Deputy Technical Manager

Allscreens Nationwide Ltd; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

ATG Entertainment seeks a skilled Technical Lead at Milton Keynes Theatre to support, coordinate and enhance a busy technical team. You will oversee operational theatre functions, ensure safe and efficient get-ins/outs, and maintain equipment to the highest standards.

The role requires extensive large-scale theatre experience, leadership ability, and a strong grasp of safety, budgeting and cross-department collaboration. Flexibility for evenings and weekends is essential.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of large scale productions in a premier receiving venue.
• Experience in leading teams and coordinating multi-disciplinary departments.
• Understanding of health and safety legislation and safe work practices.
• Good budgeting, costings and procurement awareness.

Responsibilities

• Ensure visiting companies are supported with professional and efficient interaction to deliver the best theatre experience.
• Oversee safe get-in, fit-up and get-out of productions with clear health and safety adherence.
• Assist in equipment maintenance and testing within planned preventative maintenance budgets.
• Act as technical department Risk Champion and represent the department in venue meetings.
• Lead departmental staff training and regular team meetings; drive continuous improvement.
• Initiate and manage recruitment of casual staff and support across ATG venues as required.

Skills

Large scale theatre experience

Team leadership

Budget & costings

Safety compliance

Technical theatre knowledge

Education

General certificate in Maths and English

Tools

ETC Eos

Yamaha LS9

BS7671 / Rigging awareness

PPE Inspection methods

Job description

You’ll report to the Technical Manager and collaborate closely with Assistant Technical Manager, the Technical Team and all other Departments within the Venue.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within, lead and enhance an experienced and motivated Technical Team at Milton Keynes Theatre, a busy regional receiving venue.

The role will support the Technical Manager in all aspects of technical theatre from advancing productions, creating costings, supervising staff, coordinating fit ups, performances and get outs, liaising with contractors, maintaining theatre systems and equipment, and ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the department whilst maintaining high standards of safety and presentation.

You will demonstrate strong technical theatre knowledge with extensive experience in large scale receiving theatre operations, particularly in stagecraft and counterweight flying systems at a minimum, although a wider skill base and expertise is desirable (ie Sound AV and LX). As you will appreciate, a receiving theatre requires ongoing maintenance. You will be required to identify and resolve issues as they arise, utilising your multi skilled experience.

The role is offered on an annualised hour contract, meaning that working hours vary throughout the year and payment for any premium hours, such as get outs, are all included in the annual salary. The role will be subject to a 6-month satisfactory probation period. This role will involve regular evening and weekend work, including fit ups, performances and get outs. It also varies between office and manual labour duties that can be physically demanding.

You will be working in a fast-paced environment, with no two days the same.

Please note, your role may involve working with children or vulnerable people.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure departmental interaction with Visiting Companies is enabling, efficient and professional at all times, in order that the venue provides the best possible experience and customer care.
• Ensure the safe and efficient get-in, fit-up and get-out of all productions, ensuring Health and Safety guidelines and policies are clearly communicated and followed.
• Assist in ensuring all equipment is maintained and annual testing is completed as part of planned preventative maintenance within budgetary constraints.
• Be a part of the venue Risk Management team as the technical department Risk Champion.
• As requested, represent the technical department at the venue management meetings.
• Assist in delivering regular departmental meetings to communicate company information, procedures and goals to ensure the team is well informed and motivated.
• Initiate projects to aid the future proofing of the venue.
• Be the lead in delivering training to the wider teams.
• Initiate and manage the ongoing recruitment of the casual staff.
• At times, and as the business requires, work at other ATG venues.
• Undertake any such duties and training as many be considered reasonable to the position of this role.
• Deputise for the Technical Manager in their absence.

Your Skills, Qualities and Experience

• We welcome transferable skills from other industries. If you can demonstrate many of the essential skills, qualities and experience we encourage you to apply. We are able to provide training where necessary.
• Extensive experience of large scale productions in a premier receiving venue.
• General certificate in Maths and English.
• Experience in leading teams.
• Experience in Safety Legislations in Theatre, implemantation of safe systems and developing safety culture.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, along with planning and organisational skills.
• Highly computer literate - proficicent in Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Outlook at a minimum.
• Ability to work under pressure and with a high degree of autonomy.
• Ability to lead and contribute to the team and develop, manage and apply systems and procedures.
• Ability to work at height and also use a Tallescope.
• Certification in :- IOSH, Management qualification, BS7671, BS7909, Rigging awareness, IPAF, C&G PAT, PPE Inspection, Working at height in the Entertainment Industry (and rescue). First Aid, Safe use of mobile Towers (PASMA)
• Understanding of financial management and budget planning.
• Understanding of Employment LAW.
• Experience in Production or Project management and experience of working within a management team.
• Use of ETC Eos Family Lighting Desks (including APEX) and Yamaha Digital Sound Desks (including LS9).
• Knowledge of AV and Networking infrastructures
• Knowledge of Facilities Management systems and processes
• Building trades.

About Us - Our values

• ATG Entertainment’s values set the tone for how we work, how we treat one another, and the culture we continue to build across the UK and the wider organisation.
• THRIVE doing what we love (with passion and dynamism)
• CONNECT through every act (with collaboration and kindness)
• DARE to do different (with curiosity and courage)
• PERFORM at our best (with customer focus and ownership)

Our culture

You’ll help us uphold a positive culture around meeting our obligations, by having a positive attitude to health and safety, legal and insurance requirements and take care to understand our policies and procedures.

We are all expected to participate actively in the life of the company, and opportunities will arise for you to collaborate with others across the business. Everyone at ATG Entertainment is expected to be flexible and adapt as the needs of the business change, taking on new or different responsibilities as the need arises.