Technical Manager in Neath

Working Hours 37 hours per week, including flexible evening and weekend working

Job Description

The Technical Manager is responsible for the technical operation, maintenance and delivery of all live events and cinema activities at Gwyn Hall, ensuring the highest standards of technical excellence, safety and professionalism across the venue.

Gwyn Hall presents a diverse and dynamic programme of entertainment and cultural events, including live music, drama, comedy, opera, dance, cinema and live event cinema broadcasts. The Technical Manager will play a pivotal role in delivering this varied programme, ensuring all technical requirements are planned, coordinated and executed efficiently to provide an outstanding experience for audiences, visiting companies and performers.

We are seeking a proactive, highly skilled and professional individual with strong technical expertise, excellent leadership and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of a wider venue team. A flexible approach, a commitment to teamwork and a passion for technical excellence are essential to successfully managing the demands of a busy, multi‑purpose theatre and cinema.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Venue

• Technical Operations: Take overall responsibility for the operation, maintenance and effective management of all technical equipment and systems at Gwyn Hall.
• Technical Delivery: Provide hands‑on, multi‑skilled technical support across all areas of the theatre and cinema, ensuring the venue is prepared to the highest professional standards for performances, screenings, events and other activities.
• Technical Leadership: Lead and oversee the technical functions of the venue, including:
  Sound and audio systems
  Stage operations and stage management
  Theatrical and performance lighting
  Digital cinema, projection and live alternative content broadcasts
• Production Management: Coordinate and oversee all production get‑ins, fit‑ups, technical rehearsals, performances and get‑outs, ensuring activities are completed safely, efficiently and in accordance with relevant health and safety legislation and Gwyn Hall policies and procedures.
• Visiting Productions: Act as the principal technical contact for touring companies, production crews, technicians and artists, providing professional support and ensuring all technical requirements are met throughout the preparation and delivery of productions.
• Venue Users: Liaise with professional companies, amateur groups, hirers and other venue users, providing technical guidance and ensuring the safe, appropriate and effective use of the venue’s facilities and equipment.
• Artist and Production Liaison: Liaise with artists, agents, promoters and production representatives to coordinate technical arrangements, resolve operational issues and ensure contractual technical requirements, including those specified in production riders, are fulfilled wherever practicable and agreed.
• Technical Setup and Operation: Plan, install, configure and operate sound, lighting, staging and other technical systems as required for performances, cinema screenings, conferences and events across the venue.
• Quality and Standards: Ensure all productions, screenings and events are delivered to a consistently high technical standard, maximising the effective use of available facilities, equipment and resources.
• Equipment Management: Ensure the safe handling, security, storage and appropriate use of all technical, electrical and theatre equipment, maintaining suitable arrangements for access, inspection and upkeep.
• Asset Management: Maintain accurate records of technical assets, including lighting, sound, staging, cinema equipment, plant, fixtures and fittings, and support effective inventory management, maintenance planning and equipment replacement.
• Building Operations and Security: Undertake regular inspections and patrols of relevant areas of the venue, helping to maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness, security, safety and operational readiness.
• Emergency Call‑Out: Participate in alarm call‑out arrangements and respond to technical or building‑related emergencies as required, in accordance with established procedures.
• Safeguarding: Understand and comply with safeguarding policies and procedures relevant to the role, ensuring that responsibilities are carried out appropriately and any concerns are reported through the correct channels.

Cinema

• Digital Cinema Operations: Take responsibility for the set‑up, operation and effective management of all digital cinema equipment, including 3D projection systems, ensuring screenings are delivered to the highest technical standards.
• Live Alternative Content: Coordinate, set up and operate live and alternative content broadcasts across the cinema POD and main auditorium, ensuring all projection, sound, connectivity and broadcast systems function reliably.
• Cinema Content Management: Manage the receipt, ingest, storage, testing and return of digital cinema content, ensuring all films and associated materials are available, correctly configured and ready for scheduled screenings.
• Equipment Maintenance: Take responsibility for the routine inspection, maintenance and operational readiness of all cinema equipment, including projection, sound and associated technical systems. Identify faults, arrange repairs and coordinate specialist servicing where required to minimise disruption to the cinema programme.
• Technical Compliance and Reporting: Ensure cinema equipment and operations comply with relevant technical standards, licensing requirements, health and safety procedures and applicable reporting obligations.
• Screening Support: Provide technical support for scheduled film screenings, private hires, school screenings and special cinema events, responding promptly to technical issues and ensuring a consistent, high‑quality audience experience.

Maintenance

• Equipment Procurement: Identify, specify and procure new and replacement technical equipment, including lighting, sound, cinema projection and stage equipment, ensuring suitability, value for money and compliance with the venue’s operational requirements.
• Planned Maintenance: Plan, coordinate and undertake appropriate maintenance tasks ensuring facilities, equipment and technical systems remain safe, functional and fit for purpose.
• Production Equipment Maintenance: Ensure all technical equipment remains safe and operational throughout production periods, undertaking repairs where appropriate and arranging specialist support when required to minimise disruption to performances and events.
• Equipment Servicing and Compliance: Oversee the routine inspection, servicing and upkeep of technical, stage and cinema equipment, ensuring statutory inspections, safety checks and maintenance requirements are completed within the required timescales.
• Electrical Equipment Testing: Undertake portable appliance testing (PAT) and other appropriate electrical safety checks on theatre, technical and domestic equipment, in accordance with relevant procedures and risk assessments.
• Health, Safety and Housekeeping: Maintain clean, organised and safe working environments across all technical and operational areas, ensuring equipment is stored correctly and hazards are identified, reported and addressed promptly.
• Network and Technical Infrastructure: Oversee the operation, maintenance and effective management of the venue’s technical network infrastructure, coordinating troubleshooting, repairs and external technical support where necessary.

