Audio Supervisor

Audio Supervisor – Production Department

Fine Arts Building, a historic landmarked building located at 410 S. Michigan Ave, home of the Studebaker Theater (a 600 seat proscenium), is seeking dynamic individuals to join our Production Department. We are building a talent pool to support our company’s growth and ensure our company is representative of the communities we serve. We view our employees and co-workers as equals who deserve our respect. It is important that we create and foster an affirming space for our employees to be seen as their full selves.

As the Audio Supervisor, you will report directly to the Technical Director and work under the supervision of the Associate Technical Director. As a member of the Studebaker Production team, you will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of audio systems and equipment in the Studebaker Theater and will play a key role in developing policies and best practices that relate to the same.

We are seeking dedicated candidates with expertise, strong leadership skills, and a passion for theater and event production. The Studebaker, being a rental venue, hosts clients with very wide ranging needs and budgets. The Audio Supervisor will be directly responsible for the audio of these productions, which include musicals, plays, concerts, podcasts, live comedy, and dance shows. The ideal candidate will be a highly skilled audio engineer adept at quickly assessing and responding to the needs of clients and production teams, exhibit excellent organizational skills, and demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for their work.

Your responsibilities will include the setup, integration, operation, and strike of audio equipment. This equipment includes microphones, portable monitors and speakers, audio consoles, cabling, etc. This role’s responsibilities will vary depending on the production needs; at times, you will act as the house audio engineer while at other times you may serve in a supervisory capacity. We seek individuals who are detail-oriented, enthusiastic, and excel in technical troubleshooting and collaboration with both our internal team and external clients.

Candidates with previous experience in Live Sound mixing and Audio Design are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements:

• Degree in Audio Engineering, Design, or Production or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand, walk, and climb stairs for extended periods.
• Strong collaboration skills, empathetic leadership, and effective communication with clients that have a wide range of production experience and expectations, and who come from a variety of  diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and respond quickly to dynamic situations.
• Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Ideal Candidates:

• Proven expertise in mixing various live events, including Front of House and Monitor setups.
• Experience leading small, task-oriented teams and collaborating with artists and designers.
• Demonstrates the ability to respond calmly and effectively to technical changes and needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Passionately brings an appreciation of inclusivity to their role, peers, and our theater audiences while identifying barriers that prevent full, human participation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure effective and clear operation of the audio system for all productions.
• Collaborate with the Technical Director and Associate Technical Director to maintain audio equipment.
• Work with the Technical Director and Associate Technical Director on capital improvement projects and purchases as needed.
• Lead and train a small team of audio technicians responsible for carrying out venue and department policy and best practices.
• Promote anti-racist practices and help dismantle systemic racism in arts and culture.

Technical Proficiency:

• Experience mixing on a Digico Quantum 225 audio console.
• Experience using L-Acoustic line arrays and software.
• Experience using Q-Sys and Q-Sys designer, or similar infrastructure integration software tools.
• Competent in the operation of ClearCom Edge.
• Strong understanding of digital audio and network protocols.
• Qlab
• Demonstrated working knowledge of analog audio patchbays.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace
• Experience with Airtable a plus

Compensation:

The position pays a salary of $57,000 along with a benefits package including health, vision, dental, and life insurance, a generous PTO policy, transit FSA, and a 401k with employer match.

Schedule:

This role is responsible for performing the Audio Department Head track for a minimum of 80% of Studebaker’s production schedule and will also be responsible for shop and office hours during dark periods to maintain and improve our audio systems.

The exact schedule will align with the Studebaker production schedule and will be set by the Technical Director in collaboration with the Associate Technical Director.

Acceptance of this position indicates a commitment to the fluctuating schedule and willingness to adapt to the varying demands of the theater’s programming.

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Please note that Fine Arts Building joins the coalition of Chicago theaters in implementing safety policies and guidelines for our staff and audience to protect against the spread of Covid-19. Full vaccination is required to be considered for employment.

The Fine Arts Building was built in 1885, originally designed as the carriage assembly and showroom for the Studebaker Company. Situated on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park, the building was immediately hailed as one of “Chicago’s architectural jewels.” In 1898, the building was repurposed to become the Fine Arts Building, Chicago’s first fine arts colony. From the beginning, the building attracted influential artists from all creative disciplines, becoming a cultural hub for some of the most acclaimed visionaries of their time – A home for art in all forms.

The Fine Arts Building acknowledges its place on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also historically called this area home.

The Fine Arts Building strives to be an organization which embraces a commitment to Indigenous rights, racial justice, and cultural equity. As a home to some of Chicago’s most prominent artists, the Fine Arts Building strongly believes that art is for everyone and aims to be a driving force in showcasing art that is accessible to all. The Studebaker Theater, while not a producing organization, is committed to building, fostering, and maintaining an inclusive, accessible, affirming, diverse workplace that is an equitable and anti-racist environment for artists to thrive. By honoring our past as a home for art in all forms, we carry that legacy into the future through articulating these core values. This vision of being an intersectional home to today’s artists shapes the organization’s decision-making and institutional policies.

Fine Arts Building is an equal opportunity employer where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.