Job Description

Permanent contract
Full time; 42.5 hours per week
£68,968.97 per annum
Based in: Covent Garden, London

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 technical excellence for every performance, rehearsal, and event.
We are looking to recruit a Head of Lighting. This role will be responsible for the management and delivery of all lighting functions for the RBO, including co-productions and hires, for Covent Garden, overseas venues, and on tour, delivering safely and effectively within agreed resources and budgets.

The role will be responsible for department leadership, development of existing resources and research and budget analysis of new technologies, staff recruitment and development, and robust safety and financial leadership.

What you’ll bring:
We are looking for a candidate with proven experience of managing a large scale, complex operation. You will be confident leading by example and promoting a positive team environment and culture of continuous improvement.

You will also be able to demonstrate:
-An exceptional track record in effective lighting management for major professional productions.
-Excellent technical skills with a thorough understanding of current lighting equipment and systems and the implications of new product developments
-Computer skills should include Advanced AutoCAD, Vectorworks, Visualisation Software and MS Office, plus any other software pertinent to the role.
-Highly developed management skills and use of systems and procedures to support delivery of objectives, including:
-Project management
-Resource and budget management
-Collective terms and agreements
-Ideally, some experience of managing trade union relations and negotiations
-Demonstrable understanding of all relevant Health and Safety legislation, including experience of production risk management, and holding BS7909.

To apply please follow the link to the role on our careers website.
Closing date for applications: 11:59pm, Friday 30th January 2026.
First-round interviews will be held from 9th February 2026.

Apply via jobs.dayforcehcm.com