Design Consultant

We are seeking a Theatre Designer and Team Leader at the Consultant level to join our North American Theatre Consultancy team. We expect a significant portion of the role will be focused on Theatre Design, working on overall building planning and auditorium design, creating functional and inspiring buildings where the performing arts can thrive. Depending on the project’s scope, you will originate documents such as building area schedules and sketch diagrams of space, as well as creating and delivering presentations ranging from space precedents to construction phasing concepts. As a Team Leader on some projects, you will lead Charcoalblue’s contribution to the design and construction process on exciting projects and help shape the way in which the next generation of performing arts spaces are built. We anticipate that, as your career at Charcoalblue develops, you will gain responsibility for high profile projects with significant construction and technical budgets.

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You will report to one of our Directors, who will manage your project assignments and workload. You will have the chance to meet regularly with your line manager to ensure you are fully supported in your role. Additionally, ongoing training and career development will be provided as part of your role and as you grow with the company.

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Key Responsibilities

• Partner on and lead projects, working alongside Charcoalblue’s experienced design consultant team.
• Attend design team meetings and liaise with the architect, client, and in-house technical team on your projects.
• Develop initial auditorium concept and design establishing the form and function, including audience and performer egress.
• Create seating layouts, seating design and detailed sightline studies.
• Help specify and design technical theatre systems, advise on building planning, and produce/issue sketches, drawings, specifications, reports, schedules, budgets, and other information, as assigned.
• Coordinate with multiple internal team members, including technical systems designers and acousticians.
• Be a key point of contact and coordinate with project architects, including reviewing and commenting on architectural and engineering drawings.
• Create design presentations, written reports, 2D and 3D drawings and sketches, and written specifications to document your design work.
• Actively project manage the delivery of specific systems to client deadlines; this will involve managing Charcoalblue resources, client resources, and the work of appointed contractors.
• Conduct site visits to construction sites, operating venues, and other project sites; Review construction progress on-site, perform measurements and verifications; commission and punch list seating systems.
• Meet the demands of your projects by ensuring that the quality of work, response time, output, and motivation of the internal/external design and construction teams are upheld.
• Work within multiple project teams simultaneously while meeting deadlines, arranging your calendar, and balancing project deliverables as they occur.
• Collaborate day to day with Charcoalblue’s designers and other Team Leaders, and benefit from mentorship and assistance, as required.
• Some travel to North American projects, as required, and occasional international travel with notice.

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Skills & Qualifications

Charcoalblue is seeking a broad candidate pool and we are open to receiving applications with a variety of levels of experience. If you meet most of the qualifications below, we encourage you to apply.

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Essential

• ​Minimum three (3) years of experience in theatre design consulting or related industry experience, across multiple system and venue types and scales.
• Project management experience in production management, installation management, construction management, or related experience.
• Experience in a professional environment.
• Experience with the standard suite of Microsoft Office programs, and either Adobe Acrobat or Bluebeam software.
• Experience with CAD in both 2D and 3D
• Experience in creating reports and presentations including proven ability to lay out text, photographs and drawings, using Microsoft Office and InDesign, or a similar package.
• Experience with reading, interpreting and/or creating architectural and technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong listening skills, to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ attitude, taking a proactive approach to finding solutions which meet all the constraints of a given project.

​Desirable​

• Excellent visual assessment and communication skills, including the ability to conceptualize and communicate three-dimensional ideas in 2D media.
• Ability to assess sightlines and audience accommodation concepts in all public areas of a venue.
• Experience in communicating with people at varying levels within an organization.
• Ability to incorporate relevant state building code and safety legislation into your design work.
• Ability to factor knowledge of theatre and venue operations into your design work to create spaces where artistic, functional, and audience needs combine.
• Good working knowledge of the technical systems of a performance venue including lighting, rigging and/or AV systems and an awareness of good backstage architectural planning, environmental and acoustical design parameters.
• Knowledge of contractual issues and the AIA project stages and associated levels of work output.
• Experience with Autodesk Revit and BIM documentation.
• Ability to demonstrate competent rendering and visualization skills.
• Some experience with creating and navigating VR models and experiences for design visualization.
• Comfort with presenting and discussing your ideas in large meetings.
• Ability to confidently write emails, reports, and budgets as necessary, and attend meetings and site visits, as required.
• Knowledge of relevant building codes, safe working practices and an ability to comprehend all matters relating to the successful operation of a venue as a place in which the performing arts can thrive.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and may alter over time.