Head of Lighting & Sound - Sunderland

Join our Technical Department in a key leadership role supporting the Technical Manager while leading, managing, and developing the Lighting and Sound teams. You'll play a central part in welcoming and coordinating visiting companies, overseeing their technical and staffing requirements, delivering productions and events to the highest standards of safety and compliance, and ensuring our venue's equipment and infrastructure are maintained to an exceptional level. This full time, permanent position offers the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic, collaborative technical team at the heart of our venue's operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on the safe and efficient fit ups, load outs, and show operations in line with legislation and visiting company requirements.
• Enforce safe working practices, ensuring trained and competent staff appropriate to the operational requirements.
• Support the Technical Manager to ensure that all activities, infrastructure and equipment meet regulations and ATG Policies Procedures and guidance.
• Manage the safe operation, maintenance, testing and repair of all venue electrical and technical infrastructure and equipment.
• Service, maintain, and install electrical equipment in accordance with current IEE regulations.
• Monitor and coordinate external contractors, ensuring all work meets required standards and Health & Safety obligations.
• Work with the city council and partner agencies to ensure compliance for visiting productions.

Operational Requirements

• Schedule and resource technical staff through effective long term planning, costing, and compliance with working time and union agreements.
• Work closely with visiting companies to meet technical needs economically and within contractual terms.
• Communicate seat removals or layout changes to Box Office, Marketing, and Front of House.
• Ensure all expenditure aligns with agreed budgets and ATG finance policies.

Technical

• Lead all Lighting and Sound activity, ensuring productions and events are delivered to the highest standard.
• Work with the Technical Manager and Head of Stage to ensure all production requirements are met efficiently.
• Plan ahead and schedule technical staff effectively, producing and approving rosters in good time.
• Provide excellent customer care to producers, touring companies, and production teams in partnership with Technical and Stage Door teams.
• Act as a primary contact for visiting companies, responding promptly and professionally.
• Assist with get ins/get outs and operate as duty technician or console operator when required.
• Train and develop technical staff to meet business needs.
• Maintain accurate records of equipment maintenance, inspections, and insurance checks.
• Attend technical meetings and communicate company processes, updates, and goals.

Safety

• Support the implementation and monitoring of Health & Safety procedures in line with legislation for staff and visiting companies.
• Ensure backstage and technical operations comply with legislation and ATG policies, with all documentation completed to a high standard.
• Carry out and regularly review Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
• Action safety points raised through audits or meetings within agreed timescales.

Maintenance

• Work with the Technical Manager and Head of Stage to ensure backstage and auditorium areas are presented to the highest standards and remain safe.
• Develop, plan, and participate in maintenance, inspections, and testing of all technical infrastructure and equipment.

Staff Development, Training & Communication

• Support the development of a skilled, cohesive, and motivated team through strong communication, training, and development.
• Ensure all ATG HR policies and procedures are implemented.
• Assist in recruiting, training, and managing staff to achieve departmental and business objectives.
• Participate in company, venue, and departmental meetings to ensure clear and consistent communication.

Other Duties

• Work at other ATG venues when required.
• Undertake any reasonable duties and training as needed.

Your skills, qualities, and experience

• Proven experience working on medium to large-scale touring productions, either from a receiving house or touring company perspective.
• Demonstrable experience in both leading and contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Proficient in the setup, operation, and live mixing of lighting for theatrical productions and live events.
• Extensive experience in programming and operating lighting using ETC Eos-family consoles, with a high level of proficiency expected.
• Familiarity with the Apex 10 desk is desirable, with the ability to deliver complex lighting states accurately and efficiently under production conditions.
• A versatile and experienced multi-skilled theatre technician, confident across a broad range of technical disciplines.
• Practical experience and competence in the use of counterweight (single purchase) flying systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to motivate colleagues and a strong commitment to both personal and team development.
• A proactive, solution-focused approach to problem solving, with the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
• Sound working knowledge of current health and safety legislation, including the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR), the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), with the ability to apply these principles effectively within a practical theatre environment.
• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends.