Applications are open for our Operations Lead role!
Unseen Tour, 2024. Photography credit: Graeme Braidwood.
About
Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company that explores visual impairment to create unique and innovative artistic experiences. We place visually impaired people at the centre of all we do: from the productions we create, to the artists we support to build deeper careers in the sector, to the audiences we perform to and the participants we work with.
Extant has made a commitment to working towards all its internal roles being held by visually impaired* people by 2033. The Operations Lead and The Extant Hive will begin this process.
The Role
From October 2026 – March 2027, you will co-pilot the operations of Extant, understand the intricacies of the organisation and work alongside the existing sighted Operations Director before taking on the role solo from the beginning of April 2027 when the current Operations Director steps down.
As Operations Lead, you will lead Extant on the following areas: HR, Finance, Communications and Marketing, Governance, Risk Management and Evaluation.
Location: Extant, 2.06 Carlton Mansions, Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8GL.
We support flexible working, but we expect you to work from our Brixton office (London) at least one day per two weeks, to collaborate with the rest of the team.
Prior to confirming any offer of employment we will undertake certain checks including references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, willingness to undertake an enhanced DBS check and that you are comfortable working in an environment where guide and other assistance dogs may be present.
Salary and Benefits
This is a permanent (subject to securing new ACE NPO funding from April 2028) part-time (0.6) PAYE contract paid at £38,000 pa / FTE starting on 5th October 2026.
*We support the University of Oxford’s definition of visual impairment as a ‘loss of sight that cannot be corrected using lenses.’
Location: We offer hybrid working with the Operations Lead expected to be in the office at Carlton Mansions, Brixton House at least 1 day per fortnight.
Responsible to: Strategic Lead.
Line Manages (from January 2027): Administrator and Project Co-ordinator and Book keeper.
25 days holiday per year plus 8 statutory holidays (pro rata).
Occasional evening and weekend work will be required for which Time off in Lieu will be given.
Pension, Employee Assistance Programme, Training and Development and theatre ticket budget.
Probation and Notice
6-month probation period.
One month notice on either side during the probation period, 3 months thereafter.
How to apply
We are holding an online x1hr Zoom FAQ session where you will have a chance to ask our Operations Director Ian Abbott and Administrator and Projects Coordinator Ellen Jupp any questions about the role.
FAQ: Monday 21st July 2pm
To sign up for the FAQ session please email [email protected] and the Zoom link will be emailed on the day.
If you wish to apply for this post, please send your CV (no more than 2 pages, including details of two referees), a 1-minute audio recording (in mp3 format) of yourself talking about why you are the right person for Extant at this moment of change. Please outline how you meet the job description and person specification in one of the following formats:
Cover letter of no more than 2 pages or a video, no longer than 3 minutes or an audio recording no longer than 3 minutes.
Please send your files (CV, audio recording and how you meet the job description and person specification) to [email protected] by 12noon on Friday 7th August 2026.
All written attachments should be in Word (.doc), as pdf documents are not always accessible to screen readers.
Extant does not use AI in any part of its recruitment processes. The multi-stage interview process will test an applicant’s ability to operate without AI.
- Stage One (online) – interviews will take place on Thursday 13th August 2026.
- Stage Two (in person) – interviews will take place on Tuesday 25th August 2026 at Brixton House, London.
You should also complete an equal opportunity monitoring form which can be found here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ExtantEqualOpps
If you wish to arrange an informal chat about the post, please email [email protected] to arrange this prior to submitting your application.
Access
We will endeavour to support any access requirements you may have during the recruitment process and make reasonable adjustments where required.
If you have any access requirements that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to let us know at any stage of the application process.
For more information on how to apply, please view the job pack below: