Business Manager for HNT's Adult Productions

The National Theater is a national theater organization with three theaters of its own in The Hague: the Koninklijke Schouwburg, Theater aan het Spui, and Zaal 3. We see the theater as the ultimate place to explore our times and share the stories we encounter with our audience. Theater as a vibrant hub of imagination and connection, a space that welcomes everyone and gives voice to all perspectives. We produce several shows each year, for young people (under the HNTjong banner) and for adults, program over 800 performances, and welcome 450,000 visitors in The Hague and across the country.

In our productions, we work with experienced directors and actors from our ensemble, but we also give young actors and creators a chance to shine. We love innovative ways of producing and presenting theater to our audience. The Education & Interaction department gives young people and adults a platform to discover a new side of themselves. HNTonbeperkt does everything in its power to ensure that a disability, whether visible or invisible, is not a barrier to coming to the theater. We are radically friendly, friendly and radical, constantly curious, active, and engaged.

Each year, Het Nationale Theater produces at least five productions for adults, which are typically characterized by long preparation periods, complex production processes, and large teams. We work with our permanent ensemble of actors, our own production facilities (including workshops), our (freelance) resident directors, and a flexible artistic network of designers and actors. We collaborate closely with partners across the country, both in presentation (partner theaters) and in co-production.

Who are we looking for?

• You’re ambitious and love working with numbers, contracts, and tough negotiations. You think strategically, innovatively, and entrepreneurially—for example, when it comes to tour planning and sales.
  
• You communicate directly and effectively. You understand that theater-making is both a human endeavor and a team effort.
  
• You recognize the value of an integrated approach at Het Nationale Theater (production, programming, and engagement). You know that while you can move faster on your own, you can go further together.
  
• You identify and create opportunities to form new alliances with a variety of partners: theaters, co-producers, community partners, and funding organizations.
  
• You are a networker who maintains excellent relationships with key stakeholders in the field: grant providers, programmers, theater directors, and educational institutions.
  
• You have at least five years of experience as a business manager and are familiar with producing (large-scale) theater productions.
  
• The National Theater aims to be a theater of and for the entire country. To enrich our organization and our programming for the public, we are constantly seeking new perspectives. We hope that you, in whatever way you can, will contribute to the diverse organization we aspire to be.
  

What will you be doing?

• You will serve as an equal partner and sounding board for the artistic director. Together, you will be responsible for putting the mission and vision outlined in our ambitious strategic plan into practice.
  
• Together with the artistic director, you ensure continuity in the (pre)production processes. You are the formal supervisor of the staff in the HNT Productions cluster (including actors and dramaturgs). You manage the artistic teams and negotiate contract terms.
  
• You will contribute to the consolidated financial statements, prepare the annual budget for adult productions, and manage the budgets as approved by the executive board.
  
• You will maintain constant communication with the other core departments within Het Nationale Theater: productions for children and young people (HNTjong), Programming, and Education & Interaction. In addition, you will stay in close contact with the operational departments within HNT (Production & Technology and Marketing & Development) regarding feasibility and project progress.
  
• You will be part of the management team. Together, you will shape the implementation of the multi-year strategic plan, as established by the executive directors and artistic directors. The Theater Director will be your direct supervisor. The Business Director will serve as your point of contact for financial and organizational management.
  

What we offer you:

The National Theater has a staff of 180. You will lead a team of 24 colleagues and maintain contact with approximately 75 freelancers throughout the season. You will work in an organization that aims to be at the forefront of developments in the theater world and to create wonderful productions together. The salary is in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Theater and Dance.

Interested?

Please email your resume and cover letter by November 28, 2022, to vacatures@hnt.nl. For more information about the position, please contact Cees Debets, Theater Director, and Lidy Klein Gunnewiek, Business Director, at directiesecreteriaat@hnt.nl or 088 356 5207.