Consultant - Theatre Designer / Team Leader

Archinect; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative consultancy is seeking a Theatre Designer/Team Leader to join their North American team. This exciting role focuses on theatre design, where you will create functional and inspiring spaces for the performing arts. You will lead projects, develop auditorium concepts, and collaborate with a talented team to shape the future of performance venues. With opportunities for professional growth and a supportive work environment, this position offers a chance to make a significant impact in the live performance industry. If you are passionate about design and eager to contribute to transformative projects, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

401K Plan

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability

Flexible Working Hours

Laptop Provided

Home Internet Contribution

Monthly Live Event Ticket Allowance

Unlimited Annual Leave

Bonus Plan

Regular Check-ins with Line Manager

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of experience in theatre design consulting.
• Strong project management experience in related fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects and collaborate with design teams on theatre design.
• Create detailed designs, reports, and presentations for projects.

Skills

Theatre Design

Project Management

Microsoft Office Suite

CAD (2D and 3D)

Adobe Acrobat

Bluebeam

InDesign

Technical Drawing Interpretation

Communication Skills

Visual Assessment

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Design or Related Field

Tools

Autodesk Revit

BIM Documentation

Job description

Company Overview

Charcoalblue is widely regarded as the most exciting and innovative specialist theatre, live performance, events, and AV consultancy in the world. We imagine, design, and deliver captivating spaces that entertain, educate, and transform individuals through collective experiences. Guided by listening, collaboration, and a passion for innovation, excellence, emotion, and theatricality, we strive to create extraordinary moments. Since our inception in the UK in 2004, Charcoalblue is now the largest organization of its kind, delivering projects to every corner of the globe. We operate as a cohesive and collaborative team with studios in London and Bristol in the UK, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco in the US, and Melbourne in Australia.

Within Charcoalblue, the Theatre Consulting Americas (TCAM) Business Unit provides design consulting in the areas of theatre planning, theatre design, and technical systems design for a variety of project typologies. Our Americas team spans across New York, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Southern California, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Description of Role

We are seeking a Theatre Designer/Team Leader at the Consultant level to join our North American Theatre Consultancy team. We expect a significant portion of the role will be focused on Theatre Design, working on overall building planning and auditorium design, creating functional and inspiring buildings where the performing arts can thrive. Depending on the project’s scope, you will originate documents such as building area schedules and sketch diagrams of space, as well as creating and delivering presentations ranging from space precedents to construction phasing concepts. As a Team Leader on some projects, you will lead Charcoalblue’s contribution to the design and construction process on exciting projects and help shape the way in which the next generation of performing arts spaces are built. We anticipate that, as your career at Charcoalblue develops, you will gain responsibility for high profile projects with significant construction and technical budgets.

You will report to one of our Directors, who will manage your project assignments and workload. You will have the chance to meet regularly with your line manager to ensure you are fully supported in your role. Additionally, ongoing training and career development will be provided as part of your role and as you grow with the company.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner on and lead projects, working alongside Charcoalblue’s experienced design consultant team.
• Attend design team meetings and liaise with the architect, client, and in-house technical team on your projects.
• Develop initial auditorium concept and design establishing the form and function, including audience and performer egress.
• Create seating layouts, seating design and detailed sightline studies.
• Help specify and design technical theatre systems, advise on building planning, and produce/issue sketches, drawings, specifications, reports, schedules, budgets, and other information, as assigned.
• Coordinate with multiple internal team members, including technical systems designers and acousticians.
• Be a key point of contact and coordinate with project architects, including reviewing and commenting on architectural and engineering drawings.
• Create design presentations, written reports, 2D and 3D drawings and sketches, and written specifications to document your design work.
• Actively project manage the delivery of specific systems to client deadlines; this will involve managing Charcoalblue resources, client resources, and the work of appointed contractors.
• Conduct site visits to construction sites, operating venues, and other project sites; Review construction progress on-site, perform measurements and verifications; commission and punch list seating systems.
• Meet the demands of your projects by ensuring that the quality of work, response time, output, and motivation of the internal/external design and construction teams are upheld.
• Work within multiple project teams simultaneously while meeting deadlines, arranging your calendar, and balancing project deliverables as they occur.
• Collaborate day to day with Charcoalblue’s designers and other Team Leaders, and benefit from mentorship and assistance, as required.
• Some travel to North American projects, as required, and occasional international travel with notice.

Skills & Qualifications

Charcoalblue is seeking a broad candidate pool and we are open to receiving applications with a variety of levels of experience. If you meet most of the qualifications below, we encourage you to apply.

Essential

• Minimum three (3) years of experience in theatre design consulting or related industry experience, across multiple system and venue types and scales.
• Project management experience in production management, installation management, construction management, or related experience.
• Experience in a professional environment.
• Experience with the standard suite of Microsoft Office programs, and either Adobe Acrobat or Bluebeam software.
• Experience with CAD in both 2D and 3D.
• Experience in creating reports and presentations including proven ability to lay out text, photographs and drawings, using Microsoft Office and InDesign, or a similar package.
• Experience with reading, interpreting and/or creating architectural and technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong listening skills, to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ attitude, taking a proactive approach to finding solutions which meet all the constraints of a given project.

