HR & admin assistant

Training Allowance: £22,914 (Equivalent to London Living Wage)

Location: London

Start date: July 2026

Contract duration: 1 year

Working hours: 10am - 6pm, Monday to Friday

Closing date for applications: Sunday 5th July 2026

Support HR, recruitment and day-to-day operations at a leading East London theatre, helping keep theatre open and accessible for all.

We're here to push boundaries in the beating heart of East London. We're here to champion talent and create hard-hitting shows. We're here to move you, excite you and keep theatre open for all.

We are Stratford East. And we’re here for a reason. To make truly great theatre. In an atmosphere that welcomes all, locals and visitors alike. With extraordinary shows that are affordable for all. It’s why we’re fiercely proud to not just be in the beating heart of East London, but amongst it. Because it’s made us the ambitiously inventive and resourceful bunch that we are, And it’s made our theatre unlike anywhere else. If you’re after something different, If you want to feel part of something innovative and exciting, And if you want to join us in keeping theatre open for everyone, then we’re here. Stratford East. Here for Great Theatre.

We are looking for an exceptional HR & Admin Assistant to support the General Manager with HR. The role is to also assist the Operations Department and with wider team administrative duties.

Key activities:

• Assist the General Manager across all HR administration and staff training
• Work with the Executive Assistant on organisational wide administration
• Assist the Artistic team and Operational team with departmental administration
• Maintain a good working environment for staff at Stratford East

Responsibilities

HR

• Assist the General Manager across HR administration to make sure all contracts and personnel records are filed and kept up to date on BreatheHR, in line with GDPR policy
• Keep permanent, casual and freelancer staff lists up to date for our website
• Liaise with the Marketing and Communications team and proof press releases and Marketing assets and website to ensure information aligns with the schedule and staff lists
• Assist the General Manager with keeping BreatheHR updated with any notes and actions from appraisals / probations / reviews
• Assist the General Manager to keep the theatre’s personnel records maintained, updated and stored including job descriptions, monitoring sick and annual leave, etc
• Assist the General Manager to draft offer letters, contracts, new starter forms, formal notices of termination and pay rise letters for approval by the General Manager
• Assist across recruitment processes, creating application packs, placing recruitment ads, administratively processing applications, coordinating interview logistics and communicating with applicants
• Liaise with our HR consultant as necessary to coordinate meetings when providing professional HR support
• Collate equal opportunities data for our workforce and provide information for Board and funding reports including Arts Council England Annual Survey
• Attend and note HR meetings when required – including disciplinary and grievance meetings
• Assist the General Manager with administrating DBS checks for roles where this is required
• Assist the artistic team with drafting and proofing production contracts when required
• Assist the Executive Assistant with arranging staff leaving gifts and hospitality

Administration

• Assist with coordinating room bookings and keeping the room booking log up to date
• Assist with updating and printing building sign in sheets
• Assist with ordering office supplies and stationery, and green room consumables
• Assist General Manager with co-ordinating staff training including first aid, health and safety, fire drill, front of house training
• Assist the General Manager and Executive Assistant to co-ordinate staff events including away days and socials
• Assist the General Manager with collating and uploading Arts Council England annual submission data
• Assist with Health & Safety Committee and Environmental Committee meetings, including circulating papers, taking minutes
• Deputise for Executive Assistant when on leave to assist the Executive Team with meetings and administrative tasks
• Assist the artistic team with greeting meeting guests and on auditions
• Assist with maintaining the offices and ensuring the green room is kept tidy with regular dishwasher cycles
• Assist the operations team administratively when needed
• Assist with responding to general enquiries and complaints and answering calls on the main administration line
• Sort and distribute incoming and outgoing mail on a daily basis
• Occasionally cover the box office desk when required
• Uphold confidentiality involving sensitive data
• Draft monthly front of house and casuals newsletter to keep team updated with news
• Proof documents on behalf of the operations team
• Work with the Rader Committee (staff accessibility and disability group) to ensure the physical building is as accessible as it can be
• Assist the Exec Assistant with press night and event administration when required
  
  

Environment

• Assist the GM to monitor and update the Sustainability Action Plan
• Assist the Head of Operations and General Manager with environmental data collection and reporting
• Assist changes in behaviour and equipment to contribute towards improving our carbon footprint
  

Wider Organisational Support

• Assist the Associate Artistic Director and Producer on the development and delivery of the Royalty Scheme, providing administrative support, compiling the regular newsletter and general management of the Scheme
• Assist the Development Team on the delivery of events, meeting and greeting guests when required
• Be familiar with and abide by all Stratford East Company Policies including, but not limited to, our Equal Opportunities Policy, Dignity at Work Policy and Health and Safety Policy
• Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the post

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

• Understanding the handling of confidential and sensitive information
• Office 365 including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Strong organisational skills
• Being able to multi-task
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Education to college level with good written and verbal communication skills and basic maths

Desirable

• A keen interest in theatre
• Interested in sustainable working practices

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk
• Please note you will receive an update on your application no later than 6 weeks after the closing date

This opportunity is open to individuals from groups that are under-represented in the creative industries. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from other ethnically diverse backgrounds, or people of any ethnicity who belong to the following under-represented groups: disabled people, people with the characteristic of gender reassignment, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, carers and asylum seekers.

The successful candidate for this opportunity will also participate in a Creative Access support programme that sits alongside workplace training. This includes a programme of induction training, monthly masterclasses, wellbeing support, buddying/mentoring, and more.