Job Description

Department: Theatre Consulting EMEA
Role: Consultant
Locations: London, UK, Bristol, UK
Remote status: Hybrid
Salary: £35,000 – £50,000/year
Employment type: Full-time

Description of Role

We are seeking a Theatre Consultant – Technical System Designer with a Stage Lighting focus to join our global Theatre Consultancy team in the UK. You will be responsible for all aspects of design, documenting, and commissioning Stage Lighting systems on our projects, working as part of our project teams which can include team leads, theatre designers, stage equipment 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 Associate Directors and your project assignments and workload will be managed by your line manager. You will have the chance to meet regularly with your line manager to ensure you are fully supported in your role and since theatre consultancy is a specialist field, we will provide role-specific inductions, and ongoing training to help you succeed.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide general support for projects; primarily assisting with the production of drawings, specifications and reports for specific projects, as well as assisting the more senior team members with research on new products, developing the principles of system design and the production of Charcoalblue’s ‘standard’ system information.
• Work to a consistently high standard, in line with Charcoalblue’s quality assurance and control procedures.
• Ensure that the demands of your projects are fully met.
• We aim to be unassailable in the quality of our work, the speed of our response, and to motivate the entire design and construction team by the good humour and competence of our approach.
• Operate with minimal administrative assistance: drafting emails, letters, reports and budgets as necessary.
• We will expect you to be self-motivated in your own research, expanding your knowledge of the theatre and also of the construction industry. We welcome any particular skills or experience which you may bring to the company. We invite you to highlight these on the attached application form.
• Meeting with clients to evaluate their needs for a project as they relate to stage lighting systems and network systems design (and beyond).
• Working with our internal design team to present a holistic design solution which balances all aspects of performance functionality and budget.
• Communicating with client teams to describe our solutions and ensure they reflect the right fit which balances the needs of various project constituents.
• Describing the functionality and purpose of stage lighting systems while adjusting communication styles for different audiences – for other creative designers, for experienced technicians, or electrical engineers.
• Working with architectural and engineering teams to ensure that each of the design disciplines includes the required infrastructure, support, and accommodation for all elements of the stage lighting systems.
• Providing cost projections throughout a project for stage lighting systems integration.
• Conducting value engineering; adapting and revising designs to reduce cost while maintaining as much value and performance as possible, meanwhile being able to describe impacts on functionality.
• Participating in site visits for commissioning, witness testing, construction progress, and other purposes as required. This position will require occasional travel, including international/overseas travel.
• Working with our Team Leaders to set out project work plans, goals, and deliverables.
• Contributing to the continual development of our internal design and technical resources.
• Discussing your work and ideas with other designers at Charcoalblue.
• Serving as a resource for all our designers about stage lighting technology applicable to our projects.

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

Qualifications and key skills

We are open to receiving applications from candidates with a varied range of experience and education. If you meet most of the qualifications below, we encourage you to apply.

Essential

• Minimum four (4) years’ experience as a stage lighting designer or technician, ideally across performing arts and architectural contexts.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience working as a technical systems designer or specifying stage lighting systems or equipment.
• Experience in computer drafting of some form; Proficiency in Vectorworks, AutoCAD or REVIT will be required.
• Professional experience with the standard suite of Microsoft Office and GSuite products.
• Professional experience with Adobe Acrobat and / or Bluebeam – we operate a paperless office and use the Adobe/Bluebeam PDF format for all documents.
• Experience and interest in live performance, and/or events, with a demonstrable passion for the performing arts.

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills through verbal explanations, interpretation of data, sketch drawing, written communication, technical drawing, and formal presentations.
• Ability to self-manage and set work plans for the successful delivery of work against deadlines with minimal input from management.
• Expert level of detailed knowledge about stage lighting and high level of knowledge about audiovisual equipment infrastructure and networking technology, and systems integration.
• You may have completed a higher education qualification or have attended a Technical Theatre course at a Drama School, College or University.
• You may have completed industry relevant training (AVIXA etc).
• Served as primary stage lighting or audiovisual systems designer for completed projects in the design, documentation, construction, and commissioning phases, either as a consultant or client.
• Practical knowledge of stage lighting and/or audiovisual theory and design, with a solid understanding of networks and required relevant infrastructure.
• Practical knowledge of Theatre Health & Safety practice and it would be advantageous to have some knowledge of current relevant Health & Safety and electrical regulations.
• Skill and sensitivity to graphic design and layout, graphical display of information, adhering to design standards, and incorporating corporate branding.
• Knowledge and experience of the operation and/or construction of theatre and/or live performance buildings.
• Experience demonstrating the creation of contract documentation for stagelighting or audiovisual systems on new construction or architectural renovation projects in the UK and / or EMEA.
• Experience working with a distributed global team across different time zones.
• Experience of temporary or permanent architectural lighting schemes.
• Experience of temporary or permanent stage lighting immersive environment installations

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with a dependable and consistent approach.
• Careful and thorough, able to produce accurate work.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both in writing and speaking.
• Comfortable managing multiple responsibilities with support where needed.
• Able to maintain focus and use healthy coping strategies during busy periods.
• Approachable and respectful when working with others.
• Confident working independently and collaboratively within local and global teams.
• Open to learning and adapting to evolving business needs.
• Able to prioritise tasks and balance a varied workload.

What’s in it for you?

This is a permanent, full-time role with flexibility built in. You’ll be UK-based, working with flexible hours between 8am–8pm, Monday to Friday, and enjoy with the ability to work from home 2 days per week, balanced with studio collaboration, site visits, and project meetings. Working patterns will be agreed with your manager to support project commitments and collaboration across our global team.

Whilst most work takes place during standard business hours, some flexibility may occasionally be required to support colleagues, clients, and projects across different time zones. You’ll be based in either London or Bristol, with opportunities for travel domestically and internationally for projects, team gatherings, and studio events.

• Ability to request unlimited paid time off under our Take-What-You-Need (TWYN) leave policy, on top of your statutory annual leave entitlement
• Studio closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day, providing additional paid time off each year
• Annual company bonus scheme, subject to company performance
• Pension auto‑enrolment
• Monthly live event tickets allowance to experience the events, venues, and spaces that inspire our work and that we help bring to life
• Home working contribution towards internet and utilities
• Private Health Insurance after two years for you and your dependants
• Laptop and peripherals provided
• Company mobile phone scheme

As you grow with Charcoalblue, so do your benefits – we’re in it for the long term.

Start Date

As soon as possible

Apply via charcoalblue.teamtailor.com