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Charcoalblue is hiring a venue design consultant to join its team in a hybrid capacity.

Company overview

Charcoalblue is widely regarded as the most exciting and innovative specialist theatre, live performance, events, and AV consultancy in the world. We imagine, design, and deliver captivating spaces that entertain, educate. and transform individuals through collective experiences. Guided by listening, collaboration, and a passion for innovation, excellence, emotion, and theatricality, we strive to create extraordinary moments. Since our inception in the UK in 2004, Charcoalblue is now the largest organization of its kind, delivering projects to every corner of the globe. We operate as a cohesive and collaborative team with studios in London and Bristol in the UK, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco in the US, and Melbourne in Australia.

​Description of role

As a venue design consultant in the Theatre Consulting EMEA team, you will be instrumental in conceiving, guiding, and constructing some of the most amazing and creative venues for the performing arts across the world. Working with clients, architects, and consultants in a collaborative team structure, you will influence the design of a vast range of arts related building projects, all of which share a focus on innovative and inspired solutions to a client’s brief. Our venue design consultants have a key role within that project team which starts in the early concept stages right through to completion and commissioning on site. Working closely with the team, you will be instrumental in defining our venues’ look and feel, shape, form, as well as architectural integration and functional planning of front of house, backstage and technical spaces.

​As well as defining architectural and theatrical concepts, your responsibilities will also include technical auditorium design aspects such as sightlines, accessibility, code compliance, design coordination and seating design and specification. You will be expected to effectively communicate design ideas to clients and the wider design team using clear presentation skills and tools and produce supporting drawings and documentation. You will deliver high quality work in line with company standards and help motivate the entire design and construction team with good humour and passion for the performing arts.

​​You will report to one of our theatre consulting EMEA associate directors, who you will meet regularly to ensure you are fully supported in your role. Since theatre consultancy is a specialist field, we will provide role-specific inductions and ongoing training to help you succeed.

The role is anticipated to service our EMEA and Australia based projects working with our external project teams in local and Australian time zones. However, it may also involve collaborating with the global Charcoalblue team to provide Theatre Design support on projects run from our international offices in the US, including coordination of communication with Charcoalblue designers and external consultants in other time zones through the use of video conferencing.

Key responsibilities 

• provide venue design for projects, working alongside Charcoalblue’s experienced designers and team leaders
• when required, produce, issue, and present your own design solutions, room developments, sketches, drawings, reports, specifications, schedules, budgets, and other information
• meet with clients to evaluate and discuss their needs for a project as they relate to theatre design (and beyond)
• work with the external architectural and engineering team to optimize the theatrical requirements of the project ensuring a continuity of the project’s aesthetic aspirations whilst meeting technical requirements
• work with our designers to develop an understanding of local and international building codes and regulations
• ensure the accessibility of projects is meeting, if not exceeding, statutory requirements, in line with the ambitions of Charcoalblue
• work with our internal design team to present a holistic design solution, balancing all aspects of spatial quality, performance functionality, and budget
• participate in site visits for client workshops, architectural coordination, construction progress, commissioning and other purposes as required. This position will require occasional UK and international travel
• when required, you will actively manage the delivery of auditorium seating design to client deadlines, which will involve management of Charcoalblue resources, client resources, and the work of appointed contractors
• ensure your projects are delivered on time, on scope, and on budget
• draft emails, presentations, reports, and budgets, as necessary with minimal administrative support, and attend meetings and site visits as required
• prioritize the requirements and changing needs of the projects assigned to you, with support from your line manager and project team
• contribute to the continual development of our internal design and technical resources
• discuss yours and others’ work and share ideas, experience and lessons learned with other designers at Charcoalblue
• be open to new ideas, technologies, communication, and design tools and proactively support innovation in our design work and practices
• occasional UK and international travel
• adhere and promote Charcoalblue cultural values

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and may be subject to alteration over time as we develop the service.

Qualifications and key skills 

We are open to receiving applications from candidates with a varied range of background and education. If you meet most of the qualifications below, we encourage you to apply.

