Stage Technician, Faculty of Arts

Description

The Theatre Services within the Faculty of Arts is currently seeking a Recurring Part-time Stage Technician (2 positions).

The University Theatre Services (UTS) technical staff provide technical support to the divisions of Dance, Music and Drama within the School of Creative and Performing Arts and many other campus and community groups who use our facilities. UTS serves over 200 clients per year, with a peak period of operation September through June.

This position supplements the full-time technical staff during the UTS peak period in order to meet our academic and client needs.  The work is often physically demanding and can involve exposure to potentially dangerous situations, including overhead stage rigging and work from ladders or powered personnel lifts.  The technician must be fit enough to climb ladders and lift heavy objects as well as work under stressful conditions and meet constant deadlines.

This position reports to the Manager of Theatre Services. This position is part of the AUPE Collective Bargaining Unit. The Stage Technician will be required to work irregular hours consisting of mostly evenings and weekends, including some overtime.

The purpose of this position is to work with the UTS team of technicians to meet the requirements for client events, within our capabilities, resources, and safety guidelines. This position set ups and takes down equipment and scenery, and operates the lighting, sound, projection and special effects equipment in our theatres, studios, classrooms and conference venues.

The Stage Technician will deal with musicians, actors, dancers and other clients on a regular basis.  Communication, teamwork and flexibility are essential to providing clients with professional, courteous, and effective technical support in a timely manner. The ability to be flexible and to respond to change while interacting with clients in a respectful and professional manner is at the heart of the position

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

General:

• Work with staff members to help clients produce their show.
• Install rigging, lighting, sound equipment, and scenery.
• Erect stages for theatrical, musical, and other entertainment events in theaters, studios, classrooms, conference rooms and other SCPA venues.
• Read stage layout specifications and blueprints and confer with the Stage Manager to determine type and location of sets, props, scenery, lighting, and sound equipment required for a specific event.
• Operate and control power tools and equipment safely.
• Act as backstage technician operating equipment or organizing personnel.
• Understand each piece of our theatrical equipment and knows how to use it.
• Perform basic maintenance to technical equipment.
• React quickly to new directions in a fast-paced environment.
• Act as an attendant for conference events.
• Assist other technicians whenever needed.
• Attend staff or client meetings as required.
• Enter accurate data regarding any show (show report, time sheet, and materials charged).
• Provide a safe and clean environment for staff, students and clients to work in.
• Work with the Manager of Theatre Services on any given task.

Lighting:

• Interpret a lighting designer's plan.
• Meet with clients and performers to determine the desired lighting for a performance.
• Hang and focus lighting equipment.
• Program consoles and loads automated colour change systems before a show.
• Execute pre-show, show, and post-show checklists.
• Operate manual and computer-controlled lighting systems during rehearsals and performances, following audible or visual cues.
• Take cues from the stage manager.
• Maintain the lighting equipment in good safe working condition.
• Create and maintains clear lighting cue sheets.

Sound:

• Meet with clients and performers to determine the desired sound for a performance
• Understand sound equipment and acoustics.
• Set up and takes down sound equipment and perform sound checks.
• Use sound mixing boards to mix and edit music, voices and sound effects.
• Operate sound equipment during rehearsals and performances, following audible or visual cues.
• Take cues from the stage manager.
• Manage audio volume and sound quality at live events.
• Create and maintain clear sound cue sheets.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• The Stage Technician must have a well-rounded knowledge of lighting, sound, staging, and conference equipment.
• A minimum of 5 years professional experience in the industry is essential. 
• A diploma or certificate in Technical Production from a recognized training institution would be considered a strong asset. 
• An understanding of safety practices and first aid is strongly encouraged. A basic computer skill level with the ability to work in word processing and spreadsheet programs is recommended.

Application Deadline:  March 20, 2025.

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 1.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.