General Manager

CHAIR’S
WELCOME

It’s an exciting time to get involved at Jacksons Lane. The newly refurbished building offers ever
more opportunities for performers, audiences and our local community in Highgate, Haringey and
beyond. We have an array of international circus partnerships and daring emerging artists ready to
dangle from the rafters. Our participation programme reaches all ages across Haringey and beyond.
We are particularly proud of our work with older adults, including a fifty-year tradition of hosting a
Christmas day feast for those alone or in need. We are a much-loved hub in Haringey, with a strong
partnership with the Council, and home to community groups, celebrations and local artists. We are
keen to strengthen the connections between our artistic programming and our equally important
outreach work in the community. Executive Director Hannah Cox has recently been joined by Angus
MacKechnie as Creative Director, forming a dynamic new partnership to lead Jacksons Lane to a
sustainable and exciting future.

Archive work revealed that circus has long been part of Jacksons Lane, and we now have
established an international reputation which we are keen to maintain and strengthen. As a National
Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, we are a leader in contemporary circus, offering
artist development, high quality performance and engagement, all underpinned by a commitment to
accessibility. We are proud of an eclectic programme, balancing creative and commercial  circus
and other art forms, including a popular programme of theatre for young people.

We manage a thriving building and venue which allows us to balance our own offer with external
hires for everything from Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals to weddings and other celebrations.

As we look to the next fifty years, the ethos of the founders is as relevant as ever: fostering
creativity, connection and confidence, particularly for disadvantaged communities, through access
to contemporary circus and the Arts.

We welcome applications from people from all places and backgrounds. We hope you will join us on
our journey.

Beth Chaudhary

Chair of Board of Trustees

Jacksons
Lane’s
Past

Highgate Wesleyan Methodist church originally opened in 1905, and served it’s local area for
many years, but by the early 1970s had closed and remained unoccupied. At the beginning of the
70s, a group of local residents shared a vision for the building to become a new central hub for
the local area, and after several years of campaigning were granted a lease by the council.

Jacksons Lane opened to the public in 1975 with a varied programme of performances, classes
and social activities for the local community, all led by a committed group of volunteers.

Not long after the opening, plans emerged to widen Archway Road. Activists once again came
together and campaigned to save the building. Thankfully they succeeded and the building was
given a Grade II listed status with Archway road also developed into a preservation area.

The venue continued to expand and grow, and in the 1980s work was carried out to create the
new theatre auditorium. New rehearsal studios were also created and the venue hosted a wide
range of activities including circus, comedy, drama, dance, music and even hosted one of the
UKs first ever disability arts festival; Xposure.

Jump ahead to 2020, and another major refurbishment brought renewed life to the building. The
project reimagined the layout of the entire venue to create a more accessible and futureproofed
space with the facilities to see Jacksons Lane serving it’s community long into the future.

Jacksons
Lane’s
present

Nowadays, Jacksons Lane is a vital hub within Haringey and north London. We are open seven
days a week for all those who need us and our foyer and café space has become a real meeting
place for our local community. In the winter months we act as a warm welcome space, and have
initiatives such as our wall of kindness to support those struggling with the cost of living crisis.

We present a programme of contemporary circus performance, and family theatre with audiences
coming from across the UK. We work hard to also bring international work to our audiences,
showcasing the talents of people from across the globe. By supporting developing artists with our
artist residency and transmission programs we are nurturing the next generation of artists.

Community work has always been a key part of Jacksons Lane, ever since the beginning. We now
lead a range of different activities including Jacksons Lane Youth Circus which we take to those
from lower economic backgrounds across Haringey and Barnet, as well as a range of activities for
older adults to increase confidence and reduce social isolation. The pinnacle of which is our
Christmas Day project which began 50 years ago thanks to our founders.

The most recent redevelopment of the building has also given us fantastic facilities which we have
available to hire for people to lead their own activities, workshops and celebrations. From photo and
film shoots, to weddings, bar mitzvahs and everything in between we see it all. We even have a
lightsaber club!

Jacksons
Lane’s
Future

In January 2025 we launched a year of celebrations to commemorate our 50th anniversary. With
a grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous supporters we have been to
reflect on our past and champion our future with our community. As we come to the end of 2025
we are excited to embark on the next 50 years of Jacksons Lane working with and for our local,
national and international communities the future is exciting.

With support from multiple embassies across the globe we are able to continue to showcase the
best in contemporary circus from around the world and want to continue to grow our international
relationships and reputation. We have an established reputation for artist development and for
supporting new and emerging creative artists.

Environmental sustainability has always been a key drive for our work, and was a key focus for
our founder Nicky Gavron. We are working towards becoming a more sustainable and
environmentally friendly organisation in all aspects of our work.

Our venue is fast becoming a go to destination for Londoners to hirer for celebrations, activities
and rehearsals year round and we are investing in this area to ensure we can continue to grow
and develop to our full potential.

Working FOR Jacksons Lane

Working for Jacksons Lane is vibrant and exciting, with our work stretching across London as
well as throughout the UK and internationally. Our small team is made up of a group of highly
passionate and enthusiastic people, focused on making a real difference to those individuals that
we work with. By recognising the strengths and unique qualities of each member of the team, we
work with a generosity of spirit and a respect for each other, acknowledging that we are working
towards the same goals and that it is only through a unified approach that we are able to achieve
excellence in our work.

We also make sure to maintain a supportive ethos at Jacksons Lane that makes working here
both enjoyable and exciting. We work with a variety of different organisations to support our staff.

• We have a private employee assistance programme who provide confidential and independent

support when needed.

• We work with PIPA (Parent in Performing Arts) to ensure we are offering the best support to

families who work for the organisation.

• We have an Enhanced Parental Leave policy, which is one the best examples across arts

venues in the UK.

• We have a flexible working policy, allowing team members to work remotely when required and
appropriate within their role. However we also meet regularly as a full team in person, to ensure
that all members of the team feel connected and supported.

• We provide training including Disability Confidence, Trans Awareness, Anti-Racism,

Unconscious Bias, and have action plans to support these areas of our work.

• We also offer free and discounted tickets to our productions in the venue, as well as discounts

at our café bar and discounts on studio hire for personal use.

Job Description

Reports to:

Executive Director, Joint CEO

Responsible for:

  Hires & Events Manager, Visitor Experience Manager, External
  Café/Bar provider, and Freelance Maintenance Contractors

Hours of work:

Core working hours are 10.00am-6.00pm Monday to Friday. Out of office hours
(including week ends, evenings and early mornings) will occasionally be
required, however a time off in lieu (TOIL) system is in operation. The majority
of this role will be expected to be undertaken on-site

Contract period:

Permanent Full-Time, includes a 3 month probation period

Remuneration:

£37,000 - £40,000 (depending on experience)

Main place of work:

Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA

Annual Leave:

28 days per annum including public holidays, +1 additional day for each
year of continuous service up to a maximum of 5 days

Main objectives of the post:
The General Manager leads the Operations team to ensure that the building is open and
accessible to the many communities who use our site: as a professional performance venue,
community hub, hired venue and public cafe. This role manages and leads the Operations team
ensuring the building and its facilities are maintained to the highest standard and dealing with any
building issues in an efficient, speedy and effective manner. This role oversees visitor
experience, commercial income, HR and policy development, and is part of the Senior
Leadership Team.

Outline of Responsibilities
VENUE MANAGEMENT

• Take overall responsibility for the venue and ensure it is managed in accordance with the terms

of the lease, statutory legislation, licensing, health and safety, access and any funding
requirements.

• To be the designated first response to all building issues, including out of hours calls.
• With the Joint CEOs, maintain good relationships with the local community, keeping them

informed of developments & activities and directly responding to all complaints in a professional
and timely manner.

• Manage external services and contracts including IT, subscriptions, maintenance, cleaning and
servicing, ensuring continuous supply, value for money and considering environmental impact.
• Ensure high standards are set and maintained for the maintenance, security and cleanliness of

the building.

• Ensure regular site maintenance checks are implemented and preventative maintenance is

carried out.

• Ensure incident reporting and first aid boxes are monitored and maintained and staff are trained

on their use.

• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the smooth running of the venue.
• Act as Emergency Controller and keyholder for the building.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Working with the Executive Director and Finance Manager to agree relevant annual

budgets, update forecasts and contribute to reports as required.

• Ensure that departmental budgets for Front of House and Hires and Events are overseen

and respective Line Managers are supported.

• Ensure the Operations budget is carefully managed, and any changes are identified and

communicated.

• Manage resources efficiently to ensure Jacksons Lane achieves value for money in all

aspects of its work.

• Support in the management of the Finance Committee arranging and contributing to

meetings and longer term financial planning.

   HUMAN RESOURCES
• Responsible for the recruitment, induction, and training for all staff and volunteers at

Jacksons Lane.

• Ensure the performance and development of staff is monitored through appraisals

with line managers.

• Devise, implement and communicate appropriate employment policies/procedures in

line with best practice in employment law and equal opportunities to ensure
Jacksons Lane operates as a fair employer.

