Audio-Visual Technician III – Department Head

The Audio-Visual Tech III is the Department Head for the AV department and oversees and coordinates all the activities of the AV department at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Reporting to the Director of Museum Services, responsibilities include planning, preparation and coordination of media works for exhibitions, events, programs, and meetings; designing and implementing equipment configurations for installation in Gallery exhibitions; administration and maintenance of media works in the permanent collection and delivery of AV media services for public programs, special events and venue rentals. The Audio-Visual Tech III works closely with curators, artists, and other Gallery staff to determine the needs for exhibitions, programs, marketing, and events. The Audio-Visual Technician III supervises and supports the AV Lead staff of three main steams of activity: Exhibitions and Permanent Collections, Production, and Events, and is responsible for scheduling and work allocation for full-time, part-time and casual technicians in the department. The incumbent performs a variety of related functions including research in current equipment and technologies; budgeting and purchasing; project management; departmental planning and administration.

ABOUT THE GALLERY

The Vancouver Art Gallery, one of the largest and innovative art museums in Canada, is undergoing a multi-phase organizational transformation after celebrating 90 years of operation. With a permanent collection of more than 12,000 works of art, the Gallery is implementing a campaign to build a new purpose-built gallery facility in downtown Vancouver planned to open in 2027. This is a moment of growth, exploration and change, as the Gallery re-articulates its relationship to communities and audiences and envisions the role of an art museum in the 21st century.

The new building designed by Swiss Architects Herzog and de Meuron will provide an optimal platform to reimagine the Gallery’s relationship with the world. The new Gallery building will be the most ecologically sustainable art museum in Canada. The creation of a world-class purpose-built art facility will enable the Gallery to foster deeper and wider community relations and expand audiences, celebrate Indigenous culture, and acknowledge the diverse heritage and histories of place and people in Canada and the ancestral and unceded territories of the Traditional Coast Salish Lands including the Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) and Tsleil-Waututh (səlilwətaɬ) Nations.

Complementing and building upon a rich institutional history of exhibiting photography and moving image, design, craft, material and popular culture—in an expanded field of visual culture—the Gallery further seeks the development of an online and virtual space—“a second building”—that blurs the line between the “real” and “virtual” worlds. Through innovative art programming, the Gallery will be a leader in interpreting Canada’s past, present and future.

DUTIES:

Performing departmental administrative functions including:

• Participates in recruiting and makes recommendations for hires for the AV department
• Scheduling and supervision of full time, part time, and casual AV technical staff
• Coordination and overview planning of all departmental activities
• Long-range departmental planning and research; including planning for the new building
• Budget tracking and reconciling
• Assisting the Director of Museum Services with departmental and exhibition budgeting
• Managing departmental computer hardware, software, NAS, digital file storage, and backups
• Managing purchasing and maintenance of equipment inventories and supplies
• Coordinate research and development of new technologies for use in exhibitions

Coordination of AV media and equipment for gallery exhibitions:

• Consultation with the exhibition teams
• Design of installation plans and equipment configurations
• Preparation of exhibition media as required
• Development and reporting on budgets, timelines, staffing requirement and critical path within the broader exhibition project

Coordination of AV services for public programs, special events and venue rentals:

• Consultation with programmers and organizers
• Coordination of AV equipment, logistics, and staffing to support programming and event activities
• Develop budgets, secure rentals, procure equipment, and schedule staff as required
• Liaise with guest performers, VIPs, co-workers, and contractors with professionalism

Oversight and coordination of in-house AV media productions

• Support AV Production staff in the creation of original video and audio recordings for use in marketing, exhibitions, and interpretive areas
• Oversee media file handling and database records management for AV documentary collections
• Maintain an inventory of production and post-production equipment and facilities

Administration of AV media works entering the permanent collection:

• Consult with curators and artists regarding media works proposed for acquisition
• Condition reporting on all technical aspects for AV media artworks in the permanent collection
• Working with Museum Services staff to maintain proper storage facility, backups, and documentation for AV media artworks in the permanent collection.

As the AV Tech III you are tasked with ensuring safe and proper installation of technical equipment in a public institution. Adherence to precise specifications and a high aesthetic standard while ensuring reliable operation is required. The incumbent will possess and maintain knowledge of current trends and advances in AV technologies. Soft skills for this position include diplomacy and professionalism, creative problem solving, design abilities, teamwork and leadership.

The duties and responsibilities outlined above are representative, but not all inclusive.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree supplemented by technical school courses in audio-visual technology
• Three to four years of related work experience
• One to two years of supervisory experience
• Strong leadership, budgeting, and leadership skills
• The successful candidate will have some experience working in the cultural sector, preferably in the field of the visual arts.

Thorough experience and knowledge of the following equipment and systems is required:

AUDIO: PA; mixers; wireless systems; processing; installed sound; signal flow

VIDEO: projectors and LCD; playback and distribution; analogue and digital signal flow

COMPUTERS: AV media editing/encoding; database; basic networking; office; 3D layout

ELECTRONICS: basic circuit design and programming; soldering; Arduino/Raspberry Pi

LIGHTING: DMX control; cue creation; basic rigging and electrical; LED

POWER: AC and DC electrical wiring and distribution standards

RIGGING: ground supported and hung mounting; projection screens; cable management