Technical Director

Position Title: Technical DirectorDepartment: Clayton Center for the Arts

Title of Immediate Supervisor/Leader to Whom This Position Reports: Executive Director of the Clayton Center for the Arts

Expected Daily Work Hours: FlexibleExpected Weekly Work Schedule: Flexible

College offices are normally open from 8:00 AM until 5:00PM, Monday through Friday. However, due to the nature of responsibility to the student body, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening or weekend hours. Non-exempt employees will normally work 8 hours per day. Overtime (any hours more than 40 per week) for non-exempt employees is required to be approved, in advance by the department supervisor. Exempt employees will typically work at least 40 hours per week and such additional time as may be reasonably required to fulfill the obligations of their position description. Such additional work may include evenings and weekends and should be described in this document.*

Summary of this position

The Technical Director (TD) is responsible for the operation of all backstage and production functions related to the Clayton Center’s three performance halls.

The TD manages, coordinates and negotiates technical aspects of contracts for presenting artists and renters. S/he also serves as the primary point of contact for technical production questions from renters, guest artists, and other performers.

The TD should have extensive experience in professional sound, lighting, and video systems, theatrical rigging, and set construction. Additionally, the TD is responsible for directing and supervising the work of (2) Assistant Technical Directors and other stagehands/technicians (including student staff) to ensure that user technical needs are met, high standards of production quality are maintained, and best practices are observed. The TD should place a high value on the training and professional development of student stagehand workers who may have little to no previous experience in the operation of a professional theatrical space.

The TD is responsible for maintaining clean, safe, and compliant backstage and performance areas, and is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the functional areas under his/her control.

The TD is expected to regularly work nights/weekends and long work shifts in order to run and/or supervise performances and other events and is responsible for ensuring that qualified technicians are on hand any time event performance spaces are in use.

Minimum Qualifications Required:(please be specific and respond to every question; indicate none if not applicable)

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor�s degree with an emphasis in theater, music, or a related discipline,
  
• Or; Associate�s degree or certification and commensurate professional technical experience required.
  

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• A minimum of 3 -5 years of progressive professional experience as a facility or touring technician required.
  
• Management experience in an entertainment/arts setting strongly preferred.
  
• Extensive experience in using, troubleshooting and maintaining audio, sound, lighting, multimedia and related computer technology required, including a working knowledge of current digital audio and lighting control systems.
  
• Knowledge of professional drafting standards and computer-based drafting systems (AutoCAD, Vectorworks, etc.).
  
• Demonstrated ability to manage stagehands and other technicians, work well with others and interact with the public.
  

Special skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Ability to comprehend and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
  
• Ability to develop reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
  
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
  
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
  
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
  

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid Tennessee Driver�s License.
  
• First Aid/CPR/AED.
  
• OSHA 10-hour certification.
  
• Must be able to obtain certifications within 6 months of hire.
  

Physical requirements:

• Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds.
  
• Regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; taste or smell and work at various heights.
  
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 100 pounds with assistance.
  

Environmental conditions:

• Typical live performance industry setting.
  
• Work may be performed indoors as well as outdoors in varying weather conditions.
  
• May perform work in varied lighting conditions (from dim/dark to very bright).
  
• May be exposed to very quiet and very loud conditions for extended periods of time.
  

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment: computer, phone, etc.
  
• Hand tools, control panels, ladders, and other industry standard tools.
  
• Proficient computer skills, including computer-controlled industry standard technical systems and equipment, including a working knowledge of current network technologies and digital theory used by professional sound, lighting, and video systems.
  

Primary duties and responsibilities (Typically ~7 primary duties comprised of 80% of the responsibilities):

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Serves as the primary technical contact for guest artists, renters, Maryville College groups, and other users, and sees that all performance or event-specific technical needs are accommodated professionally and cost-effectively in the Clayton Center performing spaces.
  
• Works with all users to ensure that each event�s technical production values meet the standards of professionally managed events.
  
• Analyzes show and event technical requests and contract riders, determines necessary equipment and arranges the rental of additional technical equipment when necessary.
  
• Hires, trains, and manages student stagehands employed through the College�s work-study program.
  
• Hires and supervises outside professional stagehands as necessary to meet event requirements and ensure that all events are appropriately staffed.
  
• Runs sound, lighting, video, rigging and other performance equipment on occasion.
  
• Oversees the creation of technical drawings for all spaces, including ground plans and lighting plots.
  
• Monitors the condition of equipment (including sound, lighting, and projection equipment, performance pianos, rigging/fly systems, and loading-dock equipment) and arranges for the repair and replacement within budgetary constraints.
  
• Develops and implements plans related to regular maintenance and replacement of aging equipment.
  
• Works with the Executive Director to improve facility technical capabilities in light of revenue-generating opportunities and changing user and production needs.
  
• Oversees all billing of technical expenses related to Clayton Center rentals and performances.
  
• Assists with the preparation and control of production and operating budgets.
  
• Performs final safety checks during any potentially hazardous use of facility infrastructure (e.g. company switch tie-ins, connections of overhead rigging, etc.), and confirms that rules related to the safe operation of stage equipment and infrastructure are clearly understood and strictly observed by all users.
  
• Ensures that performers and other stage users are safe and properly supervised at all times, and that technical areas are clean, safe, and secure.
  

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty, and students.

Leadership requirements:

• Does the person in this position directly supervise other staff/team members?Yes
  

If yes, how many? Varies by event

• Does the person in this position directly supervise students? Yes
  

If yes, how many? Varies by event