Head Electrician

Chris Baily; New York (NY); On-site; USD 148,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The St. James Theatre in New York seeks a Head Electrician to oversee the theatre’s electrics for all productions, maintaining lighting systems and coordinating with production management to meet power needs.

This role is covered under the IATSE Local One agreement and requires leadership, technical skill, and the ability to work under tight timelines. The position demands strong theatre lighting expertise, five or more years in a professional venue, OSHA 30 Certification, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience as a production electrician in a professional theatre venue.
• Strong knowledge of lighting, power distribution, and rigging practices.
• OSHA safety standards expertise and crew management experience.

Responsibilities

• Advance, run, and maintain the electrics department for all productions and events.
• Supervise lighting and sound design installation and operation.
• Maintain electrical systems and theatrical lighting equipment.
• Lead crew staffing for load-ins, rehearsals, run, and load-outs.
• Submit payroll daily or weekly and ensure safety compliance.

Skills

Production electrician leadership

Crew management

OSHA safety standards

Lighting and power distribution

Communication skills

MS Word

MS Excel

UKG payroll input

Education

OSHA 30 Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office Word

Microsoft Excel

UKG payroll platform

Job description

Job Description Head Electrician IATSE Local One Position — The St. James Theatre

Compensation: $2,856.59/weekly + all applicable overtime per Local One IATSE and Broadway League contract

Benefits: per Local One IATSE and Broadway League contract

The Head Electrician oversees all theatre and facilities-related electrical work at The St. James Theatre, maintaining the theatre's electrical systems and lighting equipment while partnering with production management and each production's creative team to execute their power and electrical needs. This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between ATG-Entertainment and IATSE Local One. The Head Electrician brings strong leadership and technical skill, works well under short time constraints, and pivots easily between tasks; theatre, music, and event production experience and an open, creative approach to the production process are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Advance, run, and maintain the electrics department for all productions and events at the venue
• Perform and/or supervise all responsibilities of the lighting/electrics process, including installation and operation of lighting and sound design for theatrical productions
• Maintain and troubleshoot the theatre's electrical systems and theatrical lighting equipment on an ongoing basis
• Manage electrical wiring, soldering, and high-amperage service work
• Maintain extensive working knowledge of moving light technology, LED theatrical fixtures, and conventional theatrical lighting fixtures
• Participate in crew staffing decisions in consultation with Theatre Management
• Lead on coordinating sufficient crew numbers for load-ins, technical rehearsals, run crews, and load-outs; crew size varies with production or event needs
• Supervise and set expectations for the electrics/sound crew; maintain a call list of electricians and stagehands
• Coordinate with Theatre Management, Facilities, and other department heads (Head Carpenter, Head of Properties) on cross-departmental needs
• Represent The St. James to designers, visiting crews, and production management staff by fostering a cordial, cooperative, and welcoming atmosphere; model and support the mission and values of ATG Entertainment
• Submit payroll on a daily or weekly basis to Theatre Management
• Ensure compliance with OSHA safety practices and venue safety protocols throughout all electrical work; maintain a safe working environment and alert management to any personnel, technical, or safety issues, working within ATG’s safety standards and policies

Secondary Responsibilities

• Recommend and evaluate practices, policies, and equipment; make recommendations regarding equipment usage and purchases
• Maintain tools, equipment, electrics hardware, and expendables
• Be available after-hours for phone calls, texts, or emails from management
• Work collaboratively with a team and with a variety of personalities

Qualifications & Essential Skills

• Minimum 5 years' experience as a production electrician; experience at a comparable venue level preferred
• Strong technical knowledge and experience in theater lighting, including power distribution, power tie-ins, conventional and moving light operation and maintenance, and safe rigging practices
• Strong knowledge of OSHA safety standards
• Demonstrated experience managing crews and setting a professional standard in the workplace
• Excellent communication skills; professional discretion and confidentiality
• Strong attention to detail, flexibility, and resourcefulness
• Comfort with Microsoft Office Word and Excel; proficiency communicating via email and phone; potential to learn the UKG payroll platform to input payroll each week

Minimum Requirements

• As a condition of employment, must be or become a member of IATSE Local No. 1
• As a condition of employment, must have or earn an OSHA 30 Certification
• Five or more years of experience as Head Electrician or Assistant Head in a professional theater production or professional theatrical venue
• Ability to lift 25–50 pounds or more occasionally
• Physical ability to remain on one's feet (standing, walking) for long days (up to 16 hours), multiple days in a row
• Ability to work a variable schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the performance calendar

ATG-Entertainment: Passion Behind Performance

Our expertise and capabilities enable producers and other creatives to bring their visions to life and create unforgettable performances for audiences, presented in our landmark venues and delivered with exceptional hospitality. ATG-Entertainment is a world leader in live entertainment. Our portfolio of venues includes historic theatres, modern live music arenas, studio theatres, cinemas and conference spaces. ATG-Entertainment own, operate or program 73 of the world’s most iconic venues across the UK, the US and Continental Europe entertaining over 18 million audience members each year. Through our in-house Production companies and working closely with third-party top producers and promoters ATG presents over 15,000 live performances annually, including Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Moulin Rouge, The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Starlight Express as well as popular music and comedy shows. ATG also operates a leading ticketing platform processing more than 18 million tickets each year for musicians, plays, concerts, comedy shows and a variety of other live events. ATGtickets.com attracts more than 55 million unique visitors annually. Headquartered in London and Woking, the company also has offices in New York and Cologne. It is the passion of our teams, that cover every discipline across the live entertainment industry, that underpins our continuing strategic growth and success.