Lead Technician Recruitment Pack

LEAD TECHNICIAN (MAIN HOUSE ELECTRICS)

n t r o d u c t i o n

Birmingham Hippodrome is on a mission to enrich the cultural life of the region. Our vision is to create a distinctive, world-class Birmingham cultural scene with the Hippodrome at its heart. We reach over one million people a year through on and off stage programmes of work, digital presence, and performances in Birmingham and beyond; providing that “goosebumps” feeling through memorable and extraordinary experiences.

We are an independent charity, run by a board of voluntary trustees with no regular revenue funding from public sources. We frequently invest in projects alongside Arts Council England and with Birmingham City Council. Generous support is received from the business community through sponsorship and other partnerships; from individuals through donations and memberships; and from grant-making trusts for special programming and infrastructure projects. As a major employer in the region, we play a leading role in the Southside Business Improvement District.

We are looking for people to join us on this journey at a pivotal time in our evolution; recognising our people and network of talented freelancers and volunteers are core to the growth and success of the organisation.

The future of Birmingham Hippodrome is you!

This role reports to Technical Supervisors within the Operations Department. The salary for this role is between £32,325 - £35,558 (pay award pending) for either 40 hours or 44 hours annualised. The role will be based on site at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Our vision and mission state our purpose and who we want to be in the future.

Vision

A distinctive, world-class Birmingham cultural scene with the Hippodrome at its heart.

Mission

Providing that “goosebumps” feeling through memorable and extraordinary experiences.

Inspiring

We bring individuals, groups and communities together to share those wonderful ‘goosebumps’ moments: emotive, world-class, cultural experiences that ignite imaginations and inspire future generations.

Progressive

We are ambitious for ourselves, our partners and our city region We aim to be the best at what we do, always looking for new ways to advance, improve and evolve whilst being mindful of our rich and vibrant history.

People Focused

We care deeply for our staff, audiences, volunteers, partners, participants and artists and are dedicated to ensuring that any Hippodrome experience is a positive one Our people are the beating heart of Birmingham Hippodrome.

Inclusive

We provide a safe and inclusive space for expression and creativity, priding ourselves on being collaborative and reflective of our city region. Inclusion is integral to everything that we do and is central to our decision-making.

Sustainable

We take care with our actions, safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Birmingham Hippodrome through our work, environmental responsibilities and business practices

Our values are all about who we are, what we believe in and what sits at the very heart of a Hippodrome experience.

The Role

Provide a full and professional technical support service ensuring we carry out our production activities with flair settling for nothing but the best. The postholder will assist the technical management team in all technical related duties, but with an emphasis on the lighting, sound, and stage elements in the Patrick Studio for our productions on and off stage including get-ins, get-outs, show running, workshops, maintenance of technical equipment and general backstage housekeeping. The post holder will also work across our other spaces including our Main Stage, Dance studios and Event spaces.

Regular duties and responsibilities

Ensure all productions and events are presented to the highest standards, making best use of the available facilities and equipment.

Assist in preparing the theatre to the specifications of visiting companies, including liaising with visiting technical staff as required.

Undertake scheduled show calls and event calls, ensuring duties are performed to the highest standards.

Carry out maintenance of the theatre spaces, equipment, and production facilities as required.

Assist with the delivery of creative programme events, liaising with our creative teams when required

Promote a safe working environment, ensuring ongoing compliance with H&S legislation and departmental policies and procedures.

Work across technical disciplines to ensure stage, lighting, sound, AV, furniture logistics and maintenance related activities are completed effectively and efficiently. Including assisting with general building maintenance when required.

Train and develop other team members as and when necessary.

Communicate effectively with all key personnel within the operations department to ensure the smooth running of all productions.

Create, review, and update accurate records and plots to the required standards.

Operate all stage equipment safely and to the required standard.

When working as Duty Senior Technician manage teams efficiently, safely and in line with relevant procedures.

In partnership with Technical Supervisors take an active role in the planning of shows/events.

Set up, operate and de-rig conferences and events, as well as acting as the client facing technical representative when required.

Work with Technical Supervisors to deliver maintenance projects and tasks.

Maintain a good working knowledge of lighting, sound, AV, show systems, captioning kit, audio description, show relays & digital systems, diagnosing faults where possible and communicating them effectively with senior technical staff and contractors.

