The Place, the UK’s premiercentre for contemporary

dance, is where dance is going next

For over forty years The Place has been a driving force for contemporary dance in England and Europe, and it remains one of the world's key resources for dance development. We are a home for dancers and dance-makers, nurturing artists from the earliest stage to mature world-class talent.

The Place’s work is divided into five strands of activity:

  • Creative Teaching and Learning: researching and delivering dance education and outreach projects, and developing and sharing expertise
  • London Contemporary Dance School: a world-leading dance conservatoire training around 180 students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
  • Richard Alston Dance Company: an internationally renowned touring company led by Richard Aston
  • Recreational and Prevocational Dance: providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in dance, and progression opportunities to realise talent
  • Theatre and Artist Development: presenting 150 performances each year from UK and international artists in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre, and providing extensive professional development support for dance artists

Our mix of activities creates an ecosystem for contemporary dance unlike any in the world, whilst the strong interdependence of our different strands of activity, co-existing within a single organisation, yields huge added value, both artistically and financially. The Place’s holistic, 360-degree range of activity creates a fertile artistic environment in which great dance can be developed and experienced by everyone.

The Place has a vital role to play in dance development in the UK. It is uniquely placed to enhance the sector’s ability to support independent dance artists. We provide the space and conditions they need to take the creative risks that keep the art form alive, and help them attain greater profile and integration within the UK and European dance communities.

The Place’s plans for the future build upon our history of achievement, underpinned by our flexible business model that draws on a range of public and private funding sources and self-generated income, enabling us to continually adapt our activity to meet the changing needs of the dance sector at all levels.

The Place currently employs 92 full and part-time staff – dancers, teachers, producers and administrators – and works with nearly 300 casual staff. Our annual turnover is in excess of £6.5million, with approximately two-thirds of our income from statutory funding, and one-third earned and fundraised income. The Place’s building, which incorporates 11 dance studios together with our theatre, is fully accessible to disabled people, and The Place has a firm commitment to equal opportunities for staff, students, artists and users of our building and services.

We are committed to developing new and enhanced ways of engaging participants and audiences whilst continuing to focus strongly on building a sustainable future for dance as the UK’s leading supporter of dance artists. Through all of our work we will continue to transform and enrich lives through dance and to shape where dance is going next.

Job Description

Senior Technician

Theatre and Artist Development

Role of the Senior Technician

The Senior Technician will report directly to the Technical Manager, duties will include maintenance, operation and control of all lighting, sound and AV equipment used within the Theatre. He/she will be required to deputise for the Chief Technician in his/her absence, to supervise and lead shifts in accordance with relevant legislation and working practices and to assist companies presenting work in The Theatre with the lighting and design of their work.

Reporting to:Technical Manager or Chief Technician in their absence

Responsible for:casual staff

Key objective

To work with the Technical Manager and Chief Technician, to make all productions in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre, and those produced by The Place realised to the highest possible professional technical standards, and to offer ongoing technical support to artists.

Responsibilities of the Senior Technician

Production

  1. To work within the technical team on all aspects of productions at, or productions by, The Place; this includes working get – ins, get – outs, show calls and production periods as scheduled. On occasion to assist external off site productions.
  2. To assist and oversee the day to day installation and operation of all lighting, sound, rigging, staging (including stage management), AV, access, emergency and safety systems at The Place used for performance and production periods. To be proficient in the use of all in-house systems and equipment, and be able to accommodate and use externally provided equipment
  3. As and when required, to liaise with choreographers (professional and student), companies (both internal and external) and external hirers regarding their lighting; realising their concept and creating a lighting design appropriate to the work and within the constraints of the programmed season and production schedule. To offer guidance to these parties on all aspects of the theatres technical provisions.
  4. Liaise with the Technical Manager, Chief Technician and front of house department about performance requirements and ensure all those working are briefed on compliance to the theatre license (for example use of special effects etc).
  5. Basic trouble shooting and fault finding on user serviceable parts of the video recording system
  6. To deputise for the Chief Technician, in his/her absence

Staffing

  1. Supervise personnel as required. Including full time, casual/freelance, and incoming company production staff. Ensure that all personnel are fully briefed on health and safety procedures, and performance/day schedules. Act as duty technician to make sure work in the theatre adheres to the working practices and guidelines of the theatre.
  2. Assist the Chief Technician with training and induction for new full time, casual and freelance staff, with specific emphasis on the safe working practices of the theatre including evacuation procedures
  3. To promote good working relationships with all visiting companies and artists and to provide a welcoming environment within the theatre

Health and Safety, housekeeping and other

  1. To assist the Technical Manager and Chief Technician in implementing and inputting to working practices and procedures
  2. To assist in ongoing planned maintenance for all setting, rigging, lighting, sound, AV equipment, and video recording equipment, including Portable Appliance Testing. To fault find and carry out end user maintenance on these items and to ensue non-user serviceable faults are reported quickly and correctly to the Technical Manager
  3. To assist the Technical Manager and Chief Technician with stock level checks
  4. To assist the Chief Technician with the general upkeep to the fabric, fixtures and fittings of the auditorium, back stage and Front Of House areas
  5. To comply, work within and input where applicable to the guidelines of the theatre’s license and working practices, as identified by the Technical Manager and Deputy Director, especially with regard to Health and Safety issues, including
  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)
  • work at height regulations
  • provision and use of work equipment regulations
  • electricity at work regulations
  • noise at work regulations
  • the upkeep of the theatre’s first aid supplies
  • the upkeep of the theatre’s emergency lighting system
  • the understanding and implementation of the evacuation procedure and fire escape routes
  • hygiene and safety of staff and public areas, good housekeeping in all staff areas
  • any other relevant legislative requirements
  1. Any other duties that may be reasonably requested by the Technical Manager.

