What are the responsibilities and job description for the Technical Director position at Park Avenue Armory?
PARK AVENUE ARMORY
Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full realization, enabling artists to create, students to explore and audiences to experience epic and adventurous presentations that cannot be mounted elsewhere in New York City. Park Avenue Armory provides opportunities for employees to enrich and develop their love of the arts while contributing their specific skills, expertise, and talents. www.armoryonpark.org
THE POSITION
The Technical Director is responsible for a full scope of tasks and duties associated with implementing the technical production of a wide range of interdisciplinary performances, installations, and events in the Armory's Head House historic rooms from concept to load out, which include Recitals, Artist Studios, Artist Talks, Symposiums, and Special Events. The Armory's spaces do not have fixed seating, stage, or grid, which requires flexibility, a hands-on approach, and strong technical skills.
The Technical Director is an integral part of a small and dynamic team with an Assistant Production Manager and two additional Technical Directors This position reports to the Deputy Director of Production and works in close collaboration with the Armory's Programming, Development, Public Programming, and Facilities departments.
Due to the nature of this role and interaction with staff across the organization, this is a fully on-site role.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Plan technical details of productions, including working with artists, designers, producers, and technical teams on design and implementation details; solicite rental bids for backline, audio, lighting, video and rigging equipment as needed; coordinate with Armory staff on usage of house equipment; create and review technical and design drawings; and participate in production meetings.
- Oversee production load-in, set-up, rehearsal, performance, strike, and restore of all historic room productions, including seating and staging, lighting, rigging, audio and video installations.
- In collaboration with the Deputy Director of Production and Assistant Production Manager, develop and maintain production schedules and load-in and load-out logistics plans for each event as well as prepare all production budgets including labor estimating, material costs and rental bids.
- Oversee implementation of all production elements during each show's run.
- Supervise labor during load-in, load-out, rehearsals, and run-of-show as well as contractors involved in capital improvements to production infrastructure. Create a respectful and inclusive working environment for all crew, staff and artists.
- Ensure that the historic spaces, both restored and unrestored, are protected from any and all damage.
- Participate in advance work on future productions to ensure that creative teams are aware of possible constraints, including technical specs, budgets, logistics, and feasibility.
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
A successful candidate will meet many of these requirements and have the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Research shows that women and people from traditionally excluded groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job posting describes you, then please apply for this role.
Park Avenue Armory provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.