Home to The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the Royal Opera House (ROH) brings together world-class performers and trailblazing creative teams to share unforgettable performances with audiences near and far. Its theatres are in London’s Covent Garden, but its work is also accessed and experienced across the UK and globally through streams, tours, cinema relays, radio broadcasts and TV output. 

ROH is one of the busiest theatres in the world, delivering over 400 performances and around 1,350 learning events each year. It employs 950 permanent staff and generates a turnover of £135m, attracting 1.5m attendances in Covent Garden and in cinemas, further extended via broadcasting, digital activity and collaboration with touring companies.

ROH strives to develop audiences across the UK and internationally, and to break new ground in the presentation of lyric theatre. As times have changed, it has remained at the vanguard of innovation in the ways in which audiences can experience opera and ballet. The aim is for audiences to interact, create and engage in ROH's artforms, physically and digitally.

Public service values, and the need to be financially sustainable, sit right at the heart of this ambition. ROH seeks to inspire audiences through exceptional and accessible music and dance, opera and ballet.

The Board of Trustees of Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation is responsible for the governance of the Royal Opera House and is its ultimate decision-making body. Supported by the Executive Team, it is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Royal Opera House’s mission and aims.

The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden was substantially reconstructed in the 1980s and 90s. It is now in need of extensive capital investment and the ROH will be undertaking a significant capital project for which this role will provide essential input. The Covent Garden building includes three formal performance spaces: the grade 1 listed main auditorium which dates from 1858 and has an audience capacity of about 2,250; the Linbury Theatre, which seats 400 and was remodelled as part of a project to “open up” the house in 2014-18, and the Clore Studio, a flexible space for performance and events.

Covent Garden is supported by operations at two other buildings:

• the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop and Costume Centre in Thurrock, principally engaged in the production of sets and costumes;
• and an extensive storage facility in Aberdare, Wales, principally for storing sets for the repertory programme.

All three buildings require attention in addition to routine maintenance, but the focus of the forward programme is at Covent Garden where there is need to renew many of the stage and building systems which are nearing the end of their useful life.

In addition, the Board has resolved to strive towards Net Zero at Covent Garden by 2035, and this will also require renewal of environmental systems and some elements of the building fabric. The ROH will therefore be embarking on a £200 million capital project over the next 10 years.

The Royal Opera House is seeking a new Trustee who is aligned to its mission, shares its commitment to Equality Diversity and Inclusion and has the relevant, specialist knowledge and experience in estates management and capital works to aid the charity in ensuring its future success, taking a lead in all estates-related matters on behalf of the Board and providing strategic advice to the Board and support to the executive team. They will also act as an informed guide through the mission-critical repair and renewal of its landmark building and facilities.

The successful candidate is likely to be (or to have been) a director or partner in a large complex construction, facilities or property development company or consultancy. They will have senior experience of capital project development and procurement, management, delivery and governance; and be well versed in risk management, health and safety practice, contract services and sustainability. They will understand the need for excellent people leadership across multifunctional teams. They will be a team player with the skills and experience to act as a sounding board for relevant executive directors.

On a personal level, the successful candidate will share the Board’s interest in and enthusiasm for ROH’s art-forms, as well as their commitment to ROH’s goals and values, the importance of exceptional integrity and trust, and an understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Sir Lloyd Dorfman CVO CBE, Chair
Zeinab Badawi
Caroline Britton
Tim Bunting
Lisa Burger CBE
Lord Browne of Madingley
Kirsty Cooper
Susan Hoyle OBE
Vanessa Kingori OBE
Paul Morrell OBE
Indhu Rubasingham MBE
Janis Susskind OBE
Chris Townsend CBE
Michael Ward
Danny Wyler
Sir Alex Younger
Alex Beard CBE, CEO

Patrons
HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron
Dame Vivien Duffield DBE, Hon. Vice-President
Sir Simon Robey, Hon. Vice-President

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Board meets six times per year, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning for three hours; going forward, these will be in person. Trustees are also expected to sit on one of the Board’s Sub- committees. These include a Future ROH Committee, with responsibility for oversight of capital and estates matters. The appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.

Location

Board meetings are currently held in Covent Garden. Candidates will therefore be UK-based or be able to travel to London regularly.

Diversity

The Royal Opera House strongly welcomes applicants from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. In line with the Disability Confident scheme and as a protected characteristic, disability is under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010. However, ROH may employ positive action where candidates from under-represented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.