Health and Safety

• Legislation and Compliance: Maintain a thorough and up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation, regulations, approved codes of practice and industry standards applicable to theatre, cinema, technical operations and building maintenance, including:
  Risk assessment and safe systems of work
  Manual handling
  Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
  Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
  Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
  Electricity at Work Regulations
  Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
  Fire safety and emergency procedures
• Safe Working Practices: Promote, implement and monitor safe working practices across all areas of responsibility, ensuring compliance with current health and safety legislation, Gwyn Hall policies and procedures, and relevant industry guidance.
• Risk Assessments: Prepare, review and maintain suitable and sufficient risk assessments and method statements for technical operations, stage activities, productions, equipment use and other relevant activities, ensuring appropriate control measures are implemented and communicated to staff and visiting companies.
• Duty of Care: Take responsibility, within the scope of the role and delegated authority, for promoting and maintaining the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, performers, visiting companies and other venue users, so far as is reasonably practicable.
• Fire Safety and Emergency Procedures: Maintain a thorough understanding of the venue’s fire safety arrangements, evacuation procedures, emergency plans and the location and operation of relevant safety equipment, including fire alarms and firefighting equipment. Ensure applicable procedures are communicated and followed.
• Technical and Event Safety: Ensure sound, lighting, staging and other technical equipment are operated safely, and that external events and activities are appropriately planned, supervised and managed in accordance with relevant risk assessments and health and safety requirements.
• First Aid and Emergency Response: Maintain appropriate first aid training and certification where required by the role and provide first aid assistance within the scope of training and competence when necessary. Support emergency response arrangements in accordance with venue procedures.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Identify, report and address health and safety hazards, equipment defects, incidents and near misses, ensuring appropriate corrective action is taken, and records are maintained in accordance with venue procedures.
• Staff and Contractor Awareness: Ensure relevant staff, contractors and visiting production teams are made aware of applicable safety procedures, technical risks and safe systems of work before undertaking activities within the venue.

Staffing

• Staff Management: Coordinate, supervise and support casual technical and venue staff as required, ensuring appropriate staffing levels are maintained to meet the operational demands of the venue.
• Staff Training and Development: Provide training and guidance to venue staff in the safe, effective and appropriate operation of technical equipment, including sound, lighting, staging and cinema systems, ensuring staff are competent to undertake their assigned duties.
• Staffing and Rotas: Liaise with the General Manager to plan and coordinate weekly staffing rotas, ensuring adequate technical and operational cover for the venue’s programme of performances, screenings and events. Identify anticipated periods of increased demand and discuss additional staffing requirements as necessary.
• Venue Operations: Support the General Manager and Assistant Managers with the wider operational management of Gwyn Hall when not engaged in technical duties, contributing to the effective day‑to‑day running of the venue.
• Management Cover: Provide operational management cover in the absence of the General Manager and Assistant Manager, as required, ensuring continuity of service, appropriate decision‑making and adherence to venue policies and procedures.
• Working Flexibility: Work flexibly across a seven‑day operating week, normally over five days, including daytime, evening, weekend and split‑shift working, in accordance with the venue’s programme and operational requirements.
• Additional Duties: Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the post, supporting the effective operation and continued development of Gwyn Hall.

Required Qualifications

Educated to GCSE level or equivalent. Essential Application form/Interview

Experience of Health & Safety practice and procedures. Essential Application form/Interview

Full UK Drivers License. Desirable Application Form

Formal technical theatre qualification. Desirable Application Form

Health and safety qualification (IOSH) Desirable Application Form

Required Experience

Substantial experience of technical theatre. (Minimum 2 years) Essential Application Form

To be experienced in the use of digital sound and lighting consoles Essential Interview

A broad and knowledgeable understanding of a technical discipline (e.g. sound, lighting, stage, and cinema) Essential Application Form / Interview

Ability to communicate with staff at all levels. Essential Application Form / Interview

The ability to work well under pressure and be flexible. Essential Application Form

Experience of setting and working to tight deadlines Essential Application Form

Commitment to finding innovative and reliable solutions to the challenges of design and delivery of the Company’s work. Essential Application Form / Reference/Interview

Required Skills

The ability to work as part of a team. Essential Application form

Good computer literacy in particular digital sound and lighting software. Essential Application form

Good communication skills – both written and verbal. Essential Application form/ Interview

Good logistical skills. Essential Application form/ Interview

Awareness of current trends in theatre technology. Essential Application form

A practical knowledge of LOLER, PUWER and other relevant Health and Safety regulations Essential Application form

Knowledge of safe rigging practices, including but not restricted to rigging and use of motor hoists, manual chain hoists, hemp flying and the use of slings and shackles. Desirable Application form

Other Requirements

Commitment to achieving high standards with the resources available. Essential Interview

Commitment to equality of opportunity and staff development. Essential Interview/Application form

Clean smart appearance. Essential Interview

Flexible approach to working, including the ability to work unsocial hours. Essential Interview

Ability to plan and prioritise work effectively. Essential Interview/Application form

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