Achates Recruits
Achates Recruits – recruitment support for the cultural sector, by the cultural sector
At Achates we are passionate about ensuring the future of culture and heritage. We know that those who – like us – have dedicated their lives to the sector understand it best. We understand the challenges you’re facing, the opportunities ahead and critically the skills, experience, knowledge and expertise that you need from your next leadership.
By choosing Achates Recruits to support your leadership appointments you are choosing to partner with the only search agency who truly understands the sector and its future. You are choosing an accessible, creative and expert option who will partner with you to secure a leader that is right for you and for now. It is recruitment for the sector, by the sector.
Working with us for your Executive Search will also provide insights from our network of Recruitment Champions – a group of outstanding sector leaders bringing their artform expertise, networks and perspective to each search. For more information on our Champions see here.
Get in touch to learn more by contacting Director of Recruitment and Organisational Change, Vicki Grace, on vicki@achates.org.uk. You can also download our Executive Search brochure here.
Current Recruitment Opportunities
Southbank Centre – Interim Director Arts Planning and Producing
Southbank Centre are seeking an experienced Director-level leader to oversee the strategic planning, financial management, and operational delivery of their multi-disciplinary artistic programme. This pivotal Interim Director role at Europe’s largest arts centre oversees the translation of artistic vision and event planning strategy into multi-year plans, balancing artistic ambition with commercial viability, and overseeing complex scheduling across the organisation. Acting as enabler, influencer and collaborator across different art-form and functional departments, this role is one of 15 Director roles and reports to the Deputy CEO, who is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
This is an interim position offered on an initial 12-month contract to begin no later than early December 2026.
Full details can be found here:
Interim Director Arts Planning and Producing Job Pack
If you have any questions about the role or the process, please contact Vicki on vicki@achates.org.uk.
Expressions of interest will be accepted until 09:00 on Monday 9th November. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the open period.
Magic Me – Chair of the Board of Trustees
Magic Me – the UK’s leading positive ageing participatory arts charity – are seeking a new Chair (or Co-Chair) to lead their Board of Trustees, as they prepare to launch an ambitious new 2027-2032 strategy, including the creation of London’s first Intergenerational Borough in Tower Hamlets.
The Chair will lead the Board to govern Magic Me and support the Co-CEO’s as the organisation seeks to deepen and widen their impact and take their work to the next level, connecting with exciting cultural organisations to give more participants creative opportunities, and develop further audiences for Magic Me’s age-positive, intergenerational work.
Full details can be found here:
Chair of the Board of Trustees Job Pack
If you’re interested in this role, please reach out to Vicki on vicki@achates.org.uk to express your interest.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 1st November.
Tall Stories – Chair or Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
An extraordinary opportunity to lead the Board of Trustees of award-winning theatre company, Tall Stories.
Led by Artistic Director and Co-Founder Toby Mitchell and Executive Director Tara Wilkinson, Tall Stories is renowned for its distinctive blend of storytelling, music, puppetry and lots of laughs. For 30 years their productions have delighted audiences across the UK and the world.
Tall Stories are now seeking a Chair of Co-Chair(s) to support them in the implementation of their new strategic and business plan. This is an opportunity to lead an experienced and diverse group of Trustees and theatre professionals to make a transformational impact on audiences locally, nationally and internationally.
Full details can be found here – Chair of the Board of Trustees Recruitment Pack. If you’re interested in the role, please reach out to Vicki on vicki@achates.org.uk.
Privacy Statement: If Achates acts as the party in receipt of all applications Achates will control, process and share your data with the commissioned party for the purposes of recruitment, in line with Achates’ Data protection processes which can be provided on request. Data will only be processed in the candidate’s best interest and stored for as long as necessary. You have the right to access the data we hold about you and revoke your consent at any time.
