Dramsoc Theatre, Support Officer
Expressions of interest are invited for the position of DramSoc Theatre Support Officer.
The UCD Dramatic Society was founded in 1928 and continues to be an important part of the student experience at University College Dublin. Conor McPherson, Neil Jordan, Frank McGuinness, Amy Huberman, Norma Shehan and Rory Nolan are just some of the Society’s notable alumni.
Since 2012, DramSoc has operated a black box theatre in the UCD Student Centre. The theatre contains state of the art technical/production facilities and a backstage area consisting of two dressing rooms and a green room.
The Role:
The Theatre Support Officer will serve as a support to the Society Auditor and committee with the intention of enhancing the society’s overall quality and engagement by advising on best practice, and by seeking to help the Society utilise the theatre’s full potential.
This role will support DramSoc's student-driven activities, not replace/overshadow them. By maintaining the focus on student leadership and student driven activities, the Theatre Support Officer will play a critical role in fostering the educational and developmental experiences at the core of the Society's mission. The individual will offer guidance and expertise to empower students to realize their full potential, fostering individual growth and optimizing the use of society resources.
The Theatre Support Officer will report to the Dramsoc Auditor and the University Societies Officer.
This is envisaged as a part-time (between 10-20 hours) fixed-term (2 year) appointment. The role would be ideally suited to a person with experience of student drama and a knowledge of industry standards/best practice. This person may be (but not limited to) self-employed/freelance, in postgraduate education in a related field or have an advanced career in the industry.
Key Responsibilities:
● Skill Development Focus: Focus on enhancing the skills of society members through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one coaching sessions. These activities are designed to empower students to perform the tasks themselves, rather than the mentor performing tasks on their behalf
● Resource Facilitator: Act as a facilitator who helps students access resources, whether those are physical resources like theatre technology, or intangible ones like industry contacts This role also includes helping students network with alumni and professionals who might provide additional mentorship or opportunities.
● Cultural Stewardship: Assist in documenting processes and creating manuals or handbooks that capture the accumulated knowledge of the society. This helps address the loss of institutional knowledge and supports the sustainable development and building of the society’s culture and operational know-how over time.
● Performance and Event Support: Assist in the planning and execution of society events, ensuring optimal use of the theatre.
● Feedback and Improvement Processes: Implement feedback mechanisms to continually assess the impact of the role and the society’s activities
Person Specification:
Required Skills
● Experience in theatre production and management.
● Strong technical knowledge.
● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. This includes:
● Mentoring and coaching abilities.
● Ability to work collaboratively with students and respect the student-led nature of the society.
● Self-motivated, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Desirable
● Knowledge of contemporary theatre practices and educational methodologies.
● Previous experience in a similar advisory or support role within an educational setting.
Additional Notes on Eligibility:
This role is particularly suited to individuals with a background in theatre education, production, or management who are passionate about student development and community engagement in a university setting.
Further Information
Working Hours
Part time. Between 10-20 hours per week - to be discussed with the individual.
Reporting
Reporting to the University Societies Officer and the Auditor of UCD Dramsoc.
Remuneration will be based on experience & confirmation of brief.
Contact
Enquiries can be made to Stephen Whelan at stephen.whelan1@ucd.ie .
Submissions of Interest:
Applications should include:
● Proposal (maximum two pages) - Outline your vision for the role within the context of the UCD Dramatic Society, your approach to supporting the auditor, committee and members with ideas for maximising the use of the theatre.
● CV - Detail your relevant experiences and qualifications.
Further Information
Informal enquiries can be made to Stephen Whelan at stephen.whelan1@ucd.ie.