• Ensure that the Equality and Diversity Policy and Disability Discrimination Act are

considered at all times.

• Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead in ensuring that Jacksons Lane and its

programmes are safe and inclusive for all staff and participants.

   VISITOR EXPERIENCE
• Line manage the Visitor Experience Manager; supporting them to develop and improve
the experience of visiting Jacksons Lane for all our audiences, clients and other users.

• Provide Box Office/Front of House cover as required, developing a knowledge of the

relevant systems.

• Take overall responsibility for customer comments and complaints, ensuring the

Executive team are informed of action taken and serious issues are escalated as per

• the complaints policy.

   HIRES AND EVENTS MANAGEMENT
• Line manage the Hires & Events Manager; supporting them to create and deliver a thriving

Hires department including financial reporting as required.

   CAFÉ/BAR MANAGEMENT
• Manage the external cafe provider ensuring that they contribute positively to our mission, deliver
a high-quality service, in compliance with all legal and organisational processes and policies.
• Support the Café/Bar provider to ensure that best practice and compliance is achieved across

the entire operation maintaining high levels of food safety, hygiene and customer service.

• Working with the Executive Director, Finance Manager and Café/Bar provider to ensure that that

rent and commission payments and finances are accurately recorded and interrogated as
agreed.

• Coordinate reviews of the operation to provide a clear picture of growth, income and impact.

   GENERAL
• Lead on Environmental Sustainability policy and implementation across the organisation.
• Lead on Board administration; manage and arrange meetings, papers, away days and

sub-committees

• Deputise for the Joint CEOs where appropriate.
• To support the Executive Team on the administration of fundraising processes for the

organisation.

• Any other duties or responsibilities that might be reasonably asked by the Board of Trustees or

Joint CEOs.

Person Specification

Essential Selection Criteria

• Relevant experience of line managing staff

• Relevant experience of leading front of house/customer facing teams

• Experience of managing and maintaining a venue

• Relevant experience of managing health and safety in a public building

• Practical understanding of Health and Safety requirements and legislation

• Knowledge of how busy venues operate

• Budget Management skills with the ability to monitor and oversee budgets at a department

level

• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills

• Excellent organisation skills

• Excellent customer service and communication skills

• Self-motivated, proactive and pragmatic

• A commitment to equality and diversity

• Excellent time management and task prioritisation skills; calm under pressure

Desirable Selection Criteria

• Relevant experience of licensing processes and acting as Licensee for a venue

• Experience of Hires and Events strands including public, commercial and community uses

• Experience managing external service providers including IT, Catering and Cleaning services

• Relevant first aid qualifications

• Relevant fire safety qualifications

• Experience with Artifax, Spektrix or equivalent software programmes

• A passion for working in the arts

Application Details

Jacksons Lane has a strong commitment to increasing the diversity of our staff. With this in mind,
all candidates who indicate on the equal opportunities monitoring form that they are from an
ethnically or culturally diverse background and/or are disabled and/or identify as LGBTQI+, and
who meet the Essential Criteria of the Person Specification will be guaranteed an interview.

We are a PiPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts) charter partner. PiPA enables and
empowers parents, carers and employers to achieve sustainable change in attitudes and
practices in order to attract, support and retain a more diverse and flexible workforce. We are
always happy to discuss solutions that allow people to balance their caring responsibilities with
their working lives, for example through job shares or flexible working arrangements. We also
have a children in the workplace policy to support parents and carers and offer and enhanced
adoption, maternity and paternity leave policy.

To apply for the role please send a copy of your CV and a detailed covering letter (no more than
1000 words in size 12 font) or video/audio file (no more than 8 minutes in length) to
recruitment@jacksonslane.org.uk, including your full name and 'General Manager' in the subject
line of the email. Should you wish to submit your application in another way please get in touch.
We would also appreciate it if you could complete an Equal Opportunities form and include this
with your application so that we can continue to monitor and increase the accessibility of our
recruitment process. This form is available on our website, alongside this recruitment pack and
includes our Equality & Diversity Statement.

If you wish to discuss the role before you apply, we are happy to offer an informal 1:1 chat with a
member of our team. To arrange an informal chat please email
recruitment@jacksonslane.org.uk

Application deadline

10am Monday 18 May 2026

First Round Interviews

Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May 2026

Second Round Interviews

Monday 01 & Tuesday 02 June 2026

We will respond to all applicants, after the closing date regardless of the outcome. First round
interviews will be held online and second round interviews in-person at Jacksons Lane. Should
you have any specific requirements for the interview process, please get in touch.