Comply with all statutory and Hippodrome requirements in the areas of compliance such as safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety. E-learning training (which must be completed during the first three months of employment) as well as internal courses which are provided to ensure that you have the relevant knowledge and skills in these areas.

As Duty Senior Technician Assist in the management of team breaks to minimise missed meals, ensuring the show or event requirements are met.

Perform any other reasonable duties commensurate with general level of responsibility when requested by the Operations Management Team

Below is a specification list, detailing some of the key attributes we’re looking for in an ideal candidate. We would still like to hear from you, even if you do not meet all of the criteria as long as you feel you can positively contribute to our team. We are fully committed to supporting, encouraging and training our staff members to ensure their personal growth and future development.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL: The successful candidate will meet the majority of these requirements

DESIRABLE: The successful candidate should meet some of these requirements

h e S p e c

Education

Training and Qualifications

Good literacy and numeracy skills

Knowledge of and ability to rig and operate technical equipment (Lighting, Sound and AV)

Able to confidently lead a skilled technical team in a pressured working environments such as get-ins, get-outs and shows

Skills, knowledge and abilities

Working knowledge of current Health & Safety legislation

Ability to fault find and rectify problems with technical equipment in a busy performing arts venue

Technical equipment installation skills within events spaces

Excellent LX skills (Rigging from a plan/Programming & Operating)

Electrical certification C&G 2377-22

3 day rigging for the entertainment industry or NRC Level 2

IPAF 3a & 3b qualification

PASMA qualification

First Aid at Work qualification

Audio and video editing using Adobe Premier Pro

Understanding of TCP/IP networks (including video and audio over IP)

Ability to use hand and workshop tools and equipment for both stage and electrics

Knowledge of Microsoft Teams

Ability to undertake basic show flying (single purchase counterweight)

Knowledge of streaming, broadcasting and recording (audio and video)

T h e S p e c

Requirements

ESSENTIAL: The successful candidate will meet the majority of these requirements

DESIRABLE: The successful candidate should meet some of these requirements

Knowledge of ETC EOS, Unison, Paradigm and Sensor software

Knowledge of LV electrical power distribution systems, electrical circuits, and basic electrical calculations

Skills, knowledge and abilities

Knowledge of D&B sound systems and others

Good Live sound skills mixing bands and mics

Knowledge of Q light, Comms and networking

Knowledge of servicing Lighting and electrics equipment

Ability to operate access equipment such as captioning for stage, or enhanced hearing systems, and knowledge to fault find and rectify problems with such equipment

Knowledge of MAC and PC software such as Qlab, Parallels, Powerpoint

Experience

Experience of working in a manual environment

Experience of working with large scale musicals, ballet and opera or relevant maintenance activity

Experience of completing technical duties including fit up, get out and show running

Experience of working in a conference and events environment

Experience of Portable Appliance Testing and electrical maintenance

Experience of rigging, focusing and operating Lighting, sound and AV equipment

Experience in working in live or prerecorded shows and events in TV and Radio

Experience of working on outdoor events

Experience of counterweight flying and general rigging techniques

Experience of operating and maintaining AMX control systems, Paradigm, Sensor Software

Requirements

ESSENTIAL: The successful candidate will meet the majority of these requirements

DESIRABLE: The successful candidate should meet some of these requirements

Flexible attitude to work by being able and willing to work in any parts of the business and completing new tasks as required

Self-motivated team-player with a positive outlook, able to work on own initiative

Personal enthusiasm and drive to improve skills, experience and training

Ability to stay calm and solve problems under pressure

Ability to cope with physically demanding work

Personal attributes

Ability to embrace change in current processes

Be able to lead by example

Be able to promote a good working relationship with other departments

Comfortable working at heights

Must be reliable and take a positive and enthusiastic approach to work

Ability and willingness to work unsociable hours, including evenings (including night work) and weekends

Interest in and knowledge of the arts in general and performing arts in particular

T h e P e r k s

We are really proud to be able to offer some of the best perks around! We offer a variety of benefits and rewards to our staff - you just need to complete your probationary period first.

Physical

Discounted Gym membership at PureGym and Anytime Fitness.

