TECHNICAL MANAGER - PART TIME - PERMANENT

Location ; 53two, Arch 19, Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP

Hours ; 20 guaranteed hours per week

Normal pattern ; Ordinarily one flexible five-hour shift on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Pay ; £14 per hour

Contract ; Part-time employment, subject to a two-month probationary period

Reports to ; Creative Director

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Role Overview

The Technical Manager is responsible for the day-to-day organisation and readiness of 53two's technical operation. The role combines technical administration, advancing visiting companies, venue and technical-area housekeeping, equipment oversight and coordination of the venue's standard one-hour technical handover service.

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The post is designed around a predictable 20-hour employed week. It is not a requirement of the role to operate every visiting performance. Visiting companies that require technician support beyond 53two's included handover will normally engage and pay a technician directly.

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Working Pattern

The post is ordinarily worked as one five-hour shift on each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Start and finish times vary according to the programme. A shift may therefore be arranged around an early get-in, daytime venue work or an evening handover.

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Examples include a 2:30pm-7:30pm shift where a 6:30pm-7:30pm handover is required, or a 7:30am-12:30pm shift for an early production.

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Some days will have no handover, particularly while a show is on a multi-day or one/two-week run. The five contracted hours still stand and should be used productively across the wider responsibilities of the post.

Where there is genuinely less work on a particular day, part of the shift may be rescheduled to another 53two requirement by mutual agreement, without reducing guaranteed pay. Rescheduled hours should normally be used within the same calendar month/pay reference period.

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Standard Handover Service

53two normally provides each visiting company with up to one hour of technical handover at the start of its engagement/run. The handover is not repeated automatically for each performance or day of a longer run.

Where possible, Tuesday-Friday handovers will be incorporated into the Technical Manager's normal five-hour shift.

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Where the Technical Manager cannot cover a required handover within their normal shift, they will arrange suitable cover from the approved technician pool. This includes arranging Saturday and Sunday handovers.

The Technical Manager may voluntarily accept a handover outside their 20 contracted hours as an additional paid 53two shift. Alternatively, another approved technician may be arranged and paid by 53two for the included handover.

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Key Responsibilities

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Technical Administration & Advancing

• Advance incoming productions and hires and obtain relevant technical information in good time.

• Respond to routine technical questions and identify any requirements that fall outside the standard venue offer.

• Maintain clear handover notes, schedules, technical information and relevant venue documents.

• Plan handovers and technician cover across the programme.

 

Technician Coordination

• Maintain a reliable pool of suitable technicians for handovers and visiting-company introductions.

• Arrange cover for handovers the Technical Manager cannot personally deliver.

• Arrange Saturday and Sunday one-hour handover cover in advance, if required.

• Provide visiting companies with suitable technician contacts where they require support beyond the included handover.

• Make clear that any additional booking beyond the included 53two hour is to be agreed and paid directly between the visiting company and technician.

 

Venue, Technical Areas & Equipment

• Keep technical areas clean, tidy, safe and well organised.

• Carry out reasonable venue reset, cleaning and housekeeping associated with technical operations.

• Keep cables, accessories, control positions and storage areas orderly and ready for use.

• Carry out routine equipment checks and identify faults, damage or missing items.

• Undertake basic maintenance within competence and arrange specialist repair where required and authorised.

• Research and recommend technical improvements within agreed budgets where requested.

 

Health & Safety

• Maintain relevant technical health and safety documentation.

• Promote safe working practices during handovers, get-ins and technical activity.

• Raise concerns where a visiting company's proposed staffing or technical arrangements appear unsafe or unsuitable.

• Keep access routes, technical workspaces and equipment storage in a safe condition.

 

53two Productions & Rescheduled Hours

• Support 53two-produced shows, events or technical projects during normal contracted hours.

• By mutual agreement, use rescheduled contracted hours on a later 53two requirement where this better matches the programme.

• Keep an accurate record of any agreed rescheduled hours.

 

Additional Visiting-Company Work

A visiting company that wants more than the included one-hour handover must normally engage and pay a technician directly.

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The Technical Manager may accept such work personally outside their 53two contracted hours if they wish, or may provide the company with contacts for other suitable technicians. There is no contractual obligation to accept this external work and no entitlement for 53two to direct the rate or payment terms of a genuinely separate engagement.

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Any separate engagement must not interfere with the safe and proper performance of the employee's 53two role.

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Person Specification

 

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in technical theatre, events or a comparable technical venue environment.

• Experience of lighting, sound or show operation sufficient to undertake venue handovers confidently.

• Strong organisation, communication and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to plan a rota, coordinate other technicians and keep accurate records.

• A practical, hands-on approach to housekeeping, equipment organisation and basic maintenance.

• Reliability and the ability to work independently.

• A sound understanding of safe technical working practices.

 

Desirable

• Familiarity with Allen & Heath QU-16 mixing desk and ETC EOS Nomad lighting control.

• Experience working in a small-scale, fringe or receiving venue.

• Experience coordinating freelance or casual technicians.

• Knowledge of theatre health and safety documentation and risk assessment.​

 

Working Relationships

The Technical Manager works closely with the Creative Director, visiting companies, creatives and a pool of approved technicians. The role should provide a professional, friendly and practical technical point of contact while keeping clear boundaries between 53two's included handover service and technician work separately purchased by visiting companies.

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To apply, please email simon@fiftythreetwo.com with a CV, cover letter and any relevant documentation. If you'd prefer to include a video CV/application, please send to simon@fiftythreetwo.com using wetransfer or similar file transfer app. 

 

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