Person specification

Essential / Desirable
Considerable proven professional experience of technical theatre, preferably in dance / Experience of technical management; both in venues and/or on tour
Understanding of all aspects of technical theatre
Good knowledge of the ETC Eos (Ion) operating system
Experience of lighting design and production electrics
Experience of live sound mixing and AV / Knowledge of professional video and audio recording facilities and post production
Ability and experience in manual handling and working at height / First aid qualification
Experience of Portable Appliance Testing / Electrical qualification from an accredited training body or relevant formal training
Good Computer literacy – experience of Microsoft word, Excel, Qlab, and CAD software
Experience of working within UK Health and Safety legislation, regulation and guidance
Proven ability to take both responsibility and initiative. Commitment to, and experience of working as part of a team / Experience of staff supervision
A passion and aptitude for technical problem solving
Desire to excel at assisting in the delivery of artistic production
Good communication skills with ability to relate and engage with a diverse spectrum of people / European language
Organised and highly motivated individual
The ability to work flexibly and dynamically, even under pressure.
Knowledge of and enthusiasm for the arts
Knowledge of contemporary dance within the UK, either broad or specialist / Experience of working with and supporting dance artists in the technical realisation of dance performance; and/or knowledge of contemporary dance in the UK or internationally

Please note this role will require the postholder to work evenings, weekends and unsocial hours

The job description is not an exhaustive list and does not attempt to give a full day to day list of operations for this post. The role will allow for personal and professional development within the appraisal framework. Adjustments of the job description would be in line with this appraisal framework

Hours

Standard working hours are 40 hours per week ( Monday –Saturday) to be arranged on a rota basis, although during busy periods staff will be required to work additional hours and Sundays for which overtime is payable. Evening and weekend workingwill be required.

Salary

The salary for the role will be in the range of £23,100-23,500. Salaries are reviewed annually in April where cost of living increases will be made if funding constraints allow. Adjustments are not made until six months service and the probationary period are successfully completed.

Benefits

Benefits include access to Stakeholder pension scheme, interest-free season ticket loan (after three months), theatre ticket allowance, free access (subject to availability) to The Place evening classes and subsidised café and bar prices. We also operate a salary sacrifice scheme for the purchase of bicycles and childcare vouchers. There is also a subsidised staff yoga class.

Holiday

25 days paid holiday is offered during the year (Jan – Dec), of which five days may be on dates determined by the line manager (e.g. Christmas shutdown), plus public holidays and bank holidays.

How to Apply

Completed applications (comprising of completed application form and monitoring forms, no CV’s)should be returned, preferably by email, by:12pmMonday 3rdFebruary.

Laura Naldrett

Human Resources and Administration Manager

Email:

The Place

17 Dukes Road

London WC1H 9PY

The Place is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Monitoring information is collected and processed separately to applications, if you do not wish to disclose this information please return a blank monitoring form.

The Place is an equal opportunities employer and we are keen to ensure everyone applying for employment has an equal experience when attending an interview. Should you have any queries about, or wish to make us aware of, any support required to attend an interview or to work at The Place or would like this pack in alternative format please contact Laura Naldrett, HR and Administration Manager who will be happy to discuss this with you in confidence on 020 7121 1002 or email: (Please do not send applications to this address)

Interviews will be held in on13th or 14th Februaryat The Place.

We apologise that we are unable to respond to every application individually. If you have not heard from us by 28th February please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Thank you for your interest in The Place.

Jan 2014

Date as download

Dear Candidate

Re: Application for post as advertised on the website

In accordance with our Equal Opportunities Policy I attach a form for you to complete and return to help us in monitoring our recruitment. Please would you complete and return the monitoring form along with the job application form, and return this to me, along with your application by the required closing date.

HR and Administration Manager

Yours faithfully,

Laura Naldrett

HR and Administration Manager

Please indicate where you saw this position advertised.

Position: ______Advertisement :______

Website (name): ______Other:______

1

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

The Place is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity in its employment and personnel practices. It aims to ensure that every employee or job applicant receives equitable treatment on the grounds of his/her gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnic or national origins and nationality (including citizenship), age, disability, HIV or AIDS status and trade union membership.

The Place wishes to monitor the effectiveness of this policy and to prevent any job applicant being disqualified by conditions and requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. It is therefore important that you provide the following information by ticking the appropriate boxes. This information will remain confidential to the HR manager and will not be disclosed to those who are shortlisting and appointing to the vacant position.

Surname/Family Name………………………………………………………………

First Name(s) ………………………………………………………………

Post applied for………………………………………………………………

Gender Male  Female

1

Ethnic origin (if other, please specify)

A White

 English
 Scottish
 Welsh
 Northern Irish
 Irish
Other White origin ……………………………

B Mixed

 White and Black Caribbean
 White and Black African
 White and Asian
 Other mixed origin ….………………..

CBlack, Black British, Black English, Black Scottish,Black Welsh or Black Northern Irish

 Caribbean
 African
 Other Black origin …..…………………..

D Asian, Asian British, Asian English,

Asian Scottish,Asian Welsh or Asian Northern Irish

 Indian
 Pakistani
 Bangladeshi
 Other Asian origin ……………………………….…

E Chinese, Chinese British, Chinese English,

Chinese Scottish,Chinese Welsh or Chinese Northern Irish

 Chinese
 Other origin ……………………………………………….

FOther ethnic group(please specify)

 .………………………………………………………………………......

1

1

1