Critical Health Insurance - a sum equal to your annual salary provided in the event of a diagnosis of a critical health condition which prevents you from working.

Cycle to Work Scheme - we buy the bike and/or accessories at full retail price. The balance is then recovered from a reduction in your gross wage. Through salary sacrifice, you can expect to save a minimum of 25%

Eye care vouchers though Specsavers which includes an eye test and either a select range single vision spectacles when used for VDU use or a voucher amount towards a more expensive pair.

Free flu jab offered onsite to employees or claimed through expenses.

Corporate health care cash plan through BHSF. The plan offers cash benefits towards everyday health costs such as dentist treatment and out patient care. Employees offered access to this scheme at discounted rates via regular deductions from payroll.

Discounted private medical cover though AXA who provide fast track appointment services.

Financial

Annual organisation wide pay reviews.

Enhanced maternity/paternity/sick pay.

Life assurance - a sum equal to twice the employee’s salary is paid to a beneficiary nominated by the member of staff or next of kin.

Enhanced pension offer if you meet the eligibility criteria, after two years ’ service we will match pension contributions up to 6%.

Personal Development Fund to pay towards the cost of a course/activity that is not job related.

Electric Car Scheme - get a brand new electric car through work as a benefit, paid for through your gross monthly pay, saving on income tax and National Insurance.

Emergency Hardship Loan access to an advance in your salary to support in emergency situations.

Bus and train travel - we purchase the discounted annual travel pass on behalf of the employee then the cost is recouped over normally 12 months via a deduction through payroll.

Discounted car parking - half price parking at the Arcadian car park.

T h e P e r k s

Emotional

Flexible and hybrid working where the role allows and in agreement with your line manager, your work can be carried out in a way that meets both the needs of you and the organisation.

Mental Health First Aiders points of contact for an employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. This interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the person to get appropriate help.

Employee Representatives - these are colleagues who represent a specific department(s). They act on behalf of individuals and collectives of the workforce.

Employee Assistance Programme - an external confidential helpline that can be called for free 24/7 and can offer up to 6 sessions of structured telephone calls/face to face meetings.

Inclusion & Anti Racism and Wellbeing working groups made up of employees and volunteers from across the organisation, working on the day to day improvements that needs to take place, truly leading change at Birmingham Hippodrome by presenting new ideas, informing on training, policies and advocacy.

Social

Enhanced annual leave.

Staff ticket offers and discounts - subsidised and/or free tickets to watch a show subject to availability and 50% discount on Hippodrome Programmes, alcohol, soft drinks, hot drinks, ice creams, confectionery and food items.

Green room - a communal space for you to enjoy breaks with your colleagues.

Hippodrome Headliners awards, recognition and celebration for the creative, inspiring, dedicated work of our people nominated by you.

Wellbeing events where you have the space to focus on your wellbeing and get involved in initiatives

Organisation wide staff events where ideas and information is shared with a chance for a get together with the wider team.

Our people are the beating heart of Birmingham Hippodrome and we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for expression and creativity and are dedicated to ensuring that any Hippodrome experience is a positive one. Inclusion is integral to everything that we do and is central to our decision-making. We care deeply for our staff, audiences, volunteers and partners, priding ourselves on being collaborative and striving to better reflect our city region.

We are proud that we reside in one of the most diverse cities in the UK; we value the richness that has and will be brought to our organisation through engaging with and the employment of people of different backgrounds.

Birmingham Hippodrome is committed to ensuring that applicants and employees are treated equally irrespective of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, disability, gender reassignment, political or religious belief, or socio-economic class.

The principles of equal opportunity also apply to the way in which our employees treat visitors, clients, customers and suppliers.

Birmingham Hippodrome is committed to a programme of continuous review and action to ensure that our policies remain effective.

Recognising under-representation in our workforce of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse people, and those with disabilities, we particularly welcome applicants from those backgrounds, identities and experiences.

a f e g u a r d i n g

At Birmingham Hippodrome we believe that everyone has the right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

We have a responsibility to do the very best we can to keep children and adults safe, including those at risk as well as our own teams. We will do everything in our power to ensure children and adults who come into contact with Birmingham Hippodrome, in any capacity, are safeguarded; this includes all trustees, staff, volunteers, public and contractors, as well as members of the public.