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Production Lighting Specialist

Requisition Number:

53077

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

University Staff

Schedule:

Part-Time

Posting Close Date:

17-Dec-2023

Date Posted:

04-Dec-2023

Job Summary

The Department of Theatre & Dance at CU Boulder encourages applications for a Production Lighting Specialist! This position plays an instrumental role for the department, applying professional concepts to implement sophisticated lighting designs across various theatres and a classroom setting. With a significant ability to work independently, this role leads the electrics area for Theatre & Dance performances. Their coordination with the Theatre Technical Director and Director of Dance Production is vital to ensuring cohesive lighting endeavors to support artistic goals. This role extends to mentoring a student electrics team, supervising the upkeep and deployment of a diverse suite of equipment including conventional fixtures, LEDs, video projectors, and moving lights, and the ability to program ETC lighting consoles and troubleshoot stage dimming and DMX distribution systems.

This is a 75%-time, 9-month annual position following the university academic calendar. This position would begin as soon as possible and continue through mid-May with a scheduled work break until mid-August, 2024.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Department of Theatre & Dance is a community of students, scholars, artists and artisans who regard the collaborative and creative process as the core of education. We engage with that process at all levels of our work as we pursue excellence and understanding.

From the root of process stems practice, and that practice bears the fruit of experience. THDN guides that fruition, offering students an expanse of opportunities to encounter the art forms of theatre and dance, their making and meaning.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Production Electrician Duties

  • Partner with student, faculty, and guest designers to elevate and complete lighting designs across multiple theatres and a specialized classroom space, using professional concepts.
  • Engage proactively with designers to strategize and optimize the implementation of designs, ensuring the efficient allocation of departmental resources.
  • Lead crews of 3-15 students, providing training and coordination of operations roles within the crew for optimal performance.
  • Critically assess light plots, demonstrating professional guidance to devise plans that prioritize safety, cost-effectiveness, and timely execution within the established timeframe.
  • Develop, coordinate, and maintain a Theatre & Dance department calendar used for scheduling student crews and implementation of lighting designs for all Theatre & Dance department productions.
  • Regularly review and update lighting protocols in line with evolving campus policies and systems, ensuring that the department remains up-to-date.
  • Address and swiftly resolve recurring lighting and design challenges, collaborating regularly with theatre and dance artists and technical staff.
  • Provide consistent feedback and suggestions on lighting systems and techniques, striving for continuous improvement while working under periodic review and monitoring.
  • Lead or coordinate with operations personnel or coordinators within the department, offering guidance and applying their expertise in completing lighting designs and troubleshooting tasks.
  • Continuously seek knowledge on the latest campus policies and systems, integrating them into lighting operations to maintain compliance and promote efficient collaboration within the immediate work team and with patrons.
  • Maintain open communication channels with peers and other team members familiar with the theatre and dance field, ensuring that the lighting aspects of productions meet or exceed departmental expectations.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

  • Serve as a principal expert to a student electrics crew, imparting professional-level expertise in hang and focus techniques. Ensure the meticulous maintenance and handling of a diversified equipment set, encompassing conventional fixtures, LEDs, video projectors, and moving lights.
  • Apply professional concepts to independently, and in collaboration with student crews, undertake the repair, preservation, and enhancement of all lighting and video apparatuses. Promptly and efficiently troubleshoot any arising issues in lighting and video systems, ensuring minimal downtime and optimized performance to complete artistic goals.
  • Establish and maintain a structured inventory system for all lighting equipment, ensuring easy accessibility and organization. Regularly review and update inventory protocols in alignment with evolving departmental needs and campus policies.
  • Engage in continuous communication with members acquainted with the theatre and dance milieu, ensuring alignment of technical operations with the department's artistic vision.
  • Support in leading the coordination within the electrics crew, providing guidance and ensuring tasks are completed with precision and professionalism.
  • Periodically report on equipment status, inventory levels, and maintenance activities, ensuring transparency and receiving feedback for continuous improvement.
  • Stay updated with the latest campus policies and systems related to equipment handling and storage, ensuring the department's operations are compliant and streamlined.
  • Assist with department purchasing for tools and equipment.

Programming Shows

  • Independently diagnose and address issues related to lighting systems and fixtures, efficiently resolving problems of varying scope and complexity.
  • Engage in the periodic review and refinement of lighting system protocols, ensuring their effectiveness and consistency with departmental and campus standards.
  • Regularly update and document lighting system configurations, maintenance activities, and troubleshooting resolutions, ensuring transparency and ease of reference for future tasks.

What You Should Know

  • This is a 75% time position working an average 30 hour per week.
  • This is an annual 9-month position following the university academic calendar. Work months begin in mid-August and continue through mid-May.
  • Design opportunities in Lighting, Sound, or Projections may exist for interested candidates.
  • This position reports to and collaborates with the Theatre & Dance Department Lighting Design Faculty to arrive at the best possible outcomes within the time frame and resources available.
  • This position is benefits eligible. Some benefits will be prorated due to the position being 75% time, and others will be affected by the scheduled work break.

Physical Demands

  • Perform a variety of physical tasks including but not limited to climbing, stooping, pushing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling.
  • Work at height in locations including but not limited to catwalks, grids, ladders, rolling scaffolding, and genies.
  • Perform a variety of physical tasks while wearing safety equipment including body harness, hardhat, and safety glasses.
  • Push, pull, lift, and move up to 50 lbs. at times on a repetitive basis.
  • Use of manual dexterity in the operation of tools.

Working Conditions & Environment

  • Working in a variety of environments including but not limited to construction shops, stages, trap rooms, catwalks and grids, warehouses, exposed loading docks, and outdoors.
  • Work environment may be dirty, noisy, in low-light, or in a tight and cramped space.
  • Will be exposed, at times, to potentially hazardous materials and equipment.
  • Will regularly be required to wear PPE during work activities.

What We Can Offer

  • The salary range for this 75% time, 9-month position is  $25,931.25 to $29,165.50.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be daring. Be supported. Be Boulder.

What We Require

  • A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of experience and education or certifications in a related field may substitute for the degree.
  • Able to safely lift 50+ pounds.
  • Comfortable working at heights, climbing ladders and scaffolding, and operating genie lifts.

What You Will Need

  • Ability to install, focus, and strike equipment used to light theatre and dance productions.
  • Ability to maintain lighting and electrics equipment.
  • Working knowledge of Theatrical Rigging.
  • Solid understanding of electrical theory and safe handling procedures.
  • Ability to calendar and effectively plan work calls, with achievable goals, which will result in lighting systems delivered on time for use in production and rehearsal, typically one to two semesters in advance.

What We Would Like You to Have

  • 2+ years of experience working as an electrician with professional stage or event lighting.
  • Experience working in a higher education performance environment and supervising student teams.
  • Demonstrated experience with projections and audio systems.
  • Experience troubleshooting and repairing moving light fixtures.
  • Experience employing a theatrical rigging and fly system.
  • Demonstrated proficiency on ETC ION and Element consoles.
  • Experience with LightWright and Vectorworks software suites.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

  1. A current resume.
  2. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by December 17, 2023 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu