TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

New York, NY | Full-Time | On-site | Travel: 25-30%

POSITION OVERVIEW

Van Wyck & Van Wyck is seeking a Technical Director to lead the technical planning and execution of Van Wyck's large-scale events and complex temporary installations. You'll own the technical vision, standards, and execution across all events and special projects. This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role for someone who can move fluidly between drafting CAD floor plans, reviewing a rigging plot, calculating an electrical load, and mentoring project team members.

The Technical Director will partner with project managers, designers, fabricators, engineers, venues, and specialty vendors from early design development through installation and strike. You'll provide technical leadership across areas including scenic construction, rigging, lighting, AV, power distribution, temporary structures, and site infrastructure, while helping establish the technical standards and processes that support our work.

The strongest candidates have spent years working hands-on across multiple technical disciplines. The right person can anticipate challenges early, develop solutions with creative and production teams, and lead complex technical execution onsite.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Standards and Systems

• Set technical standards and specifications for lighting, audio-visual, HVAC, rigging, tenting, and floor plan systems across all events

• Produce advanced technical drawings and floor plans in AutoCAD for complex builds, in addition to reviewing and approving drawings from vendors and staff
• Review and approve CAD floor plans, load calculations, power distribution plans, and rigging plots for structural and life-safety compliance
• Evaluate new equipment, technology, and vendors to keep the company's technical capabilities current
• Maintain the company's library of technical drawings, specifications, and vendor documentation

Pre-Production and Engineering Oversight

• Lead technical pre-production for complex and large-scale events, including site surveys and engineering coordination
• Partner with the design team at the concept stage to assess the technical feasibility of creative concepts
• Coordinate directly with structural engineers, electrical contractors, and code officials on permit and compliance requirements
• Serve as the final technical authority on-site for complex builds, resolving engineering-level issues in real time

Team Leadership and Vendor Management

• Direct and mentor Production Managers and on-site technical staff
• Build and maintain department-wide technical training programs and standard operating procedures
• Own relationships and contract negotiations with major technical vendors across lighting, AV, rigging, tenting, and HVAC
• Set escalation protocols so the event teams know when to bring in engineering-level expertise

Budget, Safety, and Compliance

• Own the technical department budget across the event portfolio, including equipment investment and capital planning
• Ensure company-wide compliance with safety, electrical, and structural codes across all markets served
• Track technical spend against projections and report on department-level cost efficiency
• Deliver technical debriefs after complex events, capturing lessons learned for future standards
• Represent the technical department in leadership planning for the event portfolio's production capacity

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within the first year, the TECHNICAL DIRECTOR will:

• Become the design and project team's trusted partner on technical feasibility from the earliest concept conversations through execution
• Successfully advance the technical and production aspects of both private and brand events, partnering closely with project teams from pre-production through show day
• Independently produce advanced floorplan drafts for assigned events, meeting the technical standards shared with the other Technical Director, through deep collaboration with the project team and vendors
• Build vendor relationships and contracts that give the company reliable access to top-tier technical partners while driving measurable cost savings across the project budget
• Bring deep, hands-on knowledge across most or all core technical disciplines - lighting, audio, video, power, rigging, stage management, tenting, and scenery/fabrication - since the specific mix of what's critical shifts from event to event; ask the deeper technical questions (power capacity, screen pixelation, load limits) that go beyond day-to-day vendor advancing

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must possess the following qualifications:

• 8+ years in technical event production, with hands-on experience across lighting, audio-visual, rigging, tenting, and HVAC systems
• Advanced-level drafting ability in AutoCAD required - including floor plans, load calculations, power distribution, and rigging plots; Vectorworks experience is a plus but does not substitute for AutoCAD proficiency
• Strong working knowledge of rigging and structural engineering principles, electrical load calculations, and life-safety code compliance
• Proven experience managing and mentoring Production Managers and other support team members
• Track record negotiating and managing contracts with major technical vendors
• Department or portfolio-level budget management experience, not limited to single-event budgets
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally and work flexible hours for site visits and events

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with several of the following is strongly preferred:

• Formal training or certification in rigging, electrical, or structural engineering
• Experience setting technical standards or SOPs across a production organization
• Direct experience working with fire marshals, code officials, or permit authorities
• Background in theater, themed entertainment, or large-scale live event engineering
• Experience working with union crews and labor agreements (e.g., IATSE) on live event builds

PAY AND BENEFITS AT VAN WYCK & VAN WYCK

This position has an annual base salary range of $150,000 to $175,000. Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on the candidate's skills, experience, education and other job-related factors permitted by law.

We want talented people to build meaningful, long-term careers here. Our benefits support health, wellbeing and professional growth.

Benefits include:

• Discretionary PTO policy
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• FSA and HSA options
• Retirement benefit with discretionary employer match
• One Medical and Talkspace memberships
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Annual gym reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities
• Team building and volunteer opportunities
• Dog-friendly office in the heart of Chelsea