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Job Description / Duties

The Technical Coordinator is accountable to the Director of Production and Theatre Operations (DPTO) for the safe, efficient, and effective technical management of the Humanities Theatre (Hagey Hall). This position leads, supervises, and delegates to casual staff, while providing excellent client service for internal and external rental clients. This position provides instruction to students of widely varying experience and skill levels, in areas such as rigging, lighting, sound, and audio-visual. The Technical Coordinator works closely with the Theatres at UWaterloo team which consists of the Director of Production and Theatre operations, the Director of Technical Theatre, the Front of House and Box Office Manager, the Head of Wardrobe, and other Technical Coordinators.

Responsibilities:

1. Supervision
- Supervises crew for all load ins and load outs of internal or external clients and ensures all technical/safety requirements are met
- Orients clients to safety, technical characteristics, and other areas of facility operations
- Trains and oversees casual staff in the safe and appropriate use of lighting, sound, rigging, and stage equipment to act as technical staff for incoming productions/clients; works in consultation with the Director of Production and Theatre Operations
- Supervises and trains Work Study students as technical assistants
- In conjunction with the Director of Technical Theatre, supervises student crews on department productions during set install, lighting hang and focus, tech week and performances

2. Event Management
- Accountable to the Chair of the Department and the Director of Production and Theatre Operations on all matters pertaining to the safe and technical operation of the Humanities Theatre as a rental facility available to clients both on and off campus
- Assesses needs, answers questions, problem-solves issues and develops new solutions relating to rental clients and the spaces
- Determines necessary technical support required for rentals related to staging, props, lighting, rigging, sound, and video, including set-ups and strikes; Coordinates the rental of these resources on behalf of internal and external clients
- In conjunction with the Director of Production and Theatre Operations, creates and adheres to the theatre operating budget
Works with the Director of Production and Theatre Operation to generate schedules and manage crew and equipment accordingly
- Ensures that all theatre rental clients are given advice based on technical expertise to produce their events to a professional standard
- Function as lead hand on most rentals, both internal and external. Operating flies or sound as necessary
Supervises post-production strikes and load outs

3. Facilities Management & Safety
- Provides upkeep and inspection of the physical facilities of the Humanities Theatre, including equipment, storage, and work areas; with Director of Production and Theatre Operations and the Director of Technical Theatre, coordinates repairs, inspections, and service as needed
- Monitors the condition of equipment including lighting, sound, video, and rigging equipment; and performs preventive maintenance on equipment
- Utilizes knowledge of various codes (Building, Electrical, MOL) and safety best practices to ensure that theatre operations meet safety requirements and trains staff/student employees with safe and appropriate use of tools and equipment
- In conjunction with the Director of Technical Theatre, ensures compliance with relevant fire and other safety codes in cooperation with Safety Office personnel
- Ensures technical staff and production team of rental clients have the required certificates to perform duties
- In conjunction with the Director of Production and Theatre Operations, creates and adheres to the theatre operating budget
- Maintains ties with industry, organizations, and regulatory bodies so that technical competency, safety standards, and knowledge of the industry remain current
- In conjunction with the Director of Technical Theatre, obtains competitive quotes from external vendors and evaluates quotes for accuracy and provides Director of Production and Theatre Operations with accurate costings

4. Departmental Support & Collaboration
- Acts as a resource person to faculty, staff, and others with a range of technical competencies, on lighting, sound, video, computing, technical production procedures, methods, and materials
- Attends staff meetings and occasional department production meetings; provides counsel on appropriateness of technical requirements requested
- Ensures required safety, industrial, and construction codes and regulations are met; creating and implementing health and safety policies and procedures for the use of the theatres and their associated equipment; providing training to staff (including casual staff and student help) in the safe use of tools and equipment and the theatre facilities overall
- Collaborates closely with the team of staff on all areas listed in the key accountabilities
- Receives day-to-day functional direction from the Director of Technical theatre

5. Instruction
- Provides occasional instruction to students whose goals include work in technical theatre; areas of instruction include (but are not limited to) special effects, lighting installation, projection installation, video programming and operation, sound cue programing and operation
- Plans student work sessions in consultation with Instructor of Record
- Providing coaching and tutorials as needed during the production process
- Consulting with instructor of record on student progress

Qualifications / Required Skills

- B.A. in Fine Arts, Drama, Theatre or Performing Arts; College diploma in Theatre Production or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Minimum 4 years of experience in theatre production in professional theatres
- Working knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures of theatre including stage, set, sound and lighting design and implementation; computerized lighting systems; stage carpentry; appropriate safety precautions and procedures
- Demonstrated ability in lighting, sound, and/or video
- Minimum 3 years of experience working with a counterweight fly system
- Strong supervisory, management, and interpersonal skills
- Thorough practical understanding of fly houses, including rigging and counterweight systems
- Strong understanding of the Ontario Ministry of Labour Guidelines for the Performance Industry
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn new hardware and software, including digital media
- Ability to manage a range of activities and demands on a day-to-day basis – split focus
- Ability to work independently and with groups of people
- Must be a self-starter
- Ability to work with a variety of personalities daily
- Strong organizational skills
- Intermediate proficiency with MS Word and Excel
- Understanding of networking for theatrical purposes is an asset
- Strong competency with AutoCAD and/or Vectorworks
- Competency with QLab is an asset
- Intermediate competency with Front of House Mixing required
- Experience with Gala spiralifts an asset
- Intermediate competency with EOS lighting system
- Certifications are an asset, including:
Standard First Aid
WHMIS
Working at Heights Certification
Possession and Acquisition License
Pyrotechnics License
Elevating work platforms
Joint Health and Safety Committee training
- Work outside of regular hours is required due to rental schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays

Additional Information

Vaccination Requirement Statement:
All employees and students of the University of Waterloo are required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation, in order to come to campus. You can provide proof of vaccination or apply for an accommodation on our Campus Check-in website. For more information, please refer to the University of Waterloo website: Vaccination Requirement.

Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.

Salary: $48, 376 - $60, 471

Contact Information

Human Resources - hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567, ext. 45935

Apply online at https://careers-uwaterloo.icims.com/jobs/7704/technical-coordinator---humanities-theatre/job

Employer Profile

The Department of Communication Arts houses the Theatre and Performance program. This small liberal-arts program integrates theory and practice. The program has three theatre spaces - a black box studio (Studio 180), a thrust amphitheatre (Theatre of the Arts), and a proscenium stage (Humanities Theatre). The Humanities Theatre is a 721-seat theatre built in 1969. Amenities include a 40 lineset counter-weight rigging system, a gala-spiralift, and a 45'w x 30'd stage. This space is used for theatrical performances, lecture-style presentations, film screenings, dance performances and dance competitions, concerts, rehearsals, classes, and workshops. This space is heavily used by both the University community as well as the Waterloo region community.

The University of Waterloo is situated approximately 100 kms west of Toronto and easily accessed via via Highway 401. The Region blends big-city amenities with a small-town sense of community. Roughly 600,000 residents are spread across the thriving urban centres of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, as well as rural townships where horse-drawn Mennonite buggies are still a common sight.

With over 5,000 employees at the University of Waterloo, our campus community is a city within a city. The University of Waterloo has achieved Gold certification in Excellence Canada's Excellence, Innovation and Wellness (EIW) program, which recognizes the University for its exceptional organizational and workplace practices. While other Canadian universities have achieved department certification, we are the first university to achieve certification across our entire institution.

Today, with more than 42,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections.