Development Manager

Development Manager
Full-Time: Permanent

www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Closing date: Monday 23rd March 2026 at 9am

Welcome

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch: where your talents find their stage.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (QTH) is the producing theatre serving
Outer East London & South Essex, with a catchment area of 1 million+
people.

As a community hub, over 220,000 people enjoy the programme each
year, including the best in home grown theatre, visiting live
entertainment and inspiring community projects.

Behind the scenes, sets & costumes are lovingly created on-site by a
highly skilled carpentry workshop, scenic artists, prop makers and
wardrobe team.

We pride ourselves in
being more than just a
theatre, placing the local
community at the heart
of all we do.

James Watson, Acting Chief Executive

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch aims to:
Relentlessly prioritise addressing the under
representation of those people QTH works with and
serves, including an increasing focus on D/deaf &
disabled artists and participants.

Increasingly work in different ways off site to engage with
new people, often hyper locally in underserved places.

Ambitiously address environmental responsibility in the
stories QTH tells and the ways and environment in which
these are made and told.

Place QTH firmly at the heart of cultural place making
within its sub region through the international, national,
regional and local partnerships it facilitates and engages
in.

Secure the future of the award winning 21st century
producing theatre QTH has developed into during the last
5 years, through increased levels of public and private
investment.

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About the Role

The Development Manager will play a key role in growing
philanthropic and community support for Queen’s Theatre
Hornchurch. This is a hands-on role focused on delivering
fundraising activity, supporting income generation through
campaigns, events, partnerships and donor stewardship.

Working closely with the Director of Audiences and
Development and colleagues across Marketing, Box Office,
Finance and Front of House, the postholder will deliver a
programme of fundraising activity including memberships, small
to mid-scale trusts and foundations, community fundraising,
sponsorship and local business partnerships.

Job title: Development Manager

Reporting to: Director of Audiences and Development

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £33,967

Hours: 39 hours a week, with potential evening and weekends,
and public holiday work. Time owed will be repaid in Lieu.

Contract: Full-Time, permanent contract subject to a 6-month
probationary period

Holiday: 20 days holiday pro-rata during each holiday year; this
raises to 25 days with length of service; plus, public holidays.
(The holiday year runs from 1 April to 31 March)

Probation: Six months’ probation period (during which there is 2
weeks notice on either side)

Notice period: 2 months’ notice following successful completion
of probationary period.

The Turn of the  Screw 2024 – Photograph by: Manuel Harlan

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Main Responsibilities

Fundraising Campaigns & Income Generation

Donor Stewardship & Supporter Care

• Develop and deliver audience-focused fundraising campaigns
that support theatre programming, community engagement
and audience development.

•

Identify and implement practical income opportunities, such as
round-up donations, maximising Gift Aid and testing messaging
at key audience touchpoints.

Events & Community Fundraising

•

Plan, promote and deliver fundraising events including donor
evenings, community fundraising activities and quizzes.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers to ensure
events are well organised and provide a positive supporter
experience.

Trusts, Memberships & Partnerships

Research, write and submit applications to small to mid-scale
trusts and foundations aligned with QTH’s artistic, educational
and community activity.

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Support and steward donors, members and supporters through
appropriate communication, recognition and reporting.

Ensure donor recognition is accurate and visible across digital,
print and in-venue materials.

Digital Fundraising & Communication

• Work with the Marketing team to create fundraising content for

email, web and social media.

• Use storytelling to promote QTH’s charitable activity and

encourage supporter engagement.

Monitoring, Reporting & Compliance

• Maintain accurate donor records using the CRM system.

•

•

Track fundraising income and prepare reports for internal and
external stakeholders.

Ensure all fundraising activity complies with GDPR, Gift Aid
requirements and Fundraising Regulator guidance.

Review and refresh QTH’s membership schemes, sponsorship
offers and local business fundraising opportunities.

Planning & Collaboration

• Develop proposals to support income from individuals, trusts

and community partners.

•

Contribute to the delivery of agreed annual fundraising plans,
supporting the Director of Audiences and Development by
tracking activity and progress against targets.

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Main Responsibilities Cont.

Planning & Collaboration

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Stay informed about QTH’s artistic programme and community
work, working with colleagues across departments to support
clear and relevant cases for support.

Build and maintain networks with fundraising colleagues in the
arts and charity sectors, sharing learning and good practice with
QTH.

Contribute positively to QTH’s inclusive, collaborative and
community-focused culture, supporting volunteers involved in
fundraising activity where appropriate.

General

•

Keep up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends
to improve efficiency and customer experience.

• Maintain a working knowledge of the theatre’s programme,

strategy and business plan.

• Attend staff meetings / training as required.

• Adhere to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch policies & procedures

and act as an ambassador for best practice.

•

The post-holder may be required to undertake other reasonably
determined duties and responsibilities within the organisation
which are appropriate with the level of the role without
changing the general character of the post.

•

The post-holder may also be called upon to carry out duties that
would not normally be associated with the post on a temporary
basis where there is a strong organisational requirement for
that to happen. Appropriate training and support will be given
to carry out any duties of this kind.

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Photographed by Manuel Harlan - Handbagged, February 2025

Bedroom Farce 2024 – Photograph by: Manuel Harlan

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Person Specification

Essential:

Desirable:

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Experience delivering fundraising campaigns.

Experience stewarding and supporting donors or supporters.

Experience writing funding application.

Experience planning and delivering fundraising or community
events.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Experience using CRM or database systems to manage
supporter data.

• Understanding of fundraising compliance, including GDPR and

Gift Aid.

• Awareness of current fundraising trends and inclusive

fundraising practices.

•

•

•

•

Proactive, organised and hands-on approach.

Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.

Commitment to inclusivity, ethical fundraising and community
values.

Collaborative, adaptable and solution-focused.

•

•

•

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Knowledge and experience of working in Outer East London /
Essex.

Experience working in an arts, cultural or visitor attraction
setting.

Experience of fundraising in the arts or cultural sector.

Experience working with local businesses, sponsorship or
partnerships.

Experience delivering community fundraising activities such as
quizzes or raffles.

Familiarity with audience development or community
engagement approaches.

Enthusiastic communicator with an interest in storytelling.

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How to Apply

Application deadline:
Monday 23rd March at 9am.

Interviews:
First interview (remote via MS Teams): W/C 6th April 26.
Second Interview (in-person at QTH): W/C 13th April 26.

To submit your application:
Fill in our Application form and Equal Opportunities
form at:
www.queens-theatre.co.uk/about-us/qrecruit/
(Applications by CV cannot be considered)

For assistance:
Please contact recruitment@queens-theatre.co.uk.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is committed to offering
training, mentoring and coaching support to the right
candidates who may need to develop skills in areas of
the person specification. This can be discussed further at
interview stage.

We want to make all opportunities at Queen’s
Theatre Hornchurch accessible to anyone who
wants to apply.

If submitting a written application is not the best
way to tell us about your skills and experience,
please let us know and we will discuss with you.

We will send questions in advance of first and
second round interviews to allow you time to
prepare. We may ask for a task or presentation at
second round interview.

If you would like an informal conversation with
Kathryn Winter, Director of Audiences and
Development to find out more about the position,
in advance of, or whilst you
are considering making an application, please
contact: recruitment@queens-theatre.co.uk to
arrange a mutually convenient time.

Please note for interviews we will reimburse
travel expenses, provide BSL interpreters and
language interpreters.

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The SpongeBob Musical 2024 - Photograph by: Zbigniew Kotkiewicz

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Disability Confident

At Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, we are committed to promoting and protecting the
physical and mental health of all our staff.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we have committed to:

•

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Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible

Communicating and promoting vacancies

• Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job

• Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required

•

Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health
condition, enabling them to stay in work

• At least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people.

Find out more about Disability Confident at: www.gov.uk/disability-confident

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About Queen's Theatre Hornchurch

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (QTH) is proud to be a producing theatre serving Outer East
London and South Essex. Stretching from Stratford in the west to Colchester in the east,
with a catchment of over one million people within just 30 minutes’ travel time, QTH
serves as a vital cultural hub for communities across the area.

Our annual traditional family pantomime grows in popularity, with Cinderella (24/25)
welcoming over 29k audiences members seeking their festive fix, as well as a growing
and embedded access offer, including British Sign Language within the narrative and an
expanded programme of BSL and captioned performances.

We produce and present bold, engaging and entertaining work on our stages and in our
communities, alongside a year-round creative participation programme for people of all
ages.

Audiences are guaranteed a warm welcome from this three-year winner of UK Theatre’s
Most Welcoming Theatre, London Theatre of the Year 2020 (The Stage Awards) and 2023
finalist for 8 of the Off West End Theatre award categories for the public’s favourite venue.

QTH is poised for its next chapter with the ambition to be a values-driven charity, shaping
a programme that belongs to, and reflects, the communities we serve. Last year
(2024/25) was another exceptional year for QTH, with over 95k people visiting us to
experience live performance and with a further 35k getting involved in one of our many
community participation activities.

QTH’s producing scale and partnerships continue to grow. Our production of Moira
Buffini’s Handbagged toured to 13 venues across England as part of Theatre Nation
Partnerships, supported by the National Theatre, reaching over 19k people across 91
performances and forging new producing relationships. Recent and current co-producers
include New W olsey Theatre, Theatre by the Lake, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg
and the East Anglia Touring Consortium.

We are also partnering with with Rifco, ZooCo, Complicite, Tara Theatre, The Future
Laboratory Programme, Separate Doors and Birkbeck University on projects such as
touring work, residencies, assistant director placements and the development of new
work, including a brand-new musical commissioned with support from Arts Council
England due to be announced for summer 2026.

QTH commissions new writing and champions its onward life. After a successful
Hornchurch run, Jonathan Maitland’s Wilko transferred to Southwark Playhouse,
Leicester Square Theatre and Everyman Theatre Cheltenham. Anne Odeke’s Princess
Essex, first produced at QTH before being expanded by the Globe Theatre.
Alongside our core produced work we host a broad range of visiting work, one-
nighters, live music, comedy, family shows and local community groups throughout the
year, for a great night out.

Communities work reached over 35,000 participants, spanning 1,720 sessions with
114 partners, from creative health projects to schools’ engagement. QTH's Youth
Theatre (QYouth) production The SpongeBob Musical involved more than 180 young
people on and off stage in a sold-out summer production (2024).

Havering Changing, the Creative People and Places programme for which QTH acts as
the lead organisation, puts local people in Harold Hill, Orchard Village, Rainham and
Romford in the lead of choosing, creating and taking part in arts and culture. In the
latest funding round, Havering Changing secured £250k from Arts Council England for
April 2025 to March 2026, supporting community-led programmes across the borough.

Situated in the borough with the 4th lowest arts engagement in London, and as the
11th fastest changing borough in the country, QTH is leading new local cultural
education and creative health voluntary sector partnerships. Each year an astonishing
45% of QTH’s audience are new to the Theatre and 61% are from underserved areas.

As a much-loved registered charity, QTH receives regular funding from London
Borough of Havering and Arts Council England. This is alongside increasing support
from a generous range of supporters.

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Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
Billet Lane
Essex
RM11 1QT

Box Office: 01708 443333
www.queens-theatre.co.uk

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