Buildings & Technical Manager | Eastbourne | Permanent

Wycombe Swan Theatre

Eastbourne

On-site

GBP 47,000 - 57,000

Full time

4 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Discounted theatre tickets

Training and development plans

Retail savings with TE&ME resources

Mental health resources

Job summary

Trafalgar Entertainment seeks a Building & Technical Manager for Eastbourne Theatres (Eastbourne, BN21 4BP). You will lead a technical team across lighting, sound, AV, rigging and facilities, ensuring safety, compliance and high-quality performances.

You’ll manage budgets, coordinate with central teams, and operate within a dynamic live-entertainment environment. The role requires availability for evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Qualifications

Minimum of two years’ experience in technical theatre management or senior technical role.
Proven experience leading managers and teams (full-time, part-time, casual).
Knowledge of theatre technical systems (lighting, sound, AV, rigging, flying, staging).
Strong understanding of building maintenance and statutory compliance in a performance venue.
Experience in Health & Safety management, risk assessment & compliance.
Experience implementing and managing operational systems (maintenance, compliance, rota).
Experience setting and managing budgets and controlling costs for events.
Excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills; able to prioritise and delegate.
Willingness to work unsociable hours including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Skills

Leadership

Health & Safety management

Budgeting & cost control

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Availability for unsocial hours

Education

Health & Safety qualification (IOSH/NEBOSH)

Job description

The Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre, and Winter Garden, along with conferencing and exhibition facilities are collectively known as Eastbourne Theatres and form part of the award-winning Devonshire Quarter complex. The venues are widely regarded as jewels in the crown of South-East entertainment.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

We are looking for individuals that can work as part of a team and individually to achieve and deliver Our Values: Creativity, Collaboration, Excellence and Respect.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum of two years’ experience in technical theatre management or a senior technical role in a mid to large-scale entertainment venue or conference building.
Proven experience of leading managers and teams, including full-time, part-time and casual staff.
Comprehensive knowledge of theatre technical systems (lighting, sound, AV, rigging, flying and staging).
Strong understanding of building maintenance and statutory compliance in a performance venue.
Demonstrable experience of Health & Safety management, including risk assessment and statutory compliance.
Experience of implementing and managing operational systems, such as maintenance, compliance and rota systems.
Experience of setting and managing budgets and controlling costs associated with events.
Excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise and delegate.
Willingness to work unsociable hours including evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.

KEY ATTRIBUTES

Passion for live entertainment and events.
An exceptional attention to detail in written, numerical and verbal communication.
An ambition to collaborate with all stakeholders and central teams to achieve excellence.
Be a role model for the technical and wider team: empowering and inspiring all.
Willingness to learn new skills.
Create an inclusive and respectful culture in line with company values.
Strong communication and listening skills when dealing with colleagues, members of the public, key stakeholders and industry colleagues.
Understanding of Health and Safety and other relevant legislation, and a commitment to being actively compliant.
Ability to work effectively during busy times.

DESIRABLE

Qualification in Health & Safety (e.g. IOSH, NEBOSH).
Formal technical or production training.
Experience of managing capital projects.
Experience of facilities management, including hard and soft services.
Experience of working across multiple venues or within listed or heritage buildings.
First Aid at Work qualification.

Please note: Interviews will be held the 18th & 19th November 2026.

about trafalgar entertainment

Founded by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squirein 2017, Trafalgar Entertainment is an award-winning global live-entertainment business, producing plays and musicians, theatre and venue ownership and operations, live music and comedy, events and hospitality, Performing Arts education, ticketing, the distribution and filming of event cinema and TV live-streaming innovative content through Trafalgar Releasing Ltd (from David Tennant in Macbeth to Taylor Swift).

Trafalgar Entertainment is home to Trafalgar Theatres (with 23 venues in the UK, Sydney, London, and across the UK), including four London Theatres - Trafalgar Theatre, The Bridge Theatre, and the new British Airways Theatre, Olympia.

We are passionate about entertainment, audiences, and the live experience and we value Creativity, Collaboration, Excellence and Respect.

Trafalgar Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in groups where we are under-represented, for example people with disabilities, from minority ethnic groups, older returners and people who are neurodivergent.

We are curious, courageous and ambitious, empowering people to challenge and innovate in pursuit of excellence.

For You

Discounted theatre tickets

Training and development plans

Hundreds ofsavings across retailers withTE&ME

Access to mental health resources

And much more...

Eligibility criteria applies

Position Title: Building & Technical Manager

Location: Eastbourne Theatres

Contract: Annualised Full Time - Average of 40hrs per week

Annual Leave: 264 hours per annum (incl Public Bank Holidays)