• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Production and Operations, the incumbent supports production planning and operations for events at the Lenfest Center for the Arts, a multi-venue building that incubates, produces, and presents educational and professional exhibitions, events, performances, screenings, and artistic projects developed by the School of the Arts, the Wallach Art Gallery, and collaborating partners.  Serves as the Center’s management representative at assigned events, oversees production activity during rehearsals and events, and ensures high quality production and customer service standards are met.  Manages building equipment and systems; maintains up-to-date working knowledge of building audio, film, video, lighting, and rigging systems. Attends performances and serves as department representative at events. Performs related duties as assigned. 

This on-site position requires frequent evening and weekend hours, and may be assigned to other venues as needed.

Responsibilities

• Maintains high quality customer service for the Center’s diverse audiences, performers, students, faculty, and staff; fosters a collegial, educational, and inclusive environment that enables everyone to do their best work
• Manages production for assigned events, including planning, coordination and on-site oversight, and provides hands-on support for event operations as needed, including deliveries, load-in, setup and post-event breakdown
• Shares responsibility for production staff coverage at rehearsals and events, with frequent evening and weekend hours
• Anticipates and meets the technical and production needs of performances and events, recognizing and resolving problems in a timely manner, and advising on best practices and venue policies
• Recruits, trains, schedules, supervises, assesses performance, and mentors professional and student staff and technical crew
• Oversees the general maintenance, safe operation, and circulation of shared building equipment; researches and makes recommendations on repairs and replacements
• Develops and prepares proposals and reports to aid in budgeting, financial tracking, and projections
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Center emergency procedures and safety guidelines
• Oversees venue lock-up and security procedures
• Participates in the accurate maintenance of schedule and production information in event database; may be asked to produce reports from this database with point-in-time or year over year analysis
• As a member of the building’s operations team, ensures that the appearance and general condition of the lobby, restrooms, venues, and other building spaces are appropriate
• Liaison with Columbia Facilities and Custodial, as well as with other University departments as assigned
• Certified as NYC Fire Guard for Lenfest Center venues
• Performs related duties & responsibilities as assigned/requested

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience
• Two to four years of related professional experience
• Ability to lift and move boxes, furniture, equipment, and other materials weighing up to 50 pounds throughout the building and venues, and to frequently climb flights of stairs within and between venues
• Ability to climb and work from a ladder or personnel lifts (e.g., Genie lifts) at heights of up to 20 feet
• Must be able to climb, bend, crawl, kneel, and perform similar physical activities required for the setup and removal of equipment for events and performances
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time while staffing events and performances
• Ability to operate office/production equipment, (e.g., two-way radios, telephones, touch screen panels, and printers) in the performance of job duties
• Must be able to troubleshoot challenges quickly and effectively while maintaining a calm demeanor
• Must demonstrate a thorough understanding of producing academic and performing arts events
• Must be highly organized, flexible, and able to balance multiple competing demands
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, judgment and initiative are required, as is the ability to interact with a highly diverse group of constituents within and outside the University and performing arts community
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Docs is required
• Ability to work nights and weekends is a must

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with audio, film, video, lighting, CAD, and rigging is strongly preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.