AV / Events Technician Lead

Job description

At-a-Glance Summary Lead end-to-end production for executive, corporate, hybrid, webinar, and live-streamed events. This onsite Chicago role operates the upgraded Auditorium environment, including Ross Ultrix video routing & production switching via the Ross TD2S, Teams Webinars and Live Events, PTZ cameras, digital audio, Q-SYS control, projection, lighting, teleprompting, and assisted listening. Role Overview One of Astreya’s key clients is seeking an experienced, service-focused Technical Event Producer / AV Event Technician to lead technical production and support audiovisual, broadcast, and conferencing environments. Based onsite in Chicago, this role is the primary technical contact for advanced events in the Auditorium/Event Space, control rooms, meeting rooms, corporate offices, and external venues. The role supports in-person, virtual, hybrid, and live-streamed programs, including executive and global events. Responsibilities span planning, show production, rehearsals, operation of the upgraded Auditorium system, live troubleshooting, maintenance, stakeholder guidance, vendor coordination, room readiness, documentation, and continuous improvement. Core Scope of Work Own end-to-end technical delivery from event intake and design through rehearsal, live execution, recording, debrief, and media handoff. Operate the Chicago Auditorium/Event Space, video control room, and centralized equipment room, including video, audio, projection, cameras, lighting, teleprompting, accessibility, streaming, and room-control systems. Support corporate offices and external venues, including temporary production environments and programs with remote participants across time zones. Maintain room readiness, signal-flow knowledge, system documentation, equipment inventory, standard procedures, backup plans, and escalation paths. Partner with event owners, Corporate Communications, Infrastructure, AV Engineering, venue teams, and external vendors. Key Responsibilities Event Production and Planning Lead in-person, virtual, hybrid, webinar, and live-streamed events using Microsoft Teams, vMix, Zoom, and related production platforms. Act as producer, show caller, or technical director; call cues for speakers, playback, cameras, lighting, audio, projection, teleprompter content, and transitions. Partner closely with the Event Manager throughout the event lifecycle to gather requirements, align on event objectives, and develop comprehensive production plans, run-of-show documents, cue sheets, presenter instructions, staffing plans, schedules, and contingency plans that support seamless event execution. Lead technical checks, speaker coaching, rehearsals, and dry runs; validate content, routing, streaming, recording, accessibility, and backup systems. Monitor platform health and participant experience, manage live incidents, communicate workarounds, and escalate while protecting event continuity. Pre-Production, Planning, and Rehearsals Partner with stakeholders to define event objectives, audience, format, technical requirements, and success criteria, then develop and manage production plans, run-of-show documents, schedules, staffing, and project deliverables. Lead site assessments, technical rehearsals, system validation, and presenter preparation while ensuring production readiness, redundancy planning, and successful execution of all audio, video, lighting, streaming, accessibility, and presentation systems. Operations, Maintenance, and Coordination Coordinate crews, vendors, staging, load-in, setup, testing, rehearsal, live operation, teardown, and rental returns. Perform preventive checks, troubleshoot faults, track incidents through resolution, document workarounds, and support-controlled power and maintenance activities. Test, document, and exercise failover paths for redundant audio processing and other critical production systems. Serve as internal system owner for the Auditorium production environment, including receipt of vendor training and ongoing knowledge transfer to backup operators. Lead post-event debriefs and maintain recordings, operating guides, system diagrams, inventories, templates, knowledge articles, and service reports. Read AV schematics, rack elevations, building drawings, signal-flow diagrams, and network requirements; support system commissioning and upgrades. Serve as day-to-day technical liaison to the AV integrator during warranty and service-agreement periods, including fault reporting, RMA coordination, and punch-list tracking. Required Experience and Qualifications Minimum 5 years of experience producing technical elements for corporate events, meetings, remote productions, webinars, and live streams. Demonstrated ownership of AV event production from requirements and rehearsal through live execution and post-event wrap-up. Hands-on experience with Microsoft Teams and Zoom event delivery and with PTZ cameras, audio mixers, production switchers, lighting, wireless microphones, encoders, and projection. Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking, AV-over-IP, Dante and NDI workflows, signal flow, streaming protocols, codecs, and media formats. Ability to read technical drawings and schematics, lead crews, work independently, prioritize under pressure, and troubleshoot during live production. Strong written and verbal communication, production documentation, stakeholder service, recordkeeping, and reporting skills. Flexible availability for early starts, late finishes, occasional weekends, out-of-hours maintenance, travel, and cross-time-zone support. Technical Experience EXPERIENCED WITH FAMILIAR WITH Ross Ultrix routing and multiviewer workflows Ross Video TouchDrive production switching openGear-based signal processing, reference/genlock synchronization, and 12G-SDI signal routing Microsoft Teams Town Halls, Webinars and Meetings Zoom Webinars and Meetings Q-SYS DSP and control systems vMix video production software Sony 4K PTZ cameras and camera control Yamaha DM7-EX digital audio mixing