Head of Stage

Contract: Permanent

Hours: As required to complete the duties, averaging 48hrs per week

Location: Edington Street, Glasgow, and touring across Scotland

Closing date for applications: Monday 3 August 2026 at 11.59pm
 

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company. We take world-class opera to all corners of Scotland, ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy this wonderful art form.

We're seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Stage to lead our Stage Department and play a pivotal role in delivering world-class opera productions across Scotland and on tour. This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished stage professional with extensive touring experience, exceptional leadership skills, and a passion for technical excellence.

Working closely with the Head of Production, you'll oversee the planning, management and delivery of stage operations, ensuring our productions are realised safely, efficiently, and to the highest artistic standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Stage Department, promoting a positive, collaborative and safe working environment.
• Plan and schedule stage staff and freelance crew to meet production requirements.
• Oversee stage operations for rehearsals, performances, fit-ups, get-outs and touring.
• Allocate show supervisors and production-specific stage teams.
• Work alongside designers and production teams to develop practical staging, rigging and construction solutions.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation including stage plans, CAD drawings and production records.
• Ensure departmental compliance with Health & Safety legislation, including risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Monitor departmental budgets and staffing costs.
• Specify and manage stage equipment required for productions.
• Coordinate transport, storage and logistics in partnership with colleagues across the Production Department.
• Maintain clear communication with creative teams throughout the production process.
• Support the development, wellbeing and training of Stage Department staff.

At Scottish Opera, our mission is to speak powerfully through all our work in order to entertain, inspire, surprise, challenge and delight audiences throughout Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally. We know that having a diverse workforce is essential if we are going to deliver our mission.

We are committed to promoting equality and ensuring that no one is denied opportunities or discriminated against through prejudice or exclusion due to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We particularly encourage applications from people that are under-represented in the Performing Arts and at Scottish Opera including those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and disabled people. We have supportive working practices and work towards providing wherever possible a working environment that is inclusive and accessible for those with caring responsibilities.

This diversity of thought paired with a culture of inclusion is vital for us to continue to create work that is for everyone. This makes Scottish Opera a great place to work, where people are valued for who they are.

We are committed to treating all applicants fairly and equally.

Scottish Opera strives to be an equal opportunities employer and is subsidised by the Scottish Government.  Registered Number SC037531. Scottish Charity Number SC019787.