Thoughts About a Job Title

soundofsparks

Active Member
I have a lighting department of five persons:

Lighting Supervisor
Ass't/Assoc. Lighting Supervisor
JOB X
Lighting Technicians (2)

I'm trying to determine the best title for JOB X.

JOB X hangs and focuses lights alongside Lighting Technicians.
They are responsible for organizing our Electrics Shop space.
They take inventory on expendables and report shortages.
They use downtime between shows to repair gear and perform routine maintenance.
When necessary, they will sub in as a board operator to cover sick or vacation time.


What ideas do you have for a title for JOB X?

I'm looking for something that encompasses the duties of the job, connects with similar jobs in the industry, and would be understandable to future employers on a resume.

Go!
 
Warehouse or Service tech spring to mind. I would think Service would better encompass it as I would expect a Service Tech to assist with a Hang where a Warehouse tech would not.
As long as you state that their duties would include the duties of a Lighting Tech you should be fine.

Or ME as stated above, for some reason I missed that :)
 
I have a lighting department of five persons:

Lighting Supervisor
Ass't/Assoc. Lighting Supervisor
JOB X
Lighting Technicians (2)

I'm trying to determine the best title for JOB X.

JOB X hangs and focuses lights alongside Lighting Technicians.
They are responsible for organizing our Electrics Shop space.
They take inventory on expendables and report shortages.
They use downtime between shows to repair gear and perform routine maintenance.
When necessary, they will sub in as a board operator to cover sick or vacation time.


What ideas do you have for a title for JOB X?

I'm looking for something that encompasses the duties of the job, connects with similar jobs in the industry, and would be understandable to future employers on a resume.

Go!
@soundofsparks Whichever title pays best, includes the best health and benefits package plus at least a month of paid vacation annually.
@TimMc and @derekleffew Thoughts? Comments??
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 
Senior lighting technician? I don't know if that has a supervisory implication. "Lead" definitely does have the supervisory sound to it. I think some orgs solve this with a '1' or '2' after the title.
 
I would avoid titles beginning with head, Master, etc since to me it would look like you've got too many "people in charge". I worked at a company once where we had "Operations Managers" and "Sales Managers". None of them were actually management, let alone paid like management. They basically "managed" their own sales and "managed" to get through a day in the operations department of only one or two individuals.

Maybe something like Stage Technician or Technical Coordinator? Lighting/Tech Specialist? Facility Facilitator? ;)
 
Lighting Shop Technician.
 
I like this one a lot. Do you think that it would send the message that regular non-shop tasks like hanging and focusing would be excluded from the role?
@soundofsparks I'd hope so though I'd better not be having to perform maintenance on any of the luminaires being depended on, hung and flown. Keep on top of the maintenance and we'll excuse you from strikes, rehangs and focus calls. Works for me; how about you and your team??
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 
Nope. Because you could explain all that in the job description. That it is a dual purpose position. If you want you could call it Lighting/Shop Tech. I would assume with the extra duties there is extra pay. If not then call it a lighting tech and assign the shop duties to all of them.
 
Are your other lighting techs not called in for shop work? If so, perhaps they should be Event Lighting Techs, while your shop position is simply the Lighting Tech.
 
Lighting Bitch? Sounds like a too many cooks situation...

I suppose it isn't clear then.

Lighting Supervisor - supervises staff, budgets, makes policy, schedules, hires/fires, performs M.E. duties on about 50% of season, installs shows

Asst Lighting Supervisor - assists in staff supervision, makes purchases, maintains vendor relationships, performs M.E. duties on the other 50% of season, installs shows

Job X - fixes gear, organizes shop, monitors expendables, installs shows

Lighting Technicians - program/operate shows, install shows


We produce an 18-project season in three venues and own about 1,000 lights. There's plenty of work to be divided up.
 
[QUOTE="Footer, post: 398076, member: 1526"]Lighting Bitch? Sounds like a too many cooks situation...[/QUOTE]
@Footer As long as they've the funds to pay everyone well with great remuneration, benefits, health care and paid vacations, how many chiefs they have, and their titles, doesn't concern me too much. (Although I'm long retired and too far north of Donald's walls to really care.) [I made the mistake of taking a salaried gig ONCE and learned NEVER to do so again.]
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 

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