Full time; 42.5 hours per week (with some evening/weekend flexibility around the RBO tech and production schedule)
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.
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 now seeking to appoint a Deputy Head of Lighting, with a bias towards the operational management of resources, staff and finances. While all senior managers are expected to have both artistic and operational oversight, the person in this role will be primarily responsible for ongoing development of existing resources, research and budget analysis of new technologies, staff recruitment and development, and robust safety and financial leadership.
Working with the newly appointed Head of Lighting and alongside a 2nd Deputy, this role will offer robust leadership across all departments within Lighting. With a large permanent and casual workforce and an extremely busy repertoire, the postholder will join the department at an exciting time, as we enter Phase 2 of our Production Lighting Rig Upgrade. We are looking for a senior leader with the vision and motivation to help drive the department forward in both artistic and operational excellence and who will act as an ambassador for the Lighting Department, across the RBO as well as externally.
What You’ll Bring
Our ideal candidate will have a proven track record at management level with a major producing venue or organisation and be able to demonstrate strong leadership qualities. You will also be able to evidence:
- An excellent track record in theatre lighting management for major professional productions or companies.
- Experience of relighting shows (an advantage).
- Excellent technical skills with a thorough understanding of current lighting equipment and systems.
- Strong team leadership skills, able to foster a culture of continuous improvement and a strong team ethic
- The ability to project manage, provide budget oversight and scrutiny and develop resourcing plans.
- Well-developed relationship building skills, with an ability to engage with both technical and creative stakeholders.
Job Description
A full job description can be found here.
Closing date for applications: 11:59pm, Sunday 12th April 2026
Interviews will be held week commencing 27th April 2026.
To ensure a fair process, late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.
Applicants must have work authorisation for the UK. No agencies.
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