Senior Technician

Jersey Opera House; Kentucky; On-site; USD 46,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Jersey Opera House is seeking a Senior Technician to support the Head of Technical & Production in delivering high‑quality productions. The role involves hands‑on work across lighting, sound, AV and stage operations, plus planning, budgeting and staff supervision.

You will act as a senior technical contact for visiting teams, ensuring safety and professional standards while fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment. Evening/weekend work is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience in theatre/live performance environments.
• Ability to lead technical teams and supervise staff.
• Strong health and safety knowledge and practice.
• Excellent planning, budgeting and scheduling skills.
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver theatre programme in collaboration with Heads of Technical & Production.
• Attend production and planning meetings and review technical riders.
• Produce technical plots, plans and documentation.
• Lead get-ins, rehearsals, performances and get-outs when required.
• Provide hands-on technical support across lighting, sound, AV and stage operations.
• Maintain safe and high quality technical delivery and customer service.
• Supervise casual staff and coordinate staffing.
• Ensure health and safety procedures and compliance.

Skills

Theatre experience

Leadership

Health & Safety

IT literacy

Problem solving

Planning

Organisation

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Degree in technical theatre

Tools

ETC lighting consoles

DiGiCo consoles

CAD software

Rigging equipment

Job description

About Us Careers

Senior Technician

Responsible to: Head of Technical & Production

Responsible for: Permanent and casual technical staff as required

Key Relationships: Head of Technical & Production, visiting company technical staff, artists, technical contractors and suppliers

Hours: 37.5 hours

Salary: £40,000

Job Purpose

To support the Head of Technical and Production in the safe, efficient and high-quality delivery of all productions, events, and activities, whilst providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.

The Senior Technician is responsible for delivering the highest technical, artistic, operational and health and safety standards, requiring excellent technical skills in lighting, sound, and/or stage. Working closely with the Head of Technical & Production, the post holder will contribute to production planning, technical preparation, staff scheduling, equipment maintenance, health and safety, and the continuous improvement of technical operations.

The post holder will act as a senior technical point of contact for visiting companies and creative teams, ensuring that technical requirements are understood and delivered to a high standard.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and Production Preparation

• Support the Heads of Technical & Production and Creative Programmes in the planning and delivery of the theatre's programme.
• Attend production and planning meetings as required.
• Review incoming technical riders, plans, schedules and production information and identify technical requirements and potential issues.
• Produce technical plots, plans and documentation as required.
• Advise on the feasibility of technical requirements and identify practical solutions.
• Assist with the planning and scheduling of get-ins, fit-ups, rehearsals, performances and get-outs.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of in-house productions and projects.
• Identify potential technical or health and safety issues and report significant concerns to the Head of Technical & Production.

Technical Delivery and Production Support

• Act as a senior technical point of contact for visiting production managers, company technicians and creative teams.
• Support the technical delivery of visiting productions and events, ensuring agreed technical requirements are met.
• Lead get-ins, fit-ups, technical rehearsals, performances and get-outs when required.
• Provide hands‑on technical support across lighting, sound, AV, stage operations, rigging and stage machinery, when required.
• Operate technical systems and provide specialist technical support when required.
• Liaise effectively with visiting technicians and provide appropriate venue inductions and technical information.
• Resolve technical problems during rehearsals, performances and events in a calm and professional manner.
• Ensure technical operations are delivered efficiently while maintaining appropriate standards of safety and customer service.
• Take responsibility for delegated technical operations and accelerate significant technical, operational or safety issues appropriately.

Teamwork and Supervision

• Provide day‑to‑day guidance and supervision to permanent and casual technical staff when required.
• Assist the Head of Technical & Production with the scheduling and allocation of technical staff.
• Ensure that staffing levels are appropriate for performances, rehearsals, events and maintenance activities.
• Lead technical teams during get‑ins, performances and get‑outs, providing clear direction and ensuring effective communication.
• Support the induction, training and development of technical staff.
• Share technical knowledge and good practice with colleagues.
• Identify training needs and make recommendations to the Head of Technical & Production.
• Provide constructive feedback on staff performance where appropriate.
• Encourage high standards of professionalism, teamwork and technical practice.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, professional and safe working environment.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Support the Head of Technical & Production in maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across technical and production activities.
• Act as a senior technical lead for health and safety during productions, rehearsals, performances and events.
• Ensure technical activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, licensing requirements and organisational policies.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.
• Ensure visiting companies and contractors are appropriately briefed on relevant technical and safety procedures.
• Identify and address unsafe working practices and report significant concerns to the Head of Technical & Production.
• Assist with the maintenance, inspection, testing and repair of technical equipment and infrastructure.
• Ensure appropriate records are maintained for technical inspections and statutory testing, including LOLER and electrical testing, as applicable.
• Promote a positive culture of health, safety and wellbeing within the technical department.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date understanding of relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.
• Represent the Technical & Production Department as part of the Health & Safety Committee.

Financial and Resource Management

• Work within agreed production and technical budgets.
• Provide accurate information to the Head of Technical & Production to support budget monitoring.
• Obtain quotations and assist with procurement of technical equipment, materials and services as required.
• Monitor technical expenditure associated with individual productions and events.
• Identify opportunities for the efficient use of staff, equipment and other resources.
• Assist with the management of visiting company technical requirements and associated costs.
• Provide technical information to support the costing and planning of equipment upgrades and capital projects.

Visiting Companies, Artists and Customer Service

• Establish effective working relationships with visiting production teams.
• Communicate clearly regarding technical requirements, limitations, schedules and venue procedures.
• Provide venue inductions and ensure visiting technicians understand relevant safety procedures and venue requirements.
• Balance the needs of visiting companies with the operational requirements and resources of the theatre.

Creative Work

• Provide technical support to the development and delivery of in-house productions.
• Work collaboratively with directors, designers, performers, production staff and other creative practitioners.
• Advise creative teams on technical possibilities, limitations and practical solutions.
• Support technical rehearsals of in‑house productions and the transition from rehearsal into performance.
• Contribute to efficient production processes for in‑house work.
• Encourage creative and innovative approaches to the use of the theatre's technical resources.

General

• Always act in the best interests of, and be an ambassador for, Jersey Opera House
• Take positive action to promote Equal Opportunities in all aspects of the work of Jersey Opera House
• Agree to abide by Jersey Opera House policies such as Health and Safety, Safeguarding etc
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas relating to Jersey Opera House
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested

Person Specification

Essential Experience And Skills

• Experience: Significant professional experience working in a theatre, performing arts venue or comparable live performance environment.
• Technical Knowledge: Up‑to‑date knowledge of theatre technical procedures, stagecraft and production technologies. Strong knowledge of at least one core technical discipline, with a broad understanding of other technical areas. Practical knowledge of lighting, sound, AV, stage operations, rigging and/or stage machinery and the ability to interpret technical drawings, plans, schedules, riders and production documentation.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Ability to provide clear direction to technical colleagues when required. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Health and Safety: Strong knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to theatre and live performance and industry best practice.
• IT and Administration: High level of IT literacy and administrative capability.
• Problem Solving: Excellent technical problem‑solving and decision‑making skills
• Deadlines: Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Planning and Organisation: Excellent organisational and time‑management skills.

Desirable

• Degree or professional qualification in technical theatre, production management, engineering or a related discipline.
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent health and safety qualification.
• Relevant technical qualifications or certifications, including working at height, rigging, first aid, fire safety or electrical qualifications.
• Experience of programming and operating ETC lighting consoles.
• Experience of programming and operating DiGiCo digital audio consoles.
• Experience with show control systems and software.
• Experience with CAD and/or technical drawing software. Experience of, technical installations, or venue development.

Working Conditions

• Willingness to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, to support rehearsals, performances and events.
• The role involves manual handling, working at height and prolonged periods of standing.
• The post holder may be required to work in confined spaces and other challenging technical environments.
• Flexibility is essential to meet production and performance schedules.
• The role may require working to tight deadlines and responding to changing technical requirements.
• The post holder must maintain appropriate levels of physical fitness and competence for the practical requirements of the role.

Key Competencies

• Technical Expertise
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Planning and Organisation
• Problem Solving
• Health and Safety Awareness
• Communication
• Customer and Client Focus
• Adaptability
• Attention to Detail

Applications close 5pm on Friday 9 October 2026.