Head Electrics / Assistant Technical Director

Company Overview

About the Chemainus Theatre Festival: Founded in 1993, the Chemainus Theatre Festival is a not-for-profit professional theatre company located on Vancouver Island. The Chemainus Theatre Festival is dedicated to building a just, equitable, inclusive, diverse, and accessible workplace and community. We encourage all interested applicants to apply and will consider all submissions inclusive of all ages, ability, gender, race, ethnocultural identity, or any other basis. With gratitude, we acknowledge the Puneluxutth (Penelakut) Tribe and the hul’qumi’num speaking peoples, on whose traditional territory we work and play. 

Job Description

Job Title: Head Electrics / ATD  

Job Category: IATSE 168 Seasonal Employee 

Position Overview:  

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Head Electrics / ATD is responsible for the coordination and operations of the electrics department. Duties of the Head Electrics / ATD shall include, but not be limited to, the costing and planning for the department, the installation, operation, strike and maintenance of shows, rehearsals, or presentations that require theatrical lighting, sound or video. In addition to the primary focus of work in the Electrics department, the Head Electrics / ATD will assist and support other production departments as required. They work collaboratively with the Technical Director, Head Audio, guest artists and other production departments to ensure the artistic vision of the director and design team is realized on stage while maintaining safe work practices for all production staff and guest artists, in accordance with company policy, Worksafe BC, CAEA, Actsafe, IATSE 168 and industry best standards.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Fulfilling all responsibilities in a manner consistent with the Chemainus Theatre Festival’s mission statement, respectful workplace policy and communication credo. 

• Upholding the professional image and name of the theatre during all dealings with staff, guest artists and the public. 

• Communication of departmental updates in a timely, professional and respectful manner to CTF staff and guest artists.  

• The installation, operation, strike and maintenance of shows, rehearsals, or presentations that require theatrical lighting, sound or video.  

• Maintenance of show specific props, paint, scenery or technical elements as required during the performance run.  

• Preparation and maintenance of the performance space as required.  

• Serve as the first aid attendant on crew calls or show calls as required.  

• Adapting lighting, sound and video design elements when required for Relaxed Performances or other specialty programming.  

• Creating, modifying and/or interpreting various technical drawings. 

• Managing an annual and show specific budget.  

• Managing department inventory and repairs or informing the Production Manager when outsourcing may be required.  

• Researching, planning, and implementing lighting, sound and video elements for each production.   

• Maintaining rentals and/or CTF equipment in good repair. 

• Providing a safe, tidy, clean and well-maintained work environment which adheres to company policy, Worksafe BC, CAEA, Actsafe and industry best practices. 

• Training, orienting and supervising casual staff as required. 

• Attending departmental and company meetings as required.  

• Supporting or assisting any of the other CTF production departments as required or acting as head of any production department as required.  

• Other production tasks as assigned by the Production Manager.  

Required Qualifications & Skills: 

• Post-secondary education in a technical theatre program and/or prior service in a similar position.  

• Experience and proficiency in use of theatrical lighting consoles and fixtures.  

• Experience and proficiency in use of QLab software for sound and video.  

• Experience and proficiency in the install and maintenance of theatrical scenery, draperies and rigging.  

• A collaborative, creative, and strategic thinking individual with experience in not-profit theatre production. 

• Self-directed, able to identify and undertake a task with limited direction or information when required.  

• Strong organizational, and project management skills.  

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.  

• Ability to switch focus and effectively prioritize tasks.  

• Willingness to learn and develop skills.   

• Comfortable working in dynamic and deadline-based environment.  

• Experience working in a team-based collaborative environment with a positive attitude towards delivering high-quality presentations in an environment of mutual respect.  

• Holds safety in high esteem and familiar with guidelines and regulations from Worksafe BC, CAEA, Actsafe and Theatrical Industry standards  

• Ability to work with diplomacy and tact with a wide range of relevant people and groups.  

• Experience working alongside a unionized crew.   

• Strong knowledge of office software an asset (Outlook, Word, Excel, Sharepoint).  

• Experience with live audio mixing an asset 

• Experience in scenic paint, costumes, wigs/hair or properties an asset.  

• Class 5 BC driver’s license  

• Basic First Aid certification  

• Available to work evenings and weekends when required.  

• Other conditions may include working alone, working at heights, working around power tools and power equipment, frequent lifting of at least 50lbs, use of stairs, driving of company vehicles (owned and rented), and working in low-light environments. Occasional travel may be required. 

Compensation & Benefits: 

• $24.94 per hour in accordance with the CTF & IATSE 168 collective bargaining agreement with benefits as follows:  

• 4% Vacation Pay  

• 5 sick days per year  

• 1% in lieu of health & dental benefits  

• 2 Complimentary Theater tickets to each CTF mainstage production.  

• CTF Company Card benefits which include additional staff discounts for the Playbill Dining Room, Gallery Gift Shop, CTF Cabaret Series Tickets and applicable local Chemainus businesses 

Hours of Work:  

Typical hours of work are 9:00-5:30 during install days and 12:30pm to 10:30pm (with a 2-hr meal break) during show call days with extended days expected in the weeks leading up to each mainstage production.  

1,600 Guaranteed Minimum Hours for the 2025 Season 

2025 Production Dates (dates as currently planned and subject to change) 

Show #1 

Install, Tech & Notes as called – February 18-March 14  

Show Calls – March 14-April 6 

Strike – April 8 

Show #2 

Install, Tech & Notes as called – April 8-May 2  

Show Calls – May 2-June 1 

Strike – June 3  

Show #3 

Install, Tech & Notes as called – June 3-27  

Show Calls – June 27-August 24 *possible extension to August 31st 

Strike – September 2 

Show #4 

Install, Tech & Notes as called – September 4-26  

Show Calls – September 26-October 19 

Strike – October 21 

Show #5  

Install, Tech & Notes as called – October 21-November 14 

Show Calls – November 14-December 21 

Strike – December 22 

*Possible flexibility of the above dates may be negotiable for the right candidate