Executive Director

CORLANN WEST REGION

PERMANENT FULL TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BLUE TEAPOT THEATRE COMPANY

Job Ref 104243

Blue Teapot is a bold, diverse, Irish theatre company. Over the past thirty years, from our base in Galway City, we have worked to transform theatre practices by telling stories through the lens of disability - paving the way for inclusive practices to become the norm with the support of our key stakeholders in the arts, disability and education sectors.

We provide an intrepid, accessible theatre space – making the stage an area for dynamic and explorative practice that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in theatre. A space that celebrates freedom of creative expression and challenges the narrative about intellectual disability. We tell stories that weave together personal, local and global perspectives. We take opportunities to create dialogue with audiences and to ask questions.

Blue Teapot delivers 3 programmes:

Theatre Ensemble a core group of 11 professional actors with an intellectual disability (ID) rehearse regularly for performance, receiving inspiration from the practices of a diverse range of contemporary artists from Ireland and around the world to produce high-quality works of theatre. The Ensemble has a team consisting of 2 staff, namely an Ensemble Co-Ordinator and a Lead Coach that work closely with the Artistic Director and Producer.

Our Performing Arts School (PAS) is open to people aged 18 and over with intellectual disabilities and provides a platform to 15 students over a three-year cycle to gain QQI accredited performing arts training. The students receive an arts experience of equal importance to the required learning outcomes. The school has a team of 3 staff: Performing Arts School Manager, Performing Arts School Co-Ordinator and a Classroom Support Worker.

Community Theatre Programme has two strands catering to participants who are curious about performance: Bright Soul for adults 18+ years and Sparkle for youth aged 12 -17 years. This programme has a total of 4 groups serving 48 participants and runs for 20 weeks of the year in weekly sessions. Participants enjoy a combination of theatre workshops where they develop performance skills and an annual production that is performed to invited audiences. A part-time external Co-Ordinator oversees the administration of the programme.

The Executive Director works closely with the Artistic Director of the Blue Teapot Theatre Company in overseeing the overall programme of Blue Teapot and ensuring that all elements of the Company work in harmony and deliver quality outputs for participants. Together they will ensure that the spirit and culture of Blue Teapot thrives with a focus on exciting input focused on the needs and aspirations of its members while ensuring that ongoing operations and business of the programme functions effectively and efficiently. The Executive Director takes responsibility for the business, finance and day-to-day running of the Company while the Artistic Director takes responsibility for the Artistic, theatre and educational programmes of the Company with each reporting directly to the Board of Directors. The Blue Teapot team consists of 11 staff who work on a four-day week, a number of part-time sessional Tutors, Arts Practitioners, community employment staff and student placements.

A Board of Directors oversees the work of the Blue Teapot Theatre Company. The Board works closely and in partnership with Corlann, a service provider for services for people with Intellectual Disability. The Blue Teapot Company is funded and recognised as a service recognised by a Service Level Agreement between Corlann and the HSE. An annual Service Level Agreement and an overarching Principal Agent Agreement between Blue Teapot Theatre Company and Corlann govern the funding for the service provision of Blue Teapot. Blue Teapot also works with Ability West another Galway based disability service provider.

Funding for artistic and educational outputs comes from Grant applications across a range of sources including The Arts Council, Galway City and County Councils, GRETB and various philanthropic trusts and bodies.

Corlann employs the Executive Director and Blue Teapot Theatre Company employs all other staff members. The Executive Director reports to the Chairperson and Board of Blue Teapot Theatre Company and reports to a nominated Senior Manager in Corlann. Both the Executive Director and Artistic Director both attend and jointly appraise the Board on the ongoing work of the company. The Artistic Director reports to the Executive Director.

The following individuals report to the Executive Director: Artistic Director, General Manager, Performing Arts School Manager, and the Workability Project Manager.

The following individuals report to the Artistic Director: Producer, Ensemble Co-ordinator, Ensemble Lead Coach and Community Theatre Programme Co-ordinator.

Qualifications, experience, skills:

• Financial management, awareness of governing responsibilities.
• Working knowledge and adherence to governance requirement within public, not for profit and charity sector.
• Experience of managing teams, workflow and projects.
• Good track record in developing and maintaining partnerships, networking and stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrate a good track record of developing and delivering dynamic vision and strategy.
• Experience in or have a passion for working within the Arts sector.
• Strong project management skills
• Relevant third level qualification is desirable.

· Candidates should be able to demonstrate leadership, communication and team working skills and be a flexible and dynamic individual who will relate to people in a range of situations.

· Experience of working with individuals who have an Intellectual Disability is desirable.

· Candidates must have good IT skills and appropriate IT infrastructure.

· Candidates must have a full clean driving licence. Fluency in verbal and written English is an essential requirement of this post.

Working Hours:

78 hours a fortnight based on a 5 day duty roster.

Annual Leave:

30 days per annum (pro rata for part time)

Remuneration:

The reference salary applying to the grade ranges from a minimum of €62,497 to a maximum of €71,513 gross basic per annum

Probation:

A probationary period of nine months from the date of appointment applies to the post. The employment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period should the employer find that the appointee is unsuitable to continue employment. The probation period may be extended at the Employer’s discretion.

Tenure:

This post is permanent full-time and pensionable.

To view full job description please see attached.

Closing date for receipt of all applications online is 5pm Monday the 5th of October 2026.

Informal enquiries to Sean Conneally 087 694 9858 or Anne Dundon at 087 751 5593

Interview the week of 12th October 2026

Corlann is an equal opportunities employer