The following vacancy is being advertised by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School:

Head of MA Drama Directing

Contract: 0.8 FTE (Fixed-term)
Salary: £32,869 p.a. (based on the full-time equivalent of £38,550 per annum)
Reports To: Artistic Director
Responsible For: All freelance tutors engaged for the course
Department: Masters Courses
Location: The normal place of work is Downside Road, Bristol but travel to other sites and venues will be required.

About

Are you an experienced director with a passion for training the next generation of professionals? Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BOVTS) invites applications for the Head of Drama Directing course. This is a unique opportunity to lead, mentor, and inspire the next generation of creative voices in a world-class training environment.

As Head of Course, you will oversee curriculum delivery, manage staffing, and foster vital industry connections. Your leadership will ensure our MA students receive rigorous training, balancing academic reporting with hands-on, practical directing experience. You will collaborate with our dynamic faculty, working alongside colleagues in Writing, Performance Design and Voice Studies to drive artistic excellence.

We are seeking an inspiring professional with substantial directing experience, a sophisticated understanding of the UK theatre industry, and a proven track record in Higher Education. An MA in Drama (or related field) is essential, alongside strong organizational skills.

At BOVTS, you will join a close-knit, supportive community committed to diversity and flexible working.

Person specification

Essential 

  • Substantial experience of drama directing
  • A sophisticated understanding of the drama industry in the UK 
  • Experience of teaching drama directing 
  • Organisational skills, particularly regarding scheduling 
  • Experience of working in Higher Education  
  • An MA in Drama or a related field 
  • Ability to be flexible and adaptable in your approach 
  • To be a strong team player in a close-knit, supportive environment 

Desirable 

  • Substantial experience of drama directing across a wide variety of genre and media 
  • A sophisticated understanding of the drama industry beyond the UK 

More information

For more details about the role, including a breakdown of duties and responsibilities, please view the full job description here. More information about vacancies at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School can be found on their vacancies webpage.

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter (no longer than 2 sides of A4) to jobs@oldvic.ac.uk.

Applications close Friday 28th August 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place during the week of 1st September 2026
The ideal start date for this role would be 12th October 2026