LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY

Job Title: Technical Director 

Department: Operations

Reports to: Director of Production & Technology

Status: Full-time, exempt

Start Date: Immediate start possible.

Salary Range: $76-85k /yr.  

Job Type: In Person

WHO WE ARE

La Jolla Music Society is one of the most prestigious and highly respected performing arts presenters in the United States. Our winter season presentations showcase a rich variety of classical, jazz, global roots, spoken word, family, and dance programming, at its state-of-the-art venue, The Conrad, as well as off-site venues throughout San Diego. In addition to our winter season and award-winning Learning & Engagement Programs, La Jolla Music Society also produces SummerFest, a renowned four-week chamber music festival featuring world-class artists and ensembles performing an array of concerts and programs curated by SummerFest Music Director, Inon Barnatan.

SUMMARY

The Technical Director is responsible for the technical execution of program content at The Conrad. This position ensures the theatrical equipment is functional, maintained, and safe, and advances events for both La Jolla Music Society and external/internal renters for all technical equipment and labor requirements. The Technical Director stewards the technical capability and technical aesthetic for The Conrad’s lighting, audio reinforcement and capture, and broadcast efforts and is the responsible party for safety on The Conrad stages and event spaces, including preparing event diagrams and monitoring assembly limits. Finally, this position stewards any technology upgrades necessary to keep The Conrad’s theatrical systems at cutting edge.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Direct Reports: Technical Coordinator—Audio Lead, Technical Coordinator—Lighting Lead, IATSE crews & other technical hands (hourly or hired temporarily as required).
• Develop and maintain standard house plots for fixtures and equipment.
• Develop and maintain a maintenance schedule for all technical equipment within the facility.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise technical crew members (hourly or hired temporarily as required).
• Work with the La Jolla Music Society Production Manager to implement and plan all events which take place at The Conrad.
• Advance technical requirements and load in/load out schedule with Production Manager for performances.
• Schedule IATSE crew as needed for various types of events, load-ins, technical rehearsals, performances, and regular maintenance calls.
• Assist Production Manager with processing invoices for rented equipment and assist Production Manager with processing Labor invoices.
• Ensure the spaces are properly prepared for performances.
• Assist the Production Manager & The Conrad Events Manager in creating renter estimates and season budgets.
• Develop and/or maintain safety protocols for staff and crew working on stage or around technical equipment.
• Maintain a safe working environment, including but not limited to implementation & operation of overhead rigging systems, automation, enforcing of fall protection policies, managing crew hours, ensuring mandatory breaks and meals are taken, oversee crew/guest safety, and assessment of potentially hazardous situations.
• Prepare stage and event diagrams to ensure safety compliance and proper assembly occupancies.
• Maintenance and use of the theatrical lighting systems for The Conrad and the planning of system upgrades.
• Maintenance and use of the sound reinforcement, audio capture, and audio playback audio systems for The Conrad and the planning of system upgrades.
• Maintenance and use of the videography; IMAG; broadcast; projection; show communication; building automation; stage lifts; and rigging systems in The Conrad and the planning of these systems’ upgrades.
• Maintenance and use of the electrical/digital backbone of all Conrad theatrical systems.
• Act as technical lead for all systems on the day-of-event in The Conrad in support of the Technical Coordinators as needed.
• Manage IATSE Local 122 crew members in accordance with applicable contracts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 to 5 years of relevant experience as a Technical Director for live events, preference for concert/orchestral experience.
• Knowledge of event planning, crew planning and management/supervision for live events (IATSE)
• Knowledge of safety protocols as it pertains to live events/performance centers.
• Ability to read, interpret, and edit/create schematics and blueprints as necessary.
• Familiarity with Autodesk Suite (Autocad and/or Revit) for purposes of creation of ground plans for events as necessary, and or to read/modify/note blueprints of building schematics.
• Audio, Video, Lighting knowledge sufficient to direct crews and supervise as necessary for live events.
• Dante/DMX/sACN/network familiarity sufficient to assist in troubleshooting as necessary for The Conrad’s building Audio/Video/Lighting distribution systems.
• Rigging knowledge sufficient to supervise crews and make safe calculations for simple truss/lighting hangs or similar, familiarity with motor/winch systems and automation.
• Familiarity with electrical safety consistent with safe operation of company switches and power load calculations.
• Network infrastructure knowledge as it pertains to live events systems.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50lbs and work in noisy environments.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• A willingness to work nights and weekends as necessary.
• Knowledge of Artsvision scheduling software a plus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

By exemplifying broad representation throughout the institution, it is our goal to dissipate traditional lines of separation, enabling audiences, artists, staff, donors, and students to connect with those who are different from themselves. We believe that through that connection—both on stage and off—we can enrich all our lives, broaden our experience, open our minds, and achieve La Jolla Music Society’s mission. We seek to create a working environment where everyone knows they are welcome and valued regardless of who they are or how they identify; where difference is encouraged; and where those differences help us learn from one another.