POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Technical Director
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 5065
GRADE 26
CLASSIFICATION Nonexempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Executive Director, Athletics and Entertainment Facilities
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Technical Director is responsible for designing, developing, constructing, and maintaining the lighting and sound equipment for daily facility operations and scheduled special events in the JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The Technical Director provides production assistance to University departments and organizations as well as commercial entertainers, organizations, and groups utilizing the JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, recommends appropriate staging, tightening of counterweight ropes, lighting, and sound techniques for scheduled events and performances. The Technical Director supervises production and technical crews composed of student and temporary employees.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A high school diploma or the equivalent is required; a Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Experience: Five years of progressively responsible experience in technical operations, theatre, concert, or entertainment production at a comparable facility, which includes experience in stage lighting operations, sound reinforcement and design, development, construction, maintenance, and operations, is required. If the educational level is the Bachelor’s degree, three years of progressively responsible experience in technical operations, theatre, concert, or entertainment production at a comparable facility, which includes experience in stage lighting operations, sound reinforcement and design, development, construction, maintenance, and operations, is required.
Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills are required. Supervisory skills are required. The ability to design and construct production equipment from sketches, diagrams or plans is required. The ability to read and understand floor plans, color schemes, stage lighting, and basic construction plans or blueprints is required. Mechanical skills in the construction, operation, and minor repair of sound and lighting equipment and the use of hand and power tools are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
Effort: The ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 100 pounds on a frequent basis is required. The position requires prolonged standing, frequent bending or stooping, and climbing of steps and ladders. This position will occasionally be required to work on a grid at a height of at least 60 feet. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
Other: The scope of the job frequently requires evening and weekend work, particularly during major athletic or entertainment events, lectures, and/or rehearsals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that athletic, entertainment, and special events at JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts have sufficient and suitable lighting and sound support by determining the desired lighting and sound effects required for specific events, designing special purpose or unique lighting and sound systems, if required, from instructions provided by stage managers, installing and repairing lighting and sound equipment following blueprints and wiring diagrams, operating controls to supply electrical and lighting effects, and positioning and operating lighting and sound equipment during events or performances.
2. Prevents contractual liability on the part of JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts in scheduling commercial events by reviewing the technical riders of contracts for prospective performers to determine technical requirements and fulfilling the technical requirements with existing or rental lighting and sound equipment.
3. Assists visiting entertainers and groups using the JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts by providing them information regarding operational policies and procedures, coordinating specific requirements for technical and associated support, and advising them on staging techniques.
4. Ensures that JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts and related areas are ready for use by athletic teams, entertainers, or performing groups by coordinating with production crews to identify unique or special requirements, planning and organizing personnel and equipment resources to meet event schedules, and directing work crews in completing facility preparations.
5. Promotes preventative maintenance as a strategy in maintaining facility lighting, sound, and scoreboard equipment by periodically testing equipment and replacing components before failures occur, maintaining an inventory of spare parts and components to reduce down time when failures do occur, keeping a library of technical manuals and data manuals for equipment and components used in the facility, and remaining technically up-to-date on equipment through reading trade publications and technical journals and bulletins.
6. Coordinates the production aspect of events conducted in Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts by renting forklifts, gasses, staging, and other necessary equipment, scheduling piano tuning and other professional services as required to support the event, and arranging and directing venue tours.
7. Supports Hall performances by supervising the hanging and focusing of lighting for all events at the Hall, maintaining an inventory of replacement lamps, supervising the set-up of sound reinforcements as needed for each event, and supervising the set-up of the sound system for each event.
8. Develops an effective and efficient staff of student technicians by recruiting and hiring qualified student workers, providing training in testing, tuning, adjusting, and operating lighting and sound equipment to obtain the optimum operating conditions and scheduling and supervising student technicians.
9. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
10. Contributes to the overall success of operating JQH Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Sports Complex, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Technical Director is supervised by the Executive Director, Athletics and Entertainment Facilities and supervises stagehands, contract labor, and student workers employed as electronics technicians and production crews and makes recommendations that are given particular weight regarding the hiring, termination, promotion and other changes of status of those supervised.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED FEBRUARY 2023