Desirable

• Excellent visual assessment and communication skills, including the ability to conceptualize and communicate three-dimensional ideas in 2D media.
• Ability to assess sightlines and audience accommodation concepts in all public areas of a venue.
• Experience in communicating with people at varying levels within an organization.
• Ability to incorporate relevant state building code and safety legislation into your design work.
• Ability to factor knowledge of theatre and venue operations into your design work to create spaces where artistic, functional, and audience needs combine.
• Good working knowledge of the technical systems of a performance venue including lighting, rigging and/or AV systems and an awareness of good backstage architectural planning, environmental and acoustical design parameters.
• Knowledge of contractual issues and the AIA project stages and associated levels of work output.
• Experience with Autodesk Revit and BIM documentation.
• Ability to demonstrate competent rendering and visualization skills.
• Some experience with creating and navigating VR models and experiences for design visualization.
• Comfort with presenting and discussing your ideas in large meetings.
• Ability to confidently write emails, reports, and budgets as necessary, and attend meetings and site visits, as required.
• Knowledge of relevant building codes, safe working practices and an ability to comprehend all matters relating to the successful operation of a venue as a place in which the performing arts can thrive.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and may alter over time.

Working hours

The role is being offered on an ‘at will’, exempt basis at forty (40) hours per week to include a full benefits package. If you have the desire to work thirty-two (32) hours per week, please specify in your cover letter and application.

As an international organization, the needs of the business are as such that this role requires some flexibility in working hours (which can be variable from week to week) to facilitate project demands and maintain support across our global entities’ varying time-zones. Working hours patterns will be agreed with your line manager to suit your personal circumstances and the current project load.

The role is subject to a three (3) month probationary period.

Location

We are currently working in a distributed hybrid model, meaning you will be able to work from your home (or other place of your choosing). Travel within the US and occasional travel internationally for projects and/or team building will also be required, with advanced notice.

Please note, although the role is distributed, the successful applicant must be based in the New York metro area to effectively meet the current needs of our work and local team, and you should be able and willing to travel to external meetings and our US studios as required, with notice.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $80,000 - $108,000 per year, based on a 40-hour working week.

Please state your salary expectations in your cover letter in line with your experience.

Charcoalblue intends to offer the selected candidate base pay within this range, dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. Base pay is one part of the total rewards that Charcoalblue provides to compensate and recognize employees for their work. Charcoalblue provides a robust benefits package to help support you physically, financially, and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. Please visit our careers page for more details.

Annual Leave

Team members have no ‘cap’ on the number of days they wish to take in any one year. This means you can plan holiday or vacation time or request time when you need it, without the worry of running out of leave days. TWYN leave requests must follow policy guidelines and team members are encouraged to use a minimum of fifteen (15) days of paid time off per year (prorated in the first year), in addition to federal and some local public holidays.

Charcoalblue traditionally closes its studios between Christmas and New Year’s Day, resulting in an additional 4-5 discretionary paid vacation days each year.

Additional Benefits

• To support you in successful hybrid/distributed working, you will receive a laptop and any other associated IT peripherals required for the role.
• You will receive contributions towards your home internet and utilities to enable you to work productively and comfortably.
• You will be eligible immediately to join our 401K plan (employee contributions only). Employer contributions after two years of service.
• You will be eligible immediately for life insurance cover, Short Term Disability and you may take advantage of joining our FSA/Dependents’ Care plans.
• Following successful completion of the insurance waiting period, you will be eligible to join our company healthcare plan for the duration of your employment.
• Following completion of your three-month probationary period, you will receive an allowance for live event tickets each month in line with our policy limits, to keep current with our industry.
• Charcoalblue operates a bonus plan which you will benefit from following successful completion of a three-month probationary period. Please note that this is subject to the company's performance year-on-year and is not guaranteed.
• You will receive regular check-ins with your line manager to enable you to succeed in the role.

To apply please complete the online application form and submit a short resume (1-2 pages max.) and a cover letter addressing the questions below:

1. What makes you a great fit for this role, and what are you hoping to gain from the opportunity?
2. Which of your previous experience would you highlight as being particularly relevant?
3. Describe your experience of working within the live events/performing arts and/or architecture and construction industries. Please specify all relevant design and/or project management experience (e.g., set/venue design, architectural design, production/technical management, installation management, or construction management).
4. Describe your experience and competency using BIM & CAD drawing tools or other visual software for designing and documentation, including any specific software capabilities.
5. This role requires skills and experience in both theatre design and project management. Please outline which of these areas you feel strongest in and which you view as an opportunity for growth.

We look forward to receiving your application. We will only accept applications via our online system. Interviews will be held remotely (via Microsoft Teams) beginning in February 2025 - time and date will be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.

Start Date

April 1, 2025

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Policy Overview

Charcoalblue is an equal opportunities employer, actively working towards becoming an inclusive organization. We work consistently to ensure elimination of unfair and discriminatory practices within the company and encourage full contribution from its diverse community.

Our mission is to manifest an inclusive ethos by creating a diverse and inclusive working environment across our practice. Recruitment opportunities are open to all, but we are particularly keen to hear from ethnically diverse and disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented within our teams.

If you require this application in a different format or need support during the application process, please contact Angelica Lucero via email [e-mail] or via telephone [phone]). Equally, please contact Angelica if you have any questions in relation to access, or how the role might need to respond to your personal circumstances.

Charcoalblue aims to provide a service that does not discriminate against its clients and customers and works to ensure all can access the services and goods supplied by the company. We believe that all employees and clients are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.