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Salary: £55,000 per annum (FTE), pro rata
Hours: 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE)
Location: London Coliseum
We’re looking for a mission-driven Head of Governance to help shape and strengthen governance at English National Opera and the London Coliseum.
This is a high-impact senior role at the heart of the organisation, combining hands-on delivery with trusted advice. You’ll work closely with the Board and executive team to ensure decision-making is clear, accountable and aligned with Charity Commission guidance and best practice.
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you’ll lead on coordinating governance activity, enhancing Board and committee effectiveness, and driving continuous improvement. You’ll oversee the annual governance cycle, support trustee development, and champion inclusive, well-informed decision-making that enables our leadership to thrive.
Requirements:
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Significant experience in charity governance, company secretariat or a comparable senior governance role
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Strong understanding of charity law, trustee responsibilities and good governance practice
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Experience supporting Boards and committees, including planning, papers and effectiveness reviews
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Demonstrable experience improving governance frameworks, processes or systems
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Confidence advising senior stakeholders with discretion, diplomacy and authority
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Experience working collaboratively across executive teams to embed effective governance practices
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Clear, credible communicator, both written and verbal
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Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
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Practical and solutions‑focused, with a bias for action
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Calm, measured and trusted, with strong professional judgement
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Committed to ENO’s mission, values and public purpose, including equity, diversity and inclusion
Please see our recruitment pack for full details of the role.
Application deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 15 July 2026
Interviews: w/c 27 July 2026
Interviews: w/c 3 August 2026 & w/c 10 August 2026
Feedback: Due to the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to provide individual feedback to those candidates who progress to interview stage.
Reasonable adjustments: If you require any reasonable adjustments for the application or interview process, please contact us.
English National Opera is an Equal Opportunities employer, and we strive to create an inclusive working environment that reflects the diverse communities we serve. As we work to address underrepresentation in our workforce, we particularly encourage potential candidates from underrepresented groups and communities to apply, including those from global majority backgrounds and/or with protected characteristics, including race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and religion and belief. We will provide appropriate support for candidates with access requirements if they identify as disabled. This includes during the application process and through candidate assessment stages.
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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About the role
The Institut français du Royaume-Uni is seeking a dynamic and strategic Head of Patrons’ Circle & Sponsorship Activation to lead the development of its patron engagement programmes and sponsorship (in-kind) activation strategy across the Institut’s major cultural events and flagship seasons.
This senior role has three core objectives:
- to grow and structure the Institut’s existing Patrons’ Circle;
- to create and launch a new Young Patrons Circle aimed at engaging a new generation of supporters;
- to design and deliver an in-kind sponsorship activation strategy across the Institut’s flagship cultural events and programmes.
The role combines community building, relationship management, experiential programming and sponsorship activation. It focuses on audience engagement, visibility and stakeholder experience rather than direct fundraising or financial sponsorship solicitation.
A key dimension of the role is the development of both:
- an in situ engagement programme at the Institut français;
- and a “Hors-les-murs” programme of exclusive events and experiences organised in partnership with leading cultural venues and institutions across London.
Working closely with the Head of Partnerships & Major Donors, the successful candidate will contribute to the Institut’s development strategy by creating meaningful experiences for patrons, sponsors and cultural stakeholders.
About the Patrons’ Circle
The Patrons’ Circle of the Institut français du Royaume-Uni is an active and committed community of individuals supporting the Institut’s mission through its Trust. Bringing together philanthropists, arts supporters and Francophile audiences, the Circle contributes to the development of the Institut’s cultural and educational programmes while fostering engagement with French culture in the UK.
Members benefit from privileged access to the Institut français and enjoy a curated programme of exclusive events and cultural experiences throughout the year, both at the Institut and through a “hors les murs” programme developed in partnership with leading cultural venues across London.
Key responsibilities
Patrons’ Circle & Young Patrons development
- Design and implement a development strategy for the Patrons’ Circle focused on engagement, retention and community growth
- Conceive, create and launch the Institut français du Royaume-Uni’s Young Patrons Circle, defining its positioning, audience, engagement model and value proposition
- Develop a recruitment and engagement strategy targeting younger audiences and emerging supporters
- Build and nurture a strong community through tailored engagement and personalised experiences
- Oversee the full patron journey, including onboarding, stewardship and retention
- Develop targeted communications and engagement campaigns (newsletters, invitations, tailored outreach)
- Structure and evolve benefits and membership offers for Patrons and Young Patrons
- Develop exclusive cultural experiences and networking opportunities for patrons and trustees
In-kind sponsorship activation & event partnerships
- Develop in-kind partnerships and collaborative sponsorship opportunities for major events including the French Film Festival UK, Night of Ideas and other high-profile programmes
- Identify and engage brands, cultural partners and lifestyle organisations aligned with the Institut’s values, audiences and events
- Develop creative non-financial partnership propositions focused on visibility, hospitality, audience engagement and cultural experiences
- Ensure meaningful and high-quality sponsor integration into events through experiences, visibility and tailored activations
- Coordinate sponsor activations in collaboration with programming, communications and production teams
- Build and maintain long-term relationships with sponsors and institutional partners
- Coordinate delivery and follow-up of partnership benefits and sponsor visibility
Events & experiences
- Curate, in coordination with the Institute cultural teams, selected moments from the Institut français’ existing programme for Patrons’ privileged access, including post-event encounters with artists and production teams
- Lead the conception and delivery of the “Hors-les-murs” programme, developed in close collaboration with cultural teams and hosted across partner venues in London
- Collaborate closely with programming, communications and production teams
- Ensure excellence in event delivery and premium stakeholder experience
Administration & coordination
- Prepare administrative committees and Board meetings in close collaboration with the Head of Partnerships & Major Donors
- Draft meeting minutes and coordinate follow-up actions
- Oversee administrative management of the Patrons’ Circle
- Coordinate agreements, partnerships and sponsor deliverables
- Ensure logistical and administrative follow-up for events and activations
Strategic contribution
- Propose innovative formats and initiatives to enhance patron and sponsor engagement
- Contribute to the Institut’s visibility and audience engagement strategy through cultural partnerships and experiences
- Monitor and evaluate engagement outcomes and partnership impact
- Benchmark best practices in patron engagement, sponsorship activation and cultural partnerships
Profile
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in partnerships, sponsorship activation, audience engagement, cultural programming or related fields
- Proven experience in developing and managing high-level relationships and stakeholder communities
- Experience in event partnerships, experiential engagement or brand activation
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to design and implement audience and engagement initiatives
- Excellent organisational and project management skills
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities
- Fluent English and French (written and spoken) essential
- Proactive and entrepreneurial mindset with strong initiative
- Strong interest in arts, culture and international environments
Conditions & benefits
- One-year renewable contract: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
- Gross monthly salary: £3,292
- 32 days of paid leave + public holidays
- travel allowance provided
- Possibility of joining a supplementary pension fund and health insurance subject to conditions
- Place of work: Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, 23 Cromwell road, London SW7 2EL
- Only applications from candidates who are already eligible to work in the United Kingdom will be considered.
- Start Date: as soon as possible
Only applications from candidates who are already eligible to work in the United Kingdom will be considered.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.