Operations Manager

Garsington Opera is seeking an efficient, highly organised Operations Manager with excellent communication skills to join our friendly office team. This is a great opportunity to join a small, energetic team with the chance to be involved in a variety of tasks at a time of expansion and development for the organisation.

Background Garsington Opera runs a prestigious Opera Festival in the months of June and July each year at its spectacular Opera Pavilion on the Getty family’s beautiful estate at Wormsley, near Stokenchurch. Garsington Opera’s transformational Arts Hub facility is in the process of being built, bringing together all aspects of Garsington Opera’s operation, opening in 2023. The administration office is currently located in the village of Great Milton, Oxfordshire and will move to Wormsley in 2023.

Specification Post Operations Manager Reporting to Director of Membership Salary £30k-£35k depending on experience Application deadline 5pm 11th August 2021 Interviews 6th September 2021 Start date Mid October (ideally).

Our office hours are 9.30 - 5.30, Monday – Friday in the opera offices in Great Milton, except during the opera season when hours/days are extended and include evenings and weekends on site at Wormsley as well as occasional events in Oxford and London. Due to Covid-19 at present the office team is working remotely from home with regular online meetings. We anticipate returning to the office as and when it is suitable, with flexible home/office working for a period.

Job Description This is a full-time key appointment, reporting to the Director of Membership, with managerial responsibility for the Box Office team. The job involves being responsible for the efficient running of the Box Office system and Membership database, the hub of the organisation.

Garsington Opera generally sells over 80% of its tickets to patrons, and the remainder to its mailing list and general public. There are around 35 opera performances each season, with 600 seats in the auditorium at Wormsley, as well as occasional concerts and potentially other events in future. In addition, there are dress rehearsals for which tickets are allocated to local residents, the company and staff, pre-performance talks and Insight Talks prior to the season.

Garsington Opera The Old Garage The Green Great Milton Oxford OX44 7NP • [email protected] 01865 368201 • 01865 361636 • www.garsingtonopera.org Founder Leonard Ingrams OBE • President Rosalind Ingrams • Chairman Bernard Taylor CBE DL • Artistic Director Douglas Boyd • Executive Director Nicola Creed Directors Miranda Curtis CMG (Deputy Chair) • Dr John Drysdale • Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE Nigel Higgins • Catherine Ingrams • Neil King QC • Iain Mackinnon • Lady Marks • David Suratgar Garsington Opera Ltd registered in England no. 2567390 • Charitable registration no. 1003042 • VAT no. 225 1900 38

Responsibilities include: • In charge of all aspects of the tessitura database including introduction of updates and add- ons as required. • Accountable for all seat allocation and ticket sales, including on-line sales, holds/comps and sponsors. • Allocation of Dress Rehearsal tickets • Processing ticket sales: from receiving booking requests to taking payments and sending out ticket packs • Reconciling ticket sales and other takings Reselling returned tickets • Administration of picnic tent bookings • Operation of a manual Front of House box office on performance days on a rota basis. • Keeping all necessary records, including the Box Office Tessitura database, up to date • Management of all aspects of Garsington Opera’s Gift Aid processes, ensuring compliance and accurate records are kept • Providing reports for the Board of Directors • Managing Box Office Staff • Other tasks which might reasonably be requested from time to time • Maintaining and updating internal Policies including GDPR and IT Security • Managing Hardware for the shop and programme sellers including POS and card machines • In conjunction with other departments ensure marketing is accurate and relevant and facilitate segmentation of mailings as required.

Essential • Significant knowledge of Tessitura, ideally with previous experience on this or other similar database. • Previous administrative experience, preferably in the arts • Excellent administration, computer and Microsoft Excel skills. • Excellent written communication skills. • Excellent telephone manner, diplomacy and confidence in liaising with people. • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. • Excellent time management, with ability to multitask, balancing and prioritising workload • A keen eye for detail • A high level of numeracy • Able to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends as appropriate • Own transport essential

Desirable • A knowledge of and passion for music. • Previous experience in a customer facing role. • Experience of working for a charity/membership organisation.

Application details Please send a CV and covering letter of no more than one page outlining why you are interested in the position and your relevant experience to [email protected] by 5pm on 11 August 2021

26.07.21