We are seeking a Venue & Technical Manager to commence in January 2025.
Download job description here.
ABOUT HOTHOUSE THEATRE
HotHouse Theatre is a regional creative powerhouse, with a celebrated 26-year history of commissioning, developing, producing and presenting contemporary Australian Theatre within a vibrant regional centre.
With a small, mighty team – including new CEO, Terese Casu and Artistic Director Karla Conway, HotHouse is supported by an engaged community of young, emerging, independent, and mid-career professional practitioners, with a loyal audience base from Albury Wodonga and the surrounding regions.
Through responsive artist development programs and a well-established season program, HotHouse incubates, makes and presents new Australian Theatre divergent in form and voice that speaks to the region and the nation.
We invest in regional professional practice and support artists locally and nationally to develop and produce new work year-round, through our inHouse programs and GreenHouse: National Artist Residency.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Venue & Technical Manager (VTM) supports the delivery of the artistic vision and strategic objectives of HotHouse Theatre through the management of all venue, production and technical activities.
Responsible for the key areas of Venue Operations, Technical & Production Management and VET Training, the VTM manages all venue operations, drives the planning and delivery of all technical needs for the theatre including in-house & touring productions, internal and external hires; and leads the training, management and supervision of the Technical Trainee, casual technicians and all casual Front of House staff.
The VTM will maintain and ensure the safe operations of the Butter Factory Theatre, the HotHouse office, the GreenHouse residence and the company’s physical assets in line with national Occupational Health and Safety standards. The VTM will also play a key role in the development and implementation of the VET Training program and support the sector development and capacity building activities of the company where appropriate. The Venue & Technical Manager is part of the senior leadership team.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Operations & Maintenance
- Coordinate all aspects of venue operations and facility management to ensure the safe operations of the Butter Factory Theatre including, Front of House operations and technical department including equipment maintenance.
- Ensure all fittings, furniture and venue technical equipment and additional Hot House storage areas are maintained and organised to an agreed standard through planned maintenance programs. Provide immediate repairs, planned maintenance cycles, and renewals as required working in conjunction with the building owner (City of Wodonga) and external contractors.
- Manage and maintain registers of assets, building services and cyclical maintenance.
- Plan for upgrades of building and technical equipment within the scope of Hot House Theatre responsibility.
OH&S
- Act as chief warden and venue manager for HotHouse projects and hirers as required, and overseeing the rostering of appropriate casual staff.
- Coordinate in conjunction with the Business Manager, the HotHouse Emergency Control Organisation including bi-annual Emergency Planning Committee meetings.
- Responsible for formulation and implementation of policies and procedures relating to the operations staff activities, theatres generally, safety in the workplace, hazard identification and risk assessment, duty of care for patrons, hazardous performance conditions, and for the development of procedural documents relating to these policies.
Hires & Staffing
- Manage external hire enquiries, bookings, contracts, venue plans ,rosters and reporting for the Butter Factory Theatre.
- Manage the hiring and rostering of the Technical Trainee, casual FOH and tech staff.
- Maintain up to date records for WWCC, RSA, First Aid, Warden training for all staff.
- Oversee the completion and collection of event reports, time sheets, and other documentation as required.
- Improve practices and procedures to enhance the overall experience for customers and clients and achieve efficiencies in service delivery.
- Ensure compliance of all staff and contractors with respect to Equal Opportunity policy, procedures and requirements, and undertake work and activities in a manner that ensures the workplace is free from harassment, bullying behaviour and discrimination and supports the diverse skills, backgrounds and values of others.
- Ensure OH&S requirements are met in relation to staff and work areas including:
- Ensuring safe and proper work practices are employed by staff and contractors in all workplaces
- Taking all reasonable care in the performance of duties to prevent injuries to self or others (including members of the public)
- Reporting all injuries, accidents, incidents or unsafe conditions in the workplace and co- operating in rehabilitation of fellow employees including reasonable workplace changes and facilitating the early return to work of injured employees.
- Assist in the delivery of operational elements of the venue to ensure positive experiences for both customers and clients including staffing of events.
Technical Management
- Effectively plan for and deliver on production requirements in collaboration with the Artistic Director and Producer, including budgeting, scheduling and technical requirements for all productions, hires, programs and events in the year.
- Develop technical plans for lighting, sound, audio visual and staging for all company activities, in liaison with internal staff, touring production staff and external hirers.
- Manage the bump-in, technical requirements and bump out of all internal and external events.
- Manage the lighting and sound operations of events directly or through appropriate staffing.
- Roster, contract, supervise all casual technical and FOH staff as required
- Manage stakeholder relationships with touring parties, suppliers, hirers and artists in the buildings.
Training
- Provide leadership and supervision to technical and FOH staff, encompassing day to day guidance and support to team members.
- Lead the skill development of the technical and front of house staff through direct teaching/training where identified.
- Encourage and develop the skills of the technical trainee in the operation of productions. This may involve arranging secondments and facilitating and/or conducting on the job training.
- Liaise with RTO on course delivery, assessment, record keeping for VET Training.
- Ensure WH&S requirements are met including ensuring safe and proper work practices are employed by staff and contractors in all workplaces.
- Taking all reasonable care in the performance of duties to prevent injuries to self or others (including members of the public).
- Reporting all injuries, accidents, incidents or unsafe conditions in the workplace and co- operating in rehabilitation of fellow employees including reasonable workplace changes and facilitating the early return to work of injured employees.
Other Duties
- Scheduling, upkeep, security and maintenance of company vehicles, including servicing and repairs as needed within the annual budget.
- Scheduling, upkeep, security and maintenance of the Splitters Creek Farmhouse, including coordinating repairs as needed within the annual budget.
- Scheduling, upkeep, security and maintenance of the HotHouse Offices, including coordinating repairs as needed within the annual budget.
- Managing the hire and loan of equipment to other organisations as required.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Substantial experience in management of technical theatre and venues, providing a thorough understanding of all aspects of venue operations, including technical disciplines, FOH and building services.
- Experience in management of financial procedures and budget management.
- Ability to plan, organise, set priorities and manage timelines with attention to detail.
- Advanced knowledge of workplace health and safety, hazard identification and risk assessment.
- Demonstrated ability to provide leadership to a team and work calmly in stressful situations and environments.
To apply please address the required skills and knowledge for the position in no more than 3 pages and include your CV and names and contacts of 2 referees, then address your application to CEO, Terese Casu –[email protected]