Vacancy
Production Manager
Hours: Full-time, permanent position, 39 hours per week (Monday–Friday), with additional hours as required
Location: Scottish Opera Production Studios, Glasgow (with travel to other venues as required)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Deadline to apply: Monday 4 August 2025
Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland. We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Production Manager to join our Technical Department, based at the Scottish Opera Production Studios in Glasgow.
About the Role:
As Production Manager, you will be responsible for managing the delivery of both new and revival main-scale opera productions, concerts, production hires and special projects. You will coordinate design realisation, health and safety compliance, manufacture and technical touring requirements. You’ll work closely with creative teams, internal production departments, external suppliers, and freelance staff to ensure projects are delivered to the highest standards, on time, on budget, and safely.
When not acting as the primary Production Manager, you will support freelance production managers and assist with coordination across projects and teams, contributing to the smooth running of our Technical Department.
Key Responsibilities:
- Liaise with creative teams and internal departments to define and deliver technical and design requirements
- Coordinate the manufacture of scenic elements, costumes and props via in-house workshops and external suppliers
- Manage project budgets and schedules, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations
- Oversee technical rehearsals, get-ins, and performances, ensuring a high standard of presentation
- Support the Head of Production and freelance Production Managers across a range of Scottish Opera productions and commercial projects
- Champion sustainable practices in line with the Theatre Green Book
Person Specification:
We’re looking for a motivated and experienced individual who brings:
- At least 5 years’ experience in a senior production management role, ideally with opera experience
- Strong understanding of scenic, costume and prop construction techniques
- Excellent organisational, communication, and time-management skills
- Proficiency in MS Office and AutoCAD (or similar design software)
- Sound working knowledge of health and safety legislation (IOSH certification desirable)
- A clean driving licence
What We Offer:
- 25 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays
- Company pension contributions (8% employer / 4% employee)
- Opportunities to work on a wide variety of innovative and high-quality productions
- A supportive and creative working environment
How to apply
Applicants should email recruitment@scottishopera.org.uk providing an up-to-date CV, a covering letter detailing their suitability for the role and where they saw the vacancy advertised, and should also complete our Equality Monitoring Form.
All candidates must be able to demonstrate a pre-existing right to work in the UK and documentary proof of this will be requested at interview.
Closing date for applications is Monday 4 August 2025.
Our diversity and equality commitment
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.