Essential:

• three years of experience working as a designer with a background in architecture, theatre design, theatre consulting, or similar experience, preferably in the construction or performing arts industries
• CAD skills in both 2D and 3D, including rendering, visualisation, and hand sketching
• high level of IT literacy, including a good working knowledge of MS Office and Adobe Acrobat Suite

Desirable:

• BIM and Revit experience
• experience in putting together reports, presentations and other visual material
• knowledge of relevant building health and safety legislation, and an understanding of all matters relating to the successful operation of venues
• knowledge of construction contractual issues and the RIBA Work Stages
• an understanding of the holistic and operational needs of all building users, including staff, performers, and audiences
• understanding of the technical infrastructure of a performance venue is advantageous, including lighting, rigging, acoustics and/or AV systems
• knowledge of good backstage and front of house planning, seating and sightlines is highly advantageous, as well as an interest in environmental sustainability
• you are personable, with an ability to adapt your communication style to liaise successfully with our global team, and ability to employ an awareness of local cultural nuances
• you are a flexible, receptive, and adaptable listener and thinker with a proactive approach to finding solutions
• comfort in large meetings and able to present and discuss ideas
• self-motivated with the ability to prioritize project demands and tasks
• bring good humour and a passion for the performing arts
• ability to work across multiple time zones

Employment details

The role is being offered at 40 hours per week (to be arranged flexibly between Monday to Friday), including a comprehensive benefits package, plus an hour per day (unpaid) for lunch, with an understanding that flexible working hours will apply to meet our clients’ needs and to accommodate the company’s global time zones. Charcoalblue does not operate a TOIL policy. The nature of the job and the Partnership’s business could occasionally entail some work outside normal working hours.

There is a three-month probationary period for this role.

The role is offered on a hybrid basis, with minimum two days of studio presence per week (either London or Bristol) and the rest from your home or other place of your choosing. We will provide you with the necessary IT hardware and software to enable you to carry out your role successfully in line with your duties.  You should also be able and willing to travel to external meetings within the UK or abroad as required, with notice.

Annual leave entitlement: 20 days minimum per annum (based on 40 work hours per week), plus statutory public holidays. We traditionally close our studios between Christmas and New Year’s Day, resulting in an additional average four to five holiday days per annum.

We currently operate a ‘take what you need leave’ policy, with minimum 20 days of statutory annual leave plus additional leave subject to the guidelines of our policy.

Employee benefits

Charcoalblue operates a bonus scheme which you will benefit from following successful completion of a three-month probationary period as a permanent employee. Please note that this is subject to the Partnership’s performance year on year and is not guaranteed.

Following successful completion of your probationary period, you will be eligible to participate in our company benefits package, including our pension auto-enrolment scheme, our annual bonus scheme and allocation of theatre or other live event tickets per month. We offer this benefit to encourage you to immerse yourself in the theatre and arts industry as far as possible. We will also contribute to your home broadband and give you a monthly contribution towards your home utilities. Other benefits are accumulative as you progress with the company.

Following successful completion of your second year, you will be eligible to join our Private Health Insurance plan, in line with our company policy.

​Salary

​Charcoalblue offers a competitive salary, with the final base pay dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. Base pay is one part of the total rewards package we provide to recognise and support our employees.

Salary expectations will be discussed during the recruitment process.

​Start date: ​January 2025

Equity, diversity and inclusion overview

Charcoalblue is an equal opportunities employer, actively working towards becoming an inclusive organization. We work consistently to ensure elimination of unfair and discriminatory practices within the company and encourage full contribution from its diverse community.

Our mission is to manifest an inclusive ethos by creating a diverse and inclusive working environment across our practice. Recruitment opportunities are open to all, but we are particularly keen to hear from ethnically diverse and disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented within our teams.

If you require this application in a different format or need support during the application process, please contact Ashleigh Staddon via email [email protected]. Equally, please contact Ashleigh if you have any questions in relation to access, or how the role might need to respond to your personal circumstances.

Charcoalblue aims to provide a service that does not discriminate against its clients and customers and works to ensure all can access the services and goods supplied by the company. We believe that all employees and clients are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.

Click here to apply

www.charcoalblue.com