Technical Director
CATEGORY: Technical
The Park Avenue Armory
New York, NY
US
Job Details
DESCRIPTION
Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full realization, enabling artists to create and audiences to experience epic and adventurous presentations that cannot be mounted elsewhere in New York City.
Summary
The Technical Director is responsible for a full scope of tasks and duties associated with implementing the technical production of a wide range of interdisciplinary performances, installations and events in the Armory’s Head House historic rooms from concept to load out. These events include Recitals, Artist Studios, Artist Talks, Symposiums and Special Events. The Armory’s historic spaces do not have fixed seating or infrastructure which requires flexibility, a hands-on approach, and strong technical skills.
Supervision
The Technical Director reports to the Deputy Director of Production. The Technical Director is an integral part of a small and dynamic team with an Assistant Production Manager and two additional Technical Directors. They work closely with the Armory’s Programming, Development, Public Programming, and Facilities departments.
Responsibilities
1. Plan technical details of productions, including working with artists, designers, and technical teams on design and implementation details; solicit rental bids for backline, audio, lighting, video, staging and rigging equipment as needed; coordinate with Armory staff on use of house equipment; create and review technical and design drawings; and participate in production meetings.
2. Oversee production load-in, set-up, rehearsal, performance, strike, and restore of all historic room productions, including seating and staging, lighting, rigging, audio and video installations.
3. In collaboration with the Assistant Production Manager, develop and maintain production schedules and load-in and load-out logistics plans for each event as well as prepare all production budgets including labor estimating, material costs and rental bids.
4. Oversee implementation of all production elements during each show’s run.
5. Supervise labor during load-in, load-out, rehearsals, and run-of-show as well as contractors involved in capital improvements to production infrastructure.
6. Supervise production and technical staff to ensure that all work is completed safely and on time. Create a respectful and inclusive working environment for all crew, staff and artists.
7. Willingness to be hands on jump in on events to focus and cue lights, run audio or video on an as needed.
8. Ensure that the historic spaces, both restored and unrestored, are protected from any and all damage.
9. Participate in advance work on future productions to ensure that creative teams are aware of possible constraints, including technical specs, budgets, logistics, and feasibility.
10. Manage Head House drawings and documentation including as-builts.
11. Oversee maintenance and storage of all production-related equipment dedicated to the Head House.
12. Be available nights, weekends, and holidays as scheduled and assigned to perform these responsibilities.
13. Keep the Deputy Director of Production informed at all times of issues related to technical production implementation, and perform other technical production implementation responsibilities as needed and directed.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function to a high professional standard. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Ideal candidates will be self-starters with imagination and a “can-do” attitude.
· 5-7+ years of technical experience in theatrical production of the performing arts or equivalent, preferably production and supervisor experience in an arts producing organization in the New York City area.
· Demonstrated broad and deep knowledge of theater production and technology, including lighting, audio, video and networking.
· Lighting: Ability to safely drive a powered lift, hang and focus theatrical lighting fixtures and set cues with ETC Eos lighting control system. Basic ETC Paradigm architectural lighting control systems knowledge a plus.
· Audio: Ability to set up audio systems with speakers, amplifiers, analog or digital consoles, wireless microphones and other sources.
· Video: Ability to setup and run video systems with monitors or projectors, playback devices and cueing software, understand media codecs and file types and relevant software for basic editing, transcoding and playback (e.g. QLab, Audacity, Handbrake, VLC or equivalents).
· Networking: Basic understanding of how to patch devices together within computer networks as required for implementing networked media protocols (i.e. NDI for video, Dante for audio, etc.)
· Proficiency with Vectorworks for generating all types of drawings from 2D simple plans and sections to 3D renderings and detailed construction drawings; Autocad and/or Sketchup knowledge a plus.
· Strong supervisory skills for overseeing labor. Strong organizational skills for maintaining equipment and inventories.
· Knowledge of safety standards for local, state and federal guidelines.
· Significant experience with budgeting, labor estimation and equipment and material sourcing and specification.
· Demonstrated ability to take initiative, proactively manage multiple priorities with tight and changing deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
· Strong proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, Word and Excel, as well as in internet research.
· Flexible schedule and ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, as well as to respond to emergency situations on an “on call” basis.
· Bachelor’s degree in theatre production or similar preferred.
Park Avenue Armory prioritizes employee safety and promotes safe work practices, which are the responsibility of all employees. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl; and talk; or hear. The employee is regularly required to climb or balance, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, raise arms over head, perform overhead work, and work effectively at heights up to 25 feet using ladders and operating lifts. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, safety is always a priority. The employee is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; risk of electrical shock; vibration; and moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is often loud.
SALARY
$75,000.00 – $85,000.00 per year