Technical Manager

Technical Manager

College of the Holy Cross

Description

A catalyst for creativity and learning, the Prior Performing Arts Center amplifies the arts at Holy Cross and provides the College, the greater Worcester community, and visiting creative thinkers with an inspiring environment to pursue diverse questions of the human experience. An active classroom, laboratory, and performance venue opened at the College in 2022, the Prior Performing Arts Center offers world-class spaces to experience and train in the performing and creative arts, fostering collaboration across artistic disciplines and catalyzing transformational exchange between the arts and other fields. Programming at the center includes performances and events by academic arts departments and programs, cutting-edge visiting artists, student organizations, and other campus and community partners. The performing arts center is also home to the College’s relocated Cantor Art Gallery, which promotes and supports the intellectual and cultural life of Holy Cross and the greater community through exhibitions both historical and contemporary.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Production, the Technical Manager is a technical generalist. The Technical Manager fulfills the role of head theatrical electrician and assists with or manages as needed other production elements from load-in to load out. They will have strong lighting and electrical power distribution skills, rigging skills, work well under short time constraints, and be able to pivot easily from one task or idea to another.

Often working independently with limited supervision and at times working in collaboration with the Event and Front of House Manager and/or PAC production staff, this position is responsible for executing the events and performances of College academic and administrative departments and community partners. This position will play a crucial role in building positive relationships between the center and the campus community as well as between the center and external organizations, artists, and other collaborators.

The ideal candidate is invested in all phases of production from creation to finished product. They are able to troubleshoot various technical and logistical problems as they arise and provide creative solutions, providing excellent service and ideas to all who engage with the PAC.

The Technical Manager will closely supervise student staff as well as overhire workers. As needed, this position will work with other production staff to recruit, hire, train, schedule, and evaluate student and overhire workers. Along with all staff at the PAC, the Technical Manager will help train employees, contractors and students in theater and safety protocols as needed.

While this is expected to be a 10-month position, the College will also consider a 9-month position if of interest to qualified candidates.

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Manage technical operations, events and activities of the PAC.
• Execute lighting and other technical needs with academic, visiting professional, community, and student production companies; assist in design and adaptation of lighting plans for stage productions; hang and focus stage lights; operate lighting control consoles. Supervise student workers and/or freelance overhires in this work.
• Repair and provide preventative maintenance for stage lighting and related electrical equipment; responds to lighting and electrical problems occurring during productions; makes recommendations on major repair of lighting and on new equipment acquisitions.
• Create and maintain lighting records including but not limited to detailing current lighting positions, circuit, focus, purpose and rentals. Manage and maintain lighting inventories. Track electrical expenses for events from pre-production through post production.
• Act as needed as a point person for visiting companies and artists’ technical personnel in scheduling and managing production activities.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, schedule and evaluate a roster of student stage hands, freelance overhires, contractors and technical/event personnel, maintaining high level of customer service with all clients and college departments. Monitor labor costs and approve timecards.
• Train on building AV systems to help assist with AV needs as needed.
• Assure compliance with appropriate regulations regarding safety and building policy and characteristics.
• Prepare and maintain accurate drafting and technical information for the rooms and venues within the PAC.
• Coordinate and maintain inventory of venue equipment and its allocation for events and performances with the PAC.
• Attend production meetings, rehearsals, previews, client walkthroughs, events and performances as needed.
• Assist in maintenance and repair of all theatrical equipment and spaces.
• Act as event run crew as needed.
• Act as a liaison between client and crew to execute all events with an extremely high standard of professionalism, discretion, customer service, and respect for Clients as well as other College staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended or irregular hours is required. Must be willing to work event-based hours determined by the busy performing arts center schedule.
• Experience working in theatrical environments, events and performing arts venues.
• Theatrical lighting experience as a theatrical master electrician.
• Management experience of technical crews.
• Knowledge of lighting, video and theatrical practices.
• Strong Experience of CAD drafting with Vectorworks.
• Experience and knowledge of basic rigging
• Ability to create and understand light plots and relevant paperwork.
• Lighting paperwork development using Lightwrite.
• Proven skill in programming EOS lighting consoles and working with automated lighting fixtures.
• Ability to adapt to and change between unconventional venues (galleries, outdoor stages, street events).
• Ability to work collaboratively, communicate clearly and diplomatically with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• A degree in a related field.
• Experience working with and or supervising unskilled student crews in an educational setting.
• Knowledge of theatrical rigging and counterweight fly systems and operation.
• Experience with or knowledge of Dante systems, Allen & Heath Avantis, Shure ULXD, NewTek NDI, Crestron NVX, QSYS.

Work Conditions

• Flexible schedule includes work on weekends, evenings, and holidays in support of the event schedule of the PAC.
• This position may require work in dimly lit or confined areas.
• The majority of the workday is spent indoors and onsite, but may require working outdoors or in off-campus venues.
• Restricted vacation during peak periods.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time.
• Must be able to work effectively using ladders, lifts and scaffolding.
• Must be able to work on a catwalk.
• Must be comfortable working at heights and able to move heavy equipment
• Must be able to lift 50lbs.

Core Competencies

• Supervision
• Dependability
• Flexibility
• Service Oriented
• Excellent Written & Verbal Communication
• Proficient Problem Solving
• Understands Risk Management
• Excellent Innovation/Creativity
• Strong Teamwork & Team Facilitation
• Strong Interpersonal Skills
• Understands, values and respects diversity as an individual and in a team
• Fosters an inclusive and supportive environment

Disclaimer

The description above represents the most significant duties of this position but does not exclude other occasional work assignments not mentioned, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the factor degrees assigned.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The College is committed to providing competitive market pay for its employees. The College also offers a competitive benefits package for full-time staff, including:

• 10% College contribution to the 403(b) Retirement Plan (1 year wait waiver available)
• NEW – condensed summer 4-day work week
• Tuition benefits
• Wellness programs & ongoing Training and Development opportunities
• Generous paid time off
• Free parking and free use of the athletic/fitness facilities.
• Click here to learn more.

To review our Employee Benefit Options, please go to: https://www.holycross.edu/human-resources/benefits

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the workplace.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please send a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter please address how your work supports the College’s mission as a Jesuit, undergraduate liberal arts college (see http://www.holycross.edu/mission) and its core commitment to diversity and inclusion. For more information, please visit http://holycross.edu/diversity.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.jobvite.com/holycross/job/ocsGnfwr

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