Production Services Technician

Vanderbilt University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University is seeking a Production Services Technician to support event production across Student Centers spaces, including Alumni Hall, Commons Center, and Carmichael Conference Center. The role covers audio, video, and lighting for meetings, lectures, receptions, and student performances, interfacing with students, departments, and external clients.

The technician will manage a broad range of production assets, work with industry-standard gear, and coordinate with teams to ensure

Qualifications

• Three years or more of related experience is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide execution and upkeep for production assets including wireless mics, lighting, and projectors.
• Deliver AV support for a wide variety of events in multiple spaces.
• Attend pre-production meetings and coordinate cues with student groups.
• Serve as AV point of contact for student groups and departments.
• Assist with inventory management and equipment restoration.
• Develop and follow policies and procedures for Production Services.

Skills

Event production

Audio engineering

Video/Projection

Lighting tech

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

QLab

ProPresenter

Playback Pro

Dante

Yamaha DM7/DM3

Behringer Midas X32

Shure wireless systems

ETC Ion/EOS

Q-SYS

Crestron

Job description

Position Summary

The Production Services Technician is part of the Production Services department within the Student Centers cluster in the Student Affairs division at Vanderbilt University. This position is responsible for delivering the highest level of Event Production support for events and facilities for Student Centers, Student Affairs, Vanderbilt Community and external clients. This position provides a combination of large-scale audio, video and lighting production needs for a wide variety of event types, including meetings, lectures, receptions and numerous student performing arts and multicultural showcases. Reporting directly to the Associate Director, Production Services, the team member is a key contributor for all the events assigned to them.

About The Work Unit

The Student Centers Office manages events, event spaces and facilities across campus. Our team includes event managers, production technicians, facilities managers, and student staff. We work as a team to create successful events for our clients and guests in our facilities. We work with an array of clients including Vanderbilt student groups, departments, and the greater Nashville Community, and many more. The events we manage range from small meetings to large-scale events including weddings, conferences, and student performances.

About Student Affairs

Student Affairs serves a central role in student learning and development at Vanderbilt, advancing the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service. Student Affairs at Vanderbilt cultivates vibrant, inclusive communities that foster a student’s sense of belonging and wellbeing through collaborative partnerships, transformative learning experiences, and an accessible and holistic network of resources. We value connection, belonging, compassion, development, and innovation. Our staff are committed to continued growth in knowledge, awareness, skills, and experience engaging with these priorities in a higher education environment.

Key Functions And Expected Performance

• Production Services and Technology – Supports the event production needs for Vanderbilt University and community events in each of the Student Centers spaces: Alumni Hall; Commons Center; Carmichael Conference Center; Kissam Center; Sarratt Student Center|Rand Hall; Student Life Center; Rothschild College Black Box Theater; Community Event Space; Outdoor Events (as needed); Langford Auditorium in the Medical Center; Leadership and Service Space, Multicultural Community Space and additional designated spaces within Residential Colleges, academic areas.
• Provides execution and upkeep for over $6 million of production assets including 100 wireless microphone systems, almost 500 lighting fixtures and multiple large format laser and Digital Cinema projectors.
• Provides event production needs for a wide variety of event types, including meetings, lectures, receptions and numerous student performing arts and multicultural showcases.
• Experience and familiarity with the following roles that include A1, A2, L1, L2, V1, V2, AV1 and Stage Manager for corporate events and musical performances.
• Intermediate to advanced familiarity with Dante, Yamaha DM7 and DM3 and Behringer/Midas X32, M32 audio consoles, Shure large scale wireless systems, Wireless Workbench and the ability to mix for audio at a variety of events from corporate lectures to theatrical performances.
• Intermediate familiarity with ETC Ion, EOS and ETC Lustr 2, 3 Desire Fresnel and other DMX based fixtures and protocol.
• Intermediate familiarity with Panasonic, Black Magic, AJA, Decimator, video switchers, SDI converters, high output lumen projectors and complete video routing.
• Familiarity or desire to learn about DCP video projectors for Cinema movies.
• Intermediate knowledge of Crestron, Airmedia and Q-SYS for meeting space support.
• Proficient and ability to learn various software for events such as QLab, ProPresenter and Playback Pro.
• Attend pre-production meetings with the team and student groups to review preproduction documents (audio/lighting cues, ROS, script) in preparation for programming days, tech rehearsal and show days.
• May serve as a point of contact for student performing arts groups and multicultural showcases.
• Communicates with Vanderbilt University departments, organizations and contracted groups using Student Centers or auxiliary buildings to coordinate their event production needs.
• Assists with inventory management including updating software, quality checks and gear restoration.
• Keeps abreast of current AV best practices and technology by attending seeking personal and team professional development opportunities local and nationwide.
• Administrative – Daily usage of EMS throughout the event lifecycle to update and review necessary details, including time, equipment and logistical details of each event.
• Assists in developing and managing student staff work schedules based on events and needs of the department.
• Provides information for reports as requested for future purchases; provides feedback for budget proposals and makes recommendations for future equipment purchases.
• May serve as the project manager on some AV installations within Student Centers spaces, including auxiliary buildings.
• Performs post-event reviews of production work and communicates the results to the Production Services team.
• Policies & Procedures – Provides input for strategic direction of Production Services, works as part of a team to update all policies, procedures, and emergency preparedness efforts for all Student Centers and auxiliary facilities.
• Ensures all Student Centers’ building associates are in compliance with departmental policies, emergency preparedness procedures and any other applicable university standard.
• Serves as liaison with campus partners to ensure event management policies and procedures are in compliance with University standards.
• Ensures all Student Centers production equipment is in line with divisional goals and departmental policies and procedures.

Supervisory Relationships

This position reports administratively and functionally to the Associate Director, Production Services.

Education And Certifications

• A high school degree or equivalent is necessary.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide continuous up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records.

Experience And Skills

• Three years or more of related experience is necessary.
• Ability to make budgetary predictions and recommendations based on event equipment and personnel needs is necessary.
• Proven ability to work independently or in teams is necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are necessary.
• Ability to maintain frequent heavy lifting and climbing (ladders, catwalks, scaffolds, etc.) and operate single man and 20' scissor lift is necessary.
• Ability to work in various climates, weather conditions, and environments is necessary.
• Ability to work a schedule that may include long hours, nighttime or weekend work is necessary.
• Familiarity with safe working practices of counterweight and concert rigging, staging, theatrical and concert power distribution, audio, lighting, video equipment, laser displays, and pyrotechnics is preferred.
• Proven ability to establish and maintaining relationships among event partners is preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite is necessary.