Technical Manager

Join the team at Bluey’s World, a pioneering children’s experience at Northshore, Hamilton. As the Technical Manager, you will oversee the technical and theatrical elements of the immersive experience. Your primary responsibility is to ensure the smooth daily operation and maintenance of all technical systems, from lighting and sound to show control and networking. You will supervise the Technical Supervisors and Specialists, working closely with other departments to ensure flawless technical execution and a high-quality visitor experience.

General Responsibilities

Team Leadership:

• Supervise the Technical Supervisors, Technical Specialists, and Production Crew ensuring smooth communication and efficient delegation of tasks.
• Conduct regular team briefings, assign tasks, and address technical issues in real-time.
• Foster a proactive safety culture by encouraging the technical team to report near misses, hazards, and incidents, ensuring they are documented and addressed promptly.
• Provide ongoing training and support to the technical team to ensure they are equipped to handle all technical aspects of the event.

Health & Safety Compliance:

• Collaborate with other departments to ensure all technical operations adhere to WHS standards and site-specific safety practices.
• Assist in coordinating technical safety checks, risk assessments, and incident reporting to ensure a safe working environment.
• Provide administrative support in maintaining safety documentation and ensuring compliance with all safety protocols across technical operations.

Asset Management:

• Collaborate with the Operations Manager on asset labelling, tracking, and procurement, ensuring technical equipment is properly managed and documented.
• Coordinate regular maintenance sessions for high-value or complex technical equipment, ensuring it remains in optimal working condition.
• Conduct regular software and programming evaluations to ensure the ongoing stability, security, and smooth operation of technical systems and infrastructure.
• Oversee the inventory of technical equipment, ensuring all tools and assets are properly labelled, stored, and maintained.
• Manage the procurement of spare parts and consumables to support ongoing technical operations.
• Coordinate with external vendors for repairs and maintenance as needed, ensuring quick turnaround times.

Reporting & Communication:

• Prepare detailed daily reports for senior management, covering key technical performance metrics, risks, successes, and technical issues.
• Act as the primary liaison between the technical team and senior leadership, ensuring timely updates on progress, challenges, and resolutions.
• Facilitate regular cross-departmental meetings to address technical priorities, operational goals, and any technical obstacles.
• Maintain clear communication channels between the technical team and other departments, ensuring updates and technical issues are relayed efficiently.
• Provide status updates to management on technical issues, outlining immediate and long-term impacts, and offer recommendations when necessary.

Specific Responsibilities

Technical System Oversight:

• Oversee the setup, integration, and ongoing maintenance of all technical systems, including lighting, audio, AV, show control, IT infrastructure, and networking systems. Collaborate with technical production managers and designers, seeking approval on significant decisions while exercising initiative in day-to-day operations.
• Ensure all systems are properly integrated and function seamlessly together, consulting technical designers when adjustments or configurations require approval but relying on your expertise to maintain operational standards.
• Conduct thorough system testing and ensure that all elements (e.g., lighting, audio, video, and control systems) are configured correctly, involving production managers in strategic decisions.
• Proactively manage system maintenance, performing regular inspections, troubleshooting issues, and implementing reasonable upgrades or adjustments independently when possible.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for all systems, ensuring technical configurations, integration protocols, and maintenance schedules are up to date and approved by relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with external contractors and vendors for system installation and repairs, seeking production management guidance on critical repairs while using initiative to address immediate operational needs.

System Integration & Networking:

• Oversee the integration of lighting, sound, video, and IT systems, ensuring cohesive functionality. Coordinate with technical production managers and networking designers for approval on integration strategies, using initiative to resolve routine challenges.
• Manage the venue’s networking systems (LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, IP-based systems) in consultation with an offsite network supervisor, who handles remote troubleshooting. Coordinate physical infrastructure repairs on-site.
• Regularly evaluate system performance, providing recommendations to production managers, designers, and the network supervisor. Implement approved updates and make independent adjustments to maintain operational stability.
• Ensure proper configuration of networking systems, handling routine troubleshooting while escalating complex issues to external vendors or the network supervisor when necessary.
• Collaborate with all operational departments to meet their internet and networking needs, ensuring seamless functionality across the entire event.

Daily Technical Management:

• Manage the daily operation of all technical systems (lighting, AV, IT, and show control), ensuring they function optimally during event hours, reporting to technical production managers on significant decisions, and using your initiative for day-to-day troubleshooting.
• Act as the primary point of contact for real-time technical support, addressing malfunctions independently where appropriate and escalating larger issues to technical designers or production managers as needed.
• Coordinate maintenance and technical support during dark days or off-hours, ensuring the production management team approves any significant changes or interventions while maintaining flexibility for immediate operational decisions.
• Lead the technical team in daily tasks, ensuring proper system functionality and compliance with pre-approved standards set by technical designers and production managers.
• Ensure safety protocols are followed, maintain logs of technical incidents, and obtain guidance on major incidents from senior technical staff while making independent judgments on smaller operational matters.

Technical Staff Management:

• Manage rostering and scheduling to ensure proper technical coverage for all event operations and rehearsals.
• Oversee hiring and onboarding new technical staff, ensuring they are trained in system operation and event procedures.
• Provide ongoing training and development, ensuring staff stay updated on equipment, system changes, and best practices.
• Facilitate rehearsals for technical staff, ensuring the team is prepared for live event operations and troubleshooting.
• Monitor performance, offering feedback and support to maintain high standards.
• Foster a collaborative team environment, encouraging communication and proactive problem-solving.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential Skills:

• Leadership Support:Proven experience leading technical teams, coordinating across departments, and supporting leadership with decision-making and team-building.
• Technical Operations Coordination:Extensive experience overseeing the setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting of technical systems in large-scale events, focusing on lighting, AV, networking, and show control systems.
• WHS Support:Strong understanding of WHS standards, with experience ensuring safety compliance, conducting technical safety checks, and maintaining incident documentation.
• Financial Support:Proficiency in managing technical-related financial processes, including tracking expenses, reconciling budgets, and ensuring cost-effective procurement of equipment and services.
• Problem-Solving:Skilled in quickly identifying and resolving technical issues, minimising disruptions, and maintaining operational continuity under pressure.
• Effective Communication:Strong verbal and written communication skills, ensuring clear collaboration with technical teams, external vendors, and other departments.
• Technical Competency:Expertise in technical systems such as lighting, AV, IT infrastructure, networking (LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi), and control systems, with proficiency in tools like QLab, ETC, and Dante.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience working in family-focused or children’s events, particularly within immersive or interactive environments involving complex technical systems.
• Strong understanding of technical operations, including coordination with teams for AV, lighting, sound, and IT infrastructure setups and maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience supporting WHS compliance, including conducting technical safety checks and maintaining incident documentation for technical operations.
• Experience collaborating with technical suppliers and contractors, particularly for equipment repairs, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with local regulations regarding technical event operations, including permits, health & safety compliance, and technical standards.
• Experience handling technical asset management, including inventory tracking, equipment procurement, and maintenance schedules.