Head Electrician

Vernonchalmers; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comp tickets

Neighborhood discounts

Job summary

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) seeks a Head Electrician for Harvey Theater to lead electrics crews and support touring designers. The role requires strong leadership, safety focus, and extensive experience in theatrical lighting. Collaboration with BAM Production staff and visiting teams is essential.

The position begins September 8, 2026, with a contract spanning 40 weeks at 40 hours per week, including OT and union considerations.

Qualifications

• 10 years’ experience in lighting and electrical stage work.
• Advanced knowledge of theatrical lighting, reading designs and executing lighting plans.
• Experience producing theater as production electrician with light plot development and tech notes.
• Knowledge of Lightwright, Vectorworks, and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with stagehands, production management and visiting designers to present performances.
• Lead and supervise electrics crews, while completing own work as a crew member.
• Identify crewing needs and ensure qualified staff match requirements.

Skills

Lighting leadership

Read technical drawings

ETCP Certification

Lightwright

Vectorworks

AutoCAD

Lighting control boards

Electrical maintenance

Team supervision

Safety compliance

Tools

Lightwright

Vectorworks

AutoCAD

Job description

Connecting Creative Minds, Arts & Creative Opportunities and Jobs

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)is a multi-disciplinary arts center located in Brooklyn, New York. For more than 150 years, BAM has been the home for adventurous artists, audiences, and ideas—engaging both global and local communities. With world-renowned programming in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and much more, BAM showcases the work of emerging artists and innovative modern masters.

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is seeking a Head Electrician at BAM’s Harvey Theater. The successful candidate for this position will be a strong leader, able to work successfully within a large team, and will have experience supporting plays and musicians. This position requires an exceptional work ethic and significant experience in theatrical lighting and electrics to support BAM’s presentations. This position requires excellent communication in working successfully with Harvey Theater crew, Production staff and visiting designers and companies.

This position’s contracted work beginsSeptember 8, 2026.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITES AND DUTIES:

• Collaborate with all stagehands, production management, and visiting companies and designers to present cutting-edge, internationally renowned performances and art.
• Lead, assign and supervise electrics crews performing diverse tasks while simultaneously performing his/her own work assignments as a working member of the crew.
• Identify crewing needs for productions and events in conjunction with BAM Production Staff and the Crew Chief and ensure crew are qualified and match their competencies to position requirements.
• Work with Crew Chief and BAM Production Staff to ensure crew consists of a diverse and equitable workforce
• Enforce standards of operation in electrics and lighting that are safe for both personnel and equipment.
• Support visiting producing and presenting lighting designers in facilitating preparation, hanging, focus, programming of their light plot
• Create all necessary paperwork for work onstage including Lightwright files, channeling and plot preparation, rental lists, equipment purchases, and expendables.
• Represent the Electrics Department in internal and external production meetings in advance of performances and throughout tech process.
• Perform lighting and electrical maintenance throughout the BAM Harvey Theater.

Qualifications

• 10 years’ experience in lighting and electrical stage work
• Advanced knowledge of theatrical and scenic lighting, including the ability to interpret and read technical drawings and designs, and to create and execute the plan to install, operate, maintain and strike said lighting equipment
• Experience supporting produced theater as production electrician, working with the lighting designer through the light plot development, execution of light plot onstage, and continued notes and changes to plot through tech and previews.
• Advanced knowledge of theatrical and arena lighting, including the ability to troubleshoot and operate light boards, lighting systems, moving and conventional lighting units and other equipment
• Knowledge or expertise with Lightwright, Vectorworks, and Autocad
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, email, and web search tools.
• Work at times will require working irregular hours and standing for extended periods of time while lifting and carrying equipment onstage. It will occasionally require pushing heavy objects or lifting and carrying weights up to 50 pounds with team assistance
• ETCP Entertainment Theater and Arena Electric Certification within 364 days of hire date. This certification must be kept up to date.
• Union Affiliation: If not currently a member, the successful candidate will be required to join IATSE Local 4.

Compensation:Salary and Benefits will be provided per the IATSE Local 4 CBA (union) specifications, includes:

• Commitment of 40 consecutive weeks with 40 hours per week
• Hourly rate of $56.08 with significant additional OT
• Contributions to Local 4 Pension, Annuity, and Vacation
• Perks include comp tickets, neighborhood discounts and more

Working Conditions:Medium Work (Category 4): Work will at times require working irregular hours and standing for extended periods of time while lifting and carrying equipment onstage. It will occasionally require pushing heavy weights or lifting and carrying weights up to 50 pounds with team assistance.

Brooklyn Academy of Music an Equal Opportunity Employer.BAM recognizes that historic institutional practices lead to a non-inclusive environment and is working to address diversity inclusion in all forms. Not uncommon when addressing power and privilege, individuals in BAM are experiencing their own pace during this process. The Production department supports and continues to take part in this process.