Senior Technician

Responsible to: Head of Technical & Production

Responsible for: Permanent and casual technical staff as required

Key Relationships: Head of Technical & Production, visiting company technical staff, artists, technical contractors and suppliers

Hours: 37.5 hours

Job Purpose

To support the Head of Technical and Production in the safe, efficient and high-quality delivery of all productions, events, and activities, whilst providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.

The Senior Technician is responsible for delivering the highest technical, artistic, operational and health and safety standards, requiring excellent technical skills in lighting, sound, and/or stage. Working closely with the Head of Technical & Production, the post holder will contribute to production planning, technical preparation, staff scheduling, equipment maintenance, health and safety, and the continuous improvement of technical operations.

The post holder will act as a senior technical point of contact for visiting companies and creative teams, ensuring that technical requirements are understood and delivered to a high standard.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and Production Preparation

• Support the Heads of Technical & Production and Creative Programmes in the planning and delivery of the theatre's programme.
• Attend production and planning meetings as required.
• Review incoming technical riders, plans, schedules and production information and identify technical requirements and potential issues.
• Produce technical plots, plans and documentation as required.
• Advise on the feasibility of technical requirements and identify practical solutions.
• Assist with the planning and scheduling of get-ins, fit-ups, rehearsals, performances and get-outs.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of in-house productions and projects.
• Identify potential technical or health and safety issues and report significant concerns to the Head of Technical & Production.

Technical Delivery and Production Support

• Act as a senior technical point of contact for visiting production managers, company technicians and creative teams.
• Support the technical delivery of visiting productions and events, ensuring agreed technical requirements are met.
• Lead get-ins, fit-ups, technical rehearsals, performances and get-outs when required.
• Provide hand‑on technical support across lighting, sound, AV, stage operations, rigging and stage machinery, when required.
• Operate technical systems and provide specialist technical support when required.
• Liaise effectively with visiting technicians and provide appropriate venue inductions and technical information.
• Resolve technical problems during rehearsals, performances and events in a calm and professional manner.
• Ensure technical operations are delivered efficiently while maintaining appropriate standards of safety and customer service.
• Take responsibility for delegated technical operations and elevate significant technical, operational or safety issues appropriately.

Teamwork and Supervision

• Provide day‑to‑day guidance and supervision to permanent and casual technical staff when required.
• Assist the Head of Technical & Production with the scheduling and allocation of technical staff.
• Ensure that staffing levels are appropriate for performances, rehearsals, events and maintenance activities.
• Lead technical teams during get‑ins, performances and get‑outs, providing clear direction and ensuring effective communication.
• Support the induction, training and development of technical staff.
• Share technical knowledge and good practice with colleagues.
• Identify training needs and make recommendations to the Head of Technical & Production.
• Provide constructive feedback on staff performance where appropriate.
• Encourage high standards of professionalism, teamwork and technical practice.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, professional and safe working environment.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Support the Head of Technical & Production in maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across technical and production activities.
• Act as a senior technical lead for health and safety during productions, rehearsals, performances and events.
• Ensure technical activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, licensing requirements and organisational policies.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.
• Ensure visiting companies and contractors are appropriately briefed on relevant technical and safety procedures.
• Identify and address unsafe working practices and report significant concerns to the Head of Technical & Production.
• Assist with the maintenance, inspection, testing and repair of technical equipment and infrastructure.
• Ensure appropriate records are maintained for technical inspections and statutory testing, including LOLER and electrical testing, as applicable.
• Promote a positive culture of health, safety and wellbeing within the technical department.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date understanding of relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.
• Represent the Technical & Production Department as part of the Health & Safety Committee.

Financial and Resource Management

• Work within agreed production and technical budgets.
• Provide accurate information to the Head of Technical & Production to support budget monitoring.
• Obtain quotations and assist with procurement of technical equipment, materials and services as required.
• Monitor technical expenditure associated with individual productions and events.
• Identify opportunities for the efficient use of staff, equipment and other resources.
• Assist with the management of visiting company technical requirements and associated costs.
• Provide technical information to support the costing and planning of equipment upgrades and capital projects.

Visiting Companies, Artists and Customer Service

• Establish effective working relationships with visiting production teams.
• Communicate clearly regarding technical requirements, limitations, schedules and venue procedures.
• Provide venue inductions and ensure visiting technicians understand relevant safety procedures and venue requirements.
• Balance the needs of visiting companies with the operational requirements and resources of the theatre.

Creative Work

• Provide technical support to the development and delivery of in-house productions.
• Work collaboratively with directors, designers, performers, production staff and other creative practitioners.
• Advise creative teams on technical possibilities, limitations and practical solutions.
• Support technical rehearsals of in‑house productions and the transition from rehearsal into performance.
• Contribute to efficient production processes for in‑house work.
• Encourage creative and innovative approaches to the use of the theatre's technical resources.

General

• Always act in the best interests of, and be an ambassador for, Jersey Opera House
• Take positive action to promote Equal Opportunities in all aspects of the work of Jersey Opera House
• Agree to abide by Jersey Opera House policies such as Health and Safety, Safeguarding etc
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas relating to Jersey Opera House
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Skills

• Experience: Significant professional experience working in a theatre, performing arts venue or comparable live performance environment.
• Technical Knowledge: Up-to-date knowledge of theatre technical procedures, stagecraft and production technologies. Strong knowledge of at least one core technical discipline, with a broad understanding of other technical areas. Practical knowledge of lighting, sound, AV, stage operations, rigging and/or stage machinery and the ability to interpret technical drawings, plans, schedules, riders and production documentation.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Ability to provide clear direction to technical colleagues when required. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Health and Safety: Strong knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to theatre and live performance and industry best practice.
• IT and Administration: High level of IT literacy and administrative capability.
• Problem Solving: Excellent technical problem-solving and decision‑making skills
• Deadlines: Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Planning and Organisation: Excellent organisational and time‑management skills.
• Degree or professional qualification in technical theatre, production management, engineering or a related discipline.
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent health and safety qualification.
• Relevant technical qualifications or certifications, including working at height, rigging, first aid, fire safety or electrical qualifications.
• Experience of programming and operating ETC lighting consoles.
• Experience of programming and operating DiGiCo digital audio consoles.
• Experience with show control systems and software.
• Experience with CAD and/or technical drawing software. Experience of, technical installations, or venue development.

Working Conditions

• Willingness to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, to support rehearsals, performances and events.
• The role involves manual handling, working at height and prolonged periods of standing.
• The post holder may be required to work in confined spaces and other challenging technical environments.
• Flexibility is essential to meet production and performance schedules.
• The role may require working to tight deadlines and responding to changing technical requirements.
• The post holder must maintain appropriate levels of physical fitness and competence for the practical requirements of the role.
• Technical Expertise
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Planning and Organisation
• Problem Solving
• Health and Safety Awareness
• Communication
• Customer and Client Focus
• Attention to Detail

Applications close 5pm on Friday 9 October 2026.