Senior Theatre Consultant - Audiovisual

Theatre Consulting EMEA

Bristol, UK, London, UK

Hybrid

Senior Theatre Consultant - Audiovisual

Thank you for your interest in Charcoalblue.

We are seeking a Senior Theatre Consultant in Technical Systems Design with an Audiovisual focus to join our talented team. Description of Role: We are seeking a Theatre Consultant – Technical Systems Designer with an AV focus to join our global Theatre Consultancy team in the UK. You will be responsible for all aspects of design, documenting, and commissioning Audiovisual systems on our projects, working as part of our project teams which can include team leads, theatre designers, stage engineering designers, experience designers and acousticians to deliver holistic, bespoke dedicated design solutions. It would be advantageous for you to have prior experience with theatre and/or presentation technical systems and/or broadcast and media technology, either as a practitioner and/or systems designer and / or experience as a team leader or project manager.

You will report to one of our Theatre Consulting EMEA Leadership team, who you will meet regularly to ensure you are fully supported in your role. Since theatre consultancy is a specialist field, we will provide role-specific inductions, tailored training and ongoing support to help you succeed. We actively foster a supportive and collaborative working environment which promotes independent work and ownership, alongside continuous support and communication with the wider Charcoalblue team. You will be working across a number of projects, varying in scale, typology and designs stages, and you will be encouraged to manage your own design, project work and deliverables. We encourage individuality of approach, creative thinking, and a proactive initiative involving your own discipline as well as the wider Charcoalblue team.

Due to our internal IT security protocols and core software compatibility requirements, our team operates exclusively on Windows OS. All applicants must be comfortable in using a Windows operating system as their primary daily workstation tool for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Leadership & Technical Delivery

• Lead the design of audiovisual systems across multiple projects, acting as lead designer for your area of specialism and taking responsibility for the quality, coordination and delivery of design information.

• Develop design principles, system strategies and technical solutions that respond to the client brief, operational requirements, architectural vision, performance needs and project budget.

• Produce and oversee the preparation of drawings, specifications, reports, schedules, calculations and other technical information, including Charcoalblue’s design intent and system information.

• Lead technical discussions with clients, users and project stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into coherent, deliverable design solutions.

• Communicate the functionality, purpose and benefits of audiovisual and stage lighting systems clearly and appropriately to different audiences, including creative designers, clients, technicians, architects, engineers and contractors.

• Work collaboratively with architectural and engineering teams to ensure that appropriate infrastructure, spatial requirements, support, power, data, containment, environmental conditions, access and other dependencies are incorporated into the wider design.

• Collaborate closely with Charcoalblue design colleagues across disciplines, including stage lighting, stage engineering, theatre design and acoustics to deliver seamlessly coordinated design solutions on multi-disciplinary projects.

• Provide technical leadership during design development, construction and implementation, resolving complex design and coordination issues and ensuring that the intended performance and functionality are maintained through to completion.

• Provide cost projections for audiovisual systems throughout the project lifecycle, working with manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to test assumptions, validate budgets and undertake early market testing.

• Lead and contribute to value engineering exercises, developing alternative solutions that reduce cost while protecting functionality, performance, quality and client value, and clearly communicating the implications of design changes.

• Attend site visits as required, including construction progress reviews, inspections, commissioning, witness testing and other technical activities, providing appropriate technical input and reporting.

• Project & Team Leadership

• Act as Team Leader on projects where appropriate, taking responsibility for project planning, coordination, resource management, quality, programme and commercial performance.

• Work with Team Leaders and project directors to establish clear work plans, objectives, deliverables, resource requirements and priorities.

• Balance design quality, project requirements, available resources and commercial considerations, making objective and informed decisions throughout the project.

• Demonstrate the ability to manage and contribute to projects profitably, understanding fee, scope, resource and programme implications and identifying risks and opportunities at an early stage.

• Ensure project demands and deliverables are met while fostering a positive and collaborative working environment that inspires confidence and supports high-quality outcomes.

• Undertake project Quality Assurance reviews of colleagues’ work when required, providing constructive feedback and ensuring compliance with Charcoalblue standards and agreed project requirements.

• Support the development and implementation of consistent design standards, methodologies, drawing conventions, specifications and technical resources across the practice.

• Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Consistently deliver work to a high professional standard, following Charcoalblue’s quality assurance processes and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, standards, guidance and industry good practice.

• Uphold and champion Charcoalblue’s quality standards across projects and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

• Participate in internal audits and use their findings to improve working practices, processes and project delivery.

• Identify opportunities to improve technical methodologies, workflows, tools and resources and contribute to their implementation across the practice.

• Contribute to the continual development of Charcoalblue’s internal design and technical resources through collaboration, knowledge sharing and the development of house standards and styles.

• Leadership, Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing

• Provide technical leadership, guidance and mentorship to consultants and other members of the team, sharing knowledge and supporting their professional development.

• Provide training and informal coaching as required, helping colleagues develop their technical, project and consultancy skills.

• Support senior management in encouraging innovation, collaboration and consistently high-quality design.

• Act as a role model for Charcoalblue’s cultural values and demonstrate these values in relationships with colleagues, clients, consultants, contractors and other project partners.

• Continue to develop personal knowledge of theatre, audiovisual technology, technical presentation, construction and related industries through self-directed research, continuous professional development and Charcoalblue’s Training & Development programme.

• Client, Industry & Business Development

• Develop trusted relationships with clients and project partners, acting as a confident and knowledgeable representative of Charcoalblue and its technical expertise.

• Represent Charcoalblue and its services externally through conferences, presentations, publications, training sessions,