Head of Technical
Opera North Closing date: Fri, 08 May 2026
- Full time
- £50k+
- Apply now
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 "> published -
Job Summary
Job Description
Key Accountabilities:
Planning and scheduling:
- Lead the ON technical touring department in ensuring that all ON productions are supported, working alongside the production team to produce and maintain budgets and schedules relating to staffing and technical resources.
- Attend planning meetings and be part of ensuring deliverability of technical requirements.
- Produce monthly and weekly schedules in line with the BECTU & Equity / ON house contracts, maximizing best utilization.
- Oversee departmental schedules and venue call sheets to ensure diligent budget management.
- Liaise with Company Management about schedules and local staff requirements for touring venues.
- Planning technical touring aspects including communications with teams & venues, collating documents and ensuring correct staff levels.
Financial:
- Prepare operational technical department budgets and monitor these on a regular basis to ensure that budgets are maintained at all times.
- Prepare and monitor seasonal staffing budgets.
- Liaise with the DGD and finance department to ensure accurate reporting and annual forecasting.
- Manage and control venue contra accounts.
Job Requirements
Job Requirements:
Experience/ skills required:
- Proven experience in large scale Technical Management
- Proven experience in a senior management role or head of department
- Excellent technical skills with a thorough understanding of current and future equipment needs and system across all the main areas of technical theatre, with experience in touring as an additional asset
- Experience in complex scheduling tasks
- Resource and budget management staffing / employee terms and working practice agreements
- Training in H&S management and knowledge of H&S requirements for a producing theatre
- Ability to read and analyse technical drawings and experience of CAD
- Awareness of both GDPR and EDI regulations
Functional/ leadership competencies:
- Ability to effectively manage and motivate staff
- Effective manager of stakeholders
- Good communicator
- Ability to work well within a team
- Ability to deal proactively with company requirements
Job Responsibilities
People Management:
- Be a pivotal part of the senior technical management team with Head of Production & Head of Costume.
- Be an integral manager of ON operational management and contribute to the strategic direction of the departments.
- Ensure that the recruitment, employment and working practices and procedures of technical staff are within ON's current procedures and code of practice, and where necessary, implement new structures to keep up to date with industry standards.
- Liaise with the finance department on the payment of touring and other subsistence, ensuring contractual and legal compliance.
- Ensure relevant training is planned and delivered throughout the sections and that training courses are instigated and followed through to completion.
- Carry out annual performance appraisal with HoDs and ensuring that all teams are annually appraised.
- Support the DGD in working with unions, ensuring adequate agreements are in place.
Job Overview
- Job Title: Head of Technical
- Salary: £50k+
- Hours: Full time
- Artform: Theatre
- Role: Technical & Production
- Contract: Permanent
- Closing date: Fri, 08 May 2026
-
Location:
| view on Google MapsYorkshire
Job: Head of Technical
Job: Head of Technical
Organisation: Opera North
Postcode: LS1 6PA
How to Apply
Please apply via the Employment Hero link provided
Closing Date: 4pm 8th May 2026
- Contact name: The People Team
- Contact email: [email protected]
About Opera North
Opera North is England's national opera company in the north and a leading European arts organisation. Based in Leeds, the company is committed to producing work of the highest quality that excites, challenges and entertains. We tour throughout the north of England, and also nationally and internationally. Acclaimed for its imaginative programming and innovative productions on the main stage, Opera North also programmes its own venue, the Howard Assembly Room with an enormous diversity of activ