

We are looking for an organised, strategic and commercially aware programme leader with at least two years' experience managing income-generating classes, workshops, activities or events. You will have a strong track record of growing participation, engagement or income, managing budgets and targets, and leading teams in a busy public-facing environment. Experience of safeguarding, varied arts or charitable programmes, marketing and social media campaigns, and online room-booking systems would be valuable. You will bring excellent planning, communication and stakeholder-management skills, strong financial awareness, and the ability to work collaboratively across departments. An understanding of audience development, space planning and income maximisation is important, alongside a creative, entrepreneurial approach, an interest in the performing arts and flexibility around working hours.

Job Responsibilities

To lead on strategic and operational delivery of the National Centre's public programmes,including the Recreational Programme, Open Training, marketing activity and customer-booking processes. Working with the CEO, they will develop plans to grow income, improve efficiency, review pricing and programme performance, and create engaging offers that increase participation. The role manages programme delivery, budgets, on-sale processes, customer feedback and booking policies, while ensuring effective promotion across digital and marketing channels. They will lead and support key team members, coordinate with learning, operations, sales, events and facilities colleagues, and ensure programmes are well planned, safe and smoothly delivered. The postholder will also uphold safeguarding, health and safety, equality and diversity standards, contribute to operational policies and documents, and help embed a collaborative, customer-focused and commercially aware approach across public programming

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Job Description

Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Public Programmes
Salary: £30k-£40k
Hours: Full time
Artform: Education
Role: Admin, Secretarial & PA
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: Tue, 01 Sep 2026
Location:

London

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Job: Head of Public Programmes

Organisation: National Centre for Circus Arts

Postcode: N1 6HD

How to Apply

Please apply using the link below
https://www.nationalcircus.org.uk/head-of-programming-application/
The closing date for applications is 1st September 2026 at 10.00am

Contact name: Dan Cowdrill
Contact email: [email protected]

Apply now

About National Centre for Circus Arts

The National Centre for Circus Arts is a registered charity and Higher Education provider, and one of Europe’s leading circus arts training centres. For over 30 years, we’ve supported emerging and professional artists with space, training and creative development. Our work includes degree-level education, youth and professional programmes, recreational classes, corporate events, and national support for artists and organisations.

Find out more