Summary
The Live Events Technician role is responsible for the delivery of a range of event technical production services to support musical, conference, and other events at the University of Birmingham. The technician’s primary areas of responsibility are the Elgar Concert Hall and the Great Hall, however technical assistance for events across the University campus and the city centre Exchange venue will also form part of the role.
The Technician, working under the Live Events Technical Manager will ensure the smooth running of technical event services and events. They will provide assistance and support to incoming artistes and external production companies from technical and stagecraft aspects. Other activities that require technical support will include rehearsals, commercial events, lectures, conferences etc. both within the building and across the wider university. In support of the Live Events Technical Manager the post holder will also support both maintenance and health & safety aspects within the venues to ensure that current regulations and legislation are adhered to. The successful applicant will be able to work weekends, early starts, late nights, and bank holidays where required.
Main Duties
1. Plan and implement the preparation, get-in, fit-up, derig, and removal of all in house technical services including lighting, sound, staging, flying/rigging and AV/projection for each event.
2. Take a leading role in the set up and operation of the venues in house technical systems.
3. Operate technical systems where required for events,. AV systems and projection or mixing live sound for music performances and concerts.
4. Working proactively to provide technical support to visiting production companies, other university departments and users of the venue to ensure all needs are met.
5. Management of the venues stock of audio-visual equipment including the keeping of stock inventories up to date, reporting any issues to the Live Events Technical Manager.
6. In conjunction with the Live Events Technical Manager, develop long term planning for all technical systems to ensure the venue equipment inventory is in line with current technical developments and standards.
7. Provide first line maintenance of installations and all technical equipment to ensure it is in working order at all times.
8. Support the implementation and checking of health and safety related processes within the venue, ensuring that current appropriate regulations and working practices are adhered to.
9. Ensure that the configuration and layout of the Elgar Concert Hall is set up for each user.
10. Support the Live Events technical Manager in both technical and non-technical day to day operations within the venues where required, including the setup of non-technical items and facilities,. furniture and signage.
11. Ability to deal on a day-to-day basis with facilitating customer needs always ensuring a positive outcome.
12. Giving excellent customer service to all building users.
13. Undertake training on non-technical systems where required.
14. Provide support for other technical equipment in the Bramall building along with other Campus Services commitments and interests.
15. Any other duties as outlined by line manager and/or director of Campus Services.
Other
16. Provide support for manager(s) in promoting sustainability across the University.
17. Ensure that all activities and services comply with health and safety regulations, including the timely and accurate issue of risk assessments.
18. Liaise with colleagues at all levels to ensure effective management of activities related to delivering conferences, concerts and events.
19. Support equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
20. Any other duties as may reasonably be expected by the relevant manager.
21. Undertake continuous personal and professional development and develop others as appropriate through the Performance and Development Review process.
22. Flexible approach to working patterns as the role includes night, weekend and possibly Bank Holiday shift work.
Relationships
23. Confidently communicate to clients and internal teams, active participation in briefing and feedback meetings.
24. Work closely with the team and attend client meetings to review active projects and briefs, develop ideas and assess or advise on project resource and requirements.
25. Respond to feedback in an appropriate manner, listening and providing advice.
26. Act as a role model to other members of the team in championing Campus Services values and behaviours.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
27. Working knowledge of technical production systems and equipment including, but not limited to, sound consoles, loudspeaker systems, lighting desks, luminaries, hoist based flying systems, staging setup, projection and audio-visual equipment.
28. Demonstrable experience of working with audio visual systems within a live event environment including signal switching, streaming, HD projection and presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Slido.
29. Working knowledge of Yamaha digital audio mixing consoles and associated Dante signal distribution, Avolites lighting consoles, and D&B Audiotechnik PA systems
30. Flexible attitude to working on shows, get ins/outs as well as a proactive approach to helping maintain and improve the venues technical systems and building infrastructure.
31. Working knowledge of event related health and safety practices and legislation.
32. Able to effectively communicate with both clients and colleagues using various methods and to present facts to support a particular rationale.
33. Ability to supervise casual staff, students, volunteers and freelance technicians when working on events.
34. Experience in the live events industry.
35. PAT Testing or electrical qualification, as well as training in technical, AV and stagecraft areas would be desirable.
36. Focus on customer service and experience.
37. Effectively work collaboratively with other teams to deliver specified goals.
38. Technical production vocational qualifications desirable but not essential.
39. Confident communicator, able to clearly convey complex ideas or technical details and sell them to the client and internally.
40. Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects and keep calm and focused under pressure.
41. Exceptional attention to detail, maintaining high standards and brand consistency.
42. Excellent interpersonal skills and a ‘can-do’ problem solving attitude to build and maintain positive relationships.
43. Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of how and higher education institutions work.
44. Ability to understand policy and procedures and how to apply these.
Dimensions
This role will require the exercise of personal initiative within and beyond the department.
Planning and Organising
You will be required to independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision.
Problem Solving and decision making
You will be working under the direction of a manager, with a significant degree of autonomy. You will deal with more complex queries and be expected to resolve any problems in your area of responsibility.
Internal and External relationships
You will liaise with internal colleagues across the University and stakeholders.