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Performing Rights Assistant

UPDATE: 12:00 GMT, THURSDAY 18 JANUARY

Applications for this vacancy are now closed. If you submitted an application, thank you for your interest and we'll be in touch by 2 February at the latest.

Nick Hern Books (NHB) – the UK’s leading specialist theatre publisher and performing rights agents, home to acclaimed writers such as Mike Bartlett, Jez Butterworth, debbie tucker green, Lucy Kirkwood, Jack Thorne, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and many more – is seeking a Performing Rights Assistant to join our team.

If you’re passionate about theatre and performance, this is an exciting opportunity to gain experience at a dynamic company which sits at the heart of the UK theatre industry, and be part of facilitating productions of our plays around the world.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Working with our Performing Rights Manager, you’ll play an important role in licensing our list of over 1,000 plays for performance by amateur-theatre companies, schools, youth-theatre groups and others, as well as assisting with the day-to-day operations of the department.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Receiving and responding to customer enquiries for amateur performing rights, via telephone and email
• Looking after key stages of the licensing process, including drawing up invoices, checking and matching incoming payments and issuing licences
• Carrying out other relevant customer-care duties such as processing requests for inspection copies of our plays, facilitating orders for cast sets of the scripts, and following up with customers after their productions have ended
• Attending relevant sector events to promote NHB and our performing rights

From time to time, you will also provide cover for the Performing Rights Manager’s duties, including liaising with playwrights’ professional agents to check the availability of rights and secure approval for amateur productions, plus other responsibilities as may be required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Our preferred candidate will be passionate and well informed about contemporary UK theatre and ideally have had some practical experience (amateur or professional) or academic qualification in theatre or drama.

You’ll need to be:

• focused and meticulous, with an excellent attention to detail
• comfortable with speaking with customers over the phone, email and in person
• computer-literate and confident at learning new software
• very organised and good at prioritising competing tasks

We use Apple Mac hardware and associated software, but experience on other systems is equally valid. A familiarity with QuickBooks would be useful, but is not essential as training will be provided.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Term of Employment: Full time, permanent position

Place of Work: At our office in Shepherd’s Bush, West London. Because of the nature of this role, we are not able to consider applications for remote working.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary: £27,500 per annum, payable monthly on 25th of each month.

Hours: 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., including a one-hour lunch break, Monday to Friday; with some evening and weekend work, where necessary.

Holidays: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and Christmas shutdown.

Trial Period: Three-month trial period.

Notice: One month during trial period, two months thereafter.

Benefits following Trial Period:

Pension: Auto-enrolment in company pension scheme, with 10% employer contribution.

Travel: Travel season ticket loan.

Expenses: Theatre tickets, and other relevant expenses.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a CV (not more than two pages) and a covering letter about yourself and why you’d be great for this role (not more than one page) by email to Matt Applewhite at jobs@nickhernbooks.co.uk.

Applications must be with us by 12 noon GMT on Thursday 18 January 2024 at the latest, with interviews conducted during the week commencing 22 January 2024.

We will reply to all applicants via email by Friday 2 February, regardless of whether you’ve been shortlisted or not.

ACCESS

Access support is available for all applications, including submitting your application in alternative formats. If, for access requirements, you’d prefer to meet one of our team or talk through these guidelines, please contact jobs@nickhernbooks.co.uk.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Nick Hern Books is an equal opportunities employer, and actively encourages applications from groups currently under-represented in the theatre and publishing sectors, irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability or age. This applies whether in relation to terms of employment, conditions of service or opportunities for training. Individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and no one is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.

ABOUT NICK HERN BOOKS

Nick Hern Books is the UK’s leading specialist theatre publisher and performing rights agents.

We’re home to many of the most exciting and respected playwrights working today – including Annie Baker, Mike Bartlett, Howard Brenton, Jez Butterworth, Caryl Churchill, David Edgar, Helen Edmundson, debbie tucker green, Ella Hickson, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Arinzé Kene, Lucy Kirkwood, Tony Kushner, Conor McPherson, Rona Munro, Lynn Nottage, Jack Thorne, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Enda Walsh – as well as essential training and advice books on topics such as acting, writing, directing and producing, to support creatives in their own work and career. We also license most of our plays for amateur performance around the world.