Head of Technical

The Purpose of this role is to work with the Deputy General Director and other Senior Technical Management team (Head of Production & Head of Costume & Wigs) in delivering the highest technical standards and ensuring the technical support to enable the realisation of the company’s artistic vision.

Key Accountabilities:

Planning and scheduling:

• Lead the ON technical touring department in ensuring that all ON productions are supported, working alongside the production team to produce and maintain budgets and schedules relating to staffing and technical resources.
• Attend planning meetings and be part of ensuring deliverability of technical requirements.
• Produce monthly and weekly schedules in line with the BECTU & Equity / ON house contracts, maximizing best utilization.
• Oversee departmental schedules and venue call sheets to ensure diligent budget management.
• Liaise with Company Management about schedules and local staff requirements for touring venues.
• Planning technical touring aspects including communications with teams & venues, collating documents and ensuring correct staff levels.

Financial:

• Prepare operational technical department budgets and monitor these on a regular basis to ensure that budgets are maintained at all times.
• Prepare and monitor seasonal staffing budgets.
• Liaise with the DGD and finance department to ensure accurate reporting and annual forecasting.
• Manage and control venue contra accounts.

People Management:

• Be a pivotal part of the senior technical management team with Head of Production & Head of Costume.
• Be an integral manager of ON operational management and contribute to the strategic direction of the departments.
• Ensure that the recruitment, employment and working practices and procedures of technical staff are within ON’s current procedures and code of practice, and where necessary, implement new structures to keep up to date with industry standards.
• Liaise with the finance department on the payment of touring and other subsistence, ensuring contractual and legal compliance.
• Ensure relevant training is planned and delivered throughout the sections and that training courses are instigated and followed through to completion.
• Carry out annual performance appraisal with HoDs and ensuring that all teams are annually appraised.
• Support the DGD in working with unions, ensuring adequate agreements are in place.

Operational Management:

• Be an integral part of the operational management and contribute to the strategic development of the departments.
• Be the main contact for day to day running of the accountable departments.
• Manage all essential Health and Safety, working practices and training to the required standard within the technical department, with a good knowledge of but not restricted to IOSH, LOLER, COSHH, manual handling and working at height.
• Manage, uphold and support all local Health and Safety implications and other relevant legislation.
• Ensure that all incidents and / or accidents are reported and proper records kept.
• Work with Head of Facilities and Health & Safety to ensure accident and incident investigations are completed and instigate any required actions to ensure compliance with legislation.
• Represent technical management during production rehearsals, first nights and on tour.
• Be the main point of contact for venue liaison in all technical and operational matters.
• Ensure professional and expert delivery of all technical non – main stage activity, including HAR and Learning and Engagement departments.
• To facilitate the technical presentation of all non-theatre events (sponsorship events, recitals, technical demonstrations etc..) to ensure that all are presented to the highest available finish, if and when required.
• Ensure advancement and future proofing of technical requirements.

Job Requirements:

Experience/ skills required:

• Proven experience in large scale Technical Management
• Proven experience in a senior management role or head of department
• Excellent technical skills with a thorough understanding of current and future equipment needs and system across all the main areas of technical theatre, with experience in touring as an additional asset
• Experience in complex scheduling tasks
• Resource and budget management staffing / employee terms and working practice agreements
• Training in H&S management and knowledge of H&S requirements for a producing theatre
• Ability to read and analyse technical drawings and experience of CAD
• Awareness of both GDPR and EDI regulations

Functional/ leadership competencies:

• Ability to effectively manage and motivate staff
• Effective manager of stakeholders
• Good communicator
• Ability to work well within a team
• Ability to deal proactively with company requirements
• Knowledge and experience of Health and Safety regulations within the theatre and touring theatre.
• IT literate, with emphasis on Word and Excel and ACAD knowledge
• Ability to frequently travel to touring venues in the UK