Technical Support Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Title: Event Technical Support Manager

Department: Media Services/Principia College

Position Type: Full-time, 12-month

Summary

The Event Support Manager provides technical support for a wide range of campus events from official ceremonies and high-profile guest speakers to individual student capstone presentations. The person in this position must have the technical knowledge, professional experience, and managerial skills to run the extensive and varied event support operation at the college. This includes knowing how to select, set up, operate, normalize, maintain, transport, store, retire, and upgrade the department’s million-dollar-plus inventory of audio, video presentation, streaming, performance lighting, and associated equipment. It includes hiring, training, scheduling, supervising, and managing others in the performance of those tasks. It includes being a resource for students, staff, and faculty who need this kind of technical assistance in their individual or departmental operations. The Event Support Manager also coordinates event support staffing, develops training and operational procedures for student employees, and helps ensure the successful execution of campus events through effective planning, communication, and technical leadership.

Who We Are

At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of Alumni & Friends.

At Principia College, our globally-focused curriculum honors diverse perspectives and develops creative changemakers who use their academic skills for good in service to themselves, their communities, and the world. In-depth study meets real-world experience through study abroad programs, internships, capstone projects, and a robust slate of student activities, including a world-renowned mediation team, top-ranked solar car team, and the nation’s oldest student-run public affairs conference.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

Primary Responsibilities

• Supports campus events with primary responsibility for the proper selection and placement of lights and mics, audio equalization and testing of the setup, and video projection/audio console/recording equipment operation during events
• Coordinates with the Video Production Manager to integrate zoom and streaming hardware and programming into various campus venue operations, incorporating, at times, two-way communication and other conferencing technologies
• Provides technical assistance to the Music and Theatre & Dance Departments as needed for the McVay Center for the Performing Arts venue
• Manages the student Tech Crew supporting campus events; trains student workers in MSC policies and procedures and in the technical aspects of providing high quality audio/video/lighting support; and develops and maintains training materials and operational procedures – training can be one-on-one or in small groups, and training can be on-the-job, in the Media Services Center, or in MSC venues when no event is in progress; supervises student workers during rehearsals, set-ups, performances, and clean-ups after a performance
• Responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, coordinating, approving payroll and timecards, and evaluating performance of the Student Tech Crew
• Provides ongoing coaching, mentoring, and leadership development opportunities for student crew members and student leads
• Meets weekly with MSC staff to plan and allocate MSC personnel and equipment to support upcoming events; meets regularly with the student Tech Crew to make work assignments, coordinate scheduling, and evaluate past work performance
• Communicates with personnel from other departments as needed to obtain the information required to provide proper MSC support for upcoming major productions; participates in planning meetings to determine event support requirements, staffing needs, and technical resources
• Develops event support plans, run-of-show documentation, and technical staffing assignments for supported events
• Meets as needed with the Director of Media Services to discuss current projects, issues, concerns, and ideas for improvement of departmental procedures
• Has primary responsibility for the proper use, operation, maintenance, transportation, and storage of MSC event support equipment; conducts routine inspections of equipment and event setups to help ensure safe and effective operation
• Collaborates with the rest of the MSC Team while planning for the use of Cox Auditorium and Wanamaker Hall for high profile events; discusses with the MSC Team any ideas for making temporary or major changes that will affect the current standard operation in Cox Auditorium or Wanamaker Hall
• Serves as the primary technical operations coordinator for supported venues, establishing setup standards and operational procedures while ensuring venue readiness for scheduled events
• Communicates to the Director of Media Services and to the Assistant Director of Media Services any need for equipment repair or replacement
• Maintains operations/training manuals which contain information about MSC event support equipment, venues, and procedures; maintains records of the MSC equipment inventory
• Provides technical assistance to other members of the MSC staff as needed

Special Requirements

• Willingness to work flexible hours, including many evenings, most weekends, and some very late hours
• Willingness and ability to climb ladders and work on catwalks, other high areas, and in close quarters; ability to comfortably lift 40 pounds

Beneficial Hardware and Software Knowledge

• Yamaha digital audio consoles
• ETC Ion lighting consoles and Eos software
• Adobe Suite, including Audition, Photoshop, Premiere
• Office 360, including PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook
• Final Cut
• Pro Tools
• Mac and PC proficiency

Core Competencies

• Continuous Learning & Expertise: Demonstrates mastery in your area of responsibility and seeks opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Accountability & Results Orientation: Manages time and priorities effectively, meets commitments, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Approaches challenges thoughtfully, considers multiple perspectives, and makes sound, timely decisions that support institutional goals.
• Proactivity & Ownership: Takes initiative, anticipates needs, and drives projects forward with minimal supervision while taking responsibility for outcomes.
• Excellence & Attention to Detail: Produces accurate, polished, and high-quality work; continuously looks for ways to improve systems, processes, and results.
• Collaboration & Collegiality: Works cooperatively across departments and teams; values input from others and contributes to a positive, respectful environment.
• Communication: Shares information clearly and concisely; listens carefully to others and adjusts communication style for different audiences and situations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Student of Christian Science preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements
• Formal training and/or commensurate recent experience in such related disciplines as electronics, sound engineering, stage lighting, and computer technology
• Strong knowledge and experience with high-quality sound pickup and audio recording equipment; fundamental understanding of electronic and acoustic theory as it pertains to audio circuitry, signal levels, impedance, hall acoustics, and feedback; “good ear” for sound quality
• Demonstrated skill with lighting design, set-up, and light board programming

The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary range for this position: $24.15-$29.58 hourly, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Equal Opportunity

Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.

In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia—as an institution with a religious mission—gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.