FIT NYC Assistant Technical Director, Events Management & Facilities Rental

Job Description:

Reporting to the Technical Director, the Assistant Technical Director (ATD) supports the planning, execution, and oversight of technical operations for a wide range of events held across FIT's performance and event venues. This role plays a critical hands-on and supervisory function across lighting, audio, video, rigging, staging, projection, and streaming systems, ensuring high-quality production values for academic events, performances, conferences, fashion shows, rentals, and special programs.

The Assistant Technical Director serves as a key liaison between FIT's Office of Event Management & Facilities Rental (EMFR), internal stakeholders, student groups, and external clients. From early planning through live execution and strike, the ATD helps ensure events are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within scope.

Essential Functions:

Technical Operations & Event Execution

• Assist in leading day-to-day technical operations for FIT event venues, supporting lighting, sound, video, rigging, staging, projection, and streaming systems across all phases of the event lifecycle.
• Provide hands-on technical support during load-ins, rehearsals, live events, and strikes, serving as a primary technical contact during assigned events.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues in real time, escalating complex challenges as needed and documenting issues for continuous improvement.
• Serve as Event Lead for assigned events, coordinating technicians, cueing productions, and ensuring adherence to production plans and safety standards.

Production Planning & Client Support

• Collaborate with EMFR staff, internal departments, and external clients to assess event needs and provide recommendations on venue usage, technical capabilities, staffing, scheduling, and execution.
• Participate in and support pre-production meetings, technical rehearsals, and walkthroughs to ensure alignment across stakeholders.
• Translate creative concepts and client requirements into feasible technical plans that meet institutional standards and operational constraints.

Lighting, Stage & Technical Design Support

• Create and maintain technical documentation such as lighting plots, cue sheets, hookup schedules, and production notes as required.
• Support lighting and stage design for a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, fashion shows, performances, graduations, and hybrid or virtual programs.
• Install, program, operate, and supervise lighting, sound, video, and stage systems using FIT-owned and rented equipment.

Supervision & Staffing

• Assist with supervising technical staff, event technicians, and student interns, including assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and ensuring proper event coverage.
• Help develop and manage event staffing schedules, timekeeping, and coverage planning in coordination with the Technical Director.
• Support the training, coaching, and development of student technicians and staff, including cross-training on equipment, systems, and standard operating procedures.

Systems, Facilities & Equipment Management

• Assist with maintaining event venues, technical spaces, and equipment rooms to ensure safe, clean, and functional environments.
• Support inventory management, inspections, repairs, upgrades, and replacement of technical equipment and systems.
• Coordinate with vendors and contractors for equipment rentals, repairs, and specialized technical services as approved.

Safety, Compliance & Documentation

• Enforce and comply with safety, professional, and industry standards during all technical operations and events.
• Support improvements to workflows, documentation, and standard operating procedures to enhance service delivery and event quality.
• Maintain accurate event documentation, ticketing data, and operational records as required.

Additional Operational Support

• Assist with ticket-based work dispatch, customer support, and real-time response to event changes or urgent needs.
• Support budget-related activities, procurement processes, and reporting as assigned.
• Stay current with emerging event technologies and recommend tools or practices that enhance production quality and operational efficiency.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Technical Theatre, Production Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 1-3 years of experience supporting technical direction, stage management, production supervision, or live event operations.
• Proficiency in lighting control systems (e.g., ETC EOS), digital audio consoles, video and projection systems, and rigging systems.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and variable schedules based on event needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or advanced training in technical theatre, production management, or a related discipline.
• 2+ years of experience working in a university, performing arts, or large-scale event environment.
• Ability to interpret light plots and drawings; basic repair skills.
• Experience mentoring or training student or early-career technicians.
• Professional affiliations (e.g., USITT, IATSE, AEA) or a strong NYC technical production network.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of live event production and venue operations, including planning, load-in, rehearsal, live execution, and strike for academic events, performances, and rentals.
• Technical proficiency across event systems, including lighting, audio, video, projection, streaming, staging, and basic rigging/fly systems, with the ability to troubleshoot in real time.
• Skill in production planning and documentation, translating event needs into workable technical plans, staffing, schedules, and equipment requirements.
• Ability to supervise and coordinate technical staff and student technicians, including training, task assignment, and on-site leadership during events.
• Strong communication and customer-service skills, enabling effective collaboration with internal partners, external clients, and vendors.
• Ability to work safely in a live-event environment, complying with industry standards, operating lifts and equipment, lifting up to 50 lbs., and working evenings and weekends as required.

Additional Information:

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

Salary: $75,000 - $90,000 per year; commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Hiring Salary: $75,000 per year with step increments after one year of service and annually thereafter.

Work Schedule

Days/Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, in person; with availability to work evenings, weekends, and variable schedules based on event needs. Work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
• 4-day Summer Workweek
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage .

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. FIT is firmly committed to creating a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability. The FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, uniformed service, height, weight, any lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence or as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, whether children are, may be or would be residing with a person or conviction or arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212.217.3360.

Annual Security Report

The safety and well-being of FIT's students, faculty, staff, and visitors is of paramount importance. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, FIT publishes an annual report containing crime statistics and statements of security policy, accessible here: Safety Statistics . A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request by contacting Public Safety's administrative office number at (212) 217-4999.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The working conditions for this position will be in any combination of an office space, classroom, lab, event venue, or loading dock. Work may be performed in a confined space with potential exposure to equipment requiring specialized training. The physical requirement for this position will require occasional sitting, constant standing, constant bending or twisting, constant walking, frequent climbing, constant pulling, pushing, or reaching, constant repetitive motions, constant use of hands to handle tools, frequently lifting up to 50 lbs., and occasionally lifting over 50 lbs.

Application Instructions:

In order to be considered for this position, please submit the following documents online:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcript
• A list of three references with telephone numbers and email addresses

Returning Applicants - Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application material.

Review of applications will begin immediately until the position is filled.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to contact each applicant individually.

Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: http://www.fitnyc.edu .

About Fashion Institute of Technology:

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York and an internationally renowned college of art, design, business and technology with a strong emphasis on liberal arts, invites nominations and applications for an Assistant Technical Director in Events Management & Facilities Rental.