Venue Design Consultant in Bristol

Thank you for your interest in Charcoalblue. We are seeking a Venue Design Consultant to join our talented team. As a Venue Design Consultant in the Theatre Consulting team, you will be instrumental in conceiving, guiding, and constructing some of the most amazing and creative venues for the performing arts across the world. Working with clients, architects, and consultants in a collaborative team structure, you will influence the design of a vast range of arts related building projects, all of which share a focus on innovative and inspired solutions to a client’s brief.

Our Venue Design Consultants have a key role within that project team which starts in the early concept stages right through to completion and commissioning on site. Working closely with the team, you will be instrumental in defining our venues’ look and feel, shape, form, as well as architectural integration and functional planning of front of house, backstage and technical spaces. As well as defining architectural and theatrical concepts, your responsibilities will also include technical auditorium design aspects such as sightlines, accessibility, code compliance, design coordination and seating design and specification.

You will be expected to effectively communicate design ideas to clients and the wider design team using clear presentation skills and tools and produce supporting drawings and documentation. You will deliver high quality work in line with company standards and help motivate the entire design and construction team with good humour and passion for the performing arts. You will report to one of our Theatre Consulting EMEA Associate Directors, who you will meet regularly to ensure you are fully supported in your role.

Since theatre consultancy is a specialist field, we will provide role‑specific inductions and ongoing training to help you succeed. The role is anticipated to service our EMEA and Australia based projects working with our external project teams in local and Australian time zones. However, it may also involve collaborating with the global Charcoalblue team to provide Theatre Design support on projects run from our international offices in the US, including coordination of communication with Charcoalblue designers and external consultants in other time zones through the use of video conferencing.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide venue design for projects, working alongside Charcoalblue’s experienced designers and team leaders.
• When required, produce, issue, and present your own design solutions, room developments, sketches, drawings, reports, specifications, schedules, budgets, and other information.
• Meet with clients to evaluate and discuss their needs for a project as they relate to theatre design (and beyond).
• Work with the external architectural and engineering team to optimize the theatrical requirements of the project ensuring a continuity of the project’s aesthetic aspirations whilst meeting technical requirements.
• Work with our designers to develop an understanding of local and international building codes and regulations.
• Ensure the accessibility of projects is meeting, if not exceeding, statutory requirements, in line with the ambitions of Charcoalblue.
• Work with our internal design team to present a holistic design solution, balancing all aspects of spatial quality, performance functionality, and budget.
• Participate in site visits for client workshops, architectural coordination, construction progress, commissioning and other purposes as required.
• This position will require occasional UK and international travel.
• When required, you will actively manage the delivery of auditorium seating design to client deadlines, which will involve management of Charcoalblue resources, client resources, and the work of appointed contractors.
• Ensure your projects are delivered on time, on scope, and on budget.
• Draft emails, presentations, reports, and budgets, as necessary with minimal administrative support, and attend meetings and site visits as required.
• Prioritise the requirements and changing needs of the projects assigned to you, with support from your line manager and project team.
• Contribute to the continual development of our internal design and technical resources.
• Discuss yours and others’ work and share ideas, experience and lessons learned with other designers at Charcoalblue.
• Be open to new ideas, technologies, communication, and design tools and proactively support innovation in our design work and practices.
• Occasional UK and international travel.
• Adhere and promote Charcoalblue Cultural Values.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and may be subject to alteration over time as we develop the service.

Qualifications, Key Skills & Employment Details

Essential

• Three years of experience working as a designer with a background in architecture, theatre design, theatre consulting, or similar experience, preferably in the construction or performing arts industries.
• CAD skills in both 2D and 3D, including rendering, visualisation, and hand sketching.
• High level of IT literacy, including a good working knowledge of MS Office and Adobe Acrobat Suite.

DESIRABLE

• BIM and Revit experience.
• Experience in putting together reports, presentations and other visual material.
• Knowledge of relevant building health and safety legislation, and an understanding of all matters relating to the successful operation of venues.
• Knowledge of construction contractual issues and the RIBA Work Stages.
• An understanding of the holistic and operational needs of all building users, including staff, performers, and audiences.
• Understanding of the technical infrastructure of a performance venue is advantageous, including lighting, rigging, acoustics and/or AV systems.
• Knowledge of good backstage and front of house planning, seating and sightlines is highly advantageous, as well as an interest in environmental sustainability.
• You are personable, with an ability to adapt your communication style to liaise successfully with our global team, and ability to employ an awareness of local cultural nuances.
• You are a flexible, receptive, and adaptable listener and thinker with a proactive approach to finding solutions.
• Comfort in large meetings and able to present and discuss ideas.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to prioritize project demands and tasks.
• Bring good humour and a passion for the performing arts.
• Ability to work across multiple time zones.

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with a dependable and consistent approach.
• Careful and thorough, able to produce accurate work.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both in writing and speaking.
• Comfortable managing multiple responsibilities with support where needed.
• Able to maintain focus and use healthy coping strategies during busy periods.
• Approachable and respectful when working with others.
• Confident working independently and collaboratively within local and global teams.
• Open to learning and adapting to evolving business needs.
• Able to prioritise tasks and balance a varied workload.
• Able to meet agreed deadlines while taking care of personal wellbeing.
• Capable of managing basic budgeting and finance‑related tasks where required.

We recommend you include any relevant portfolio or recent work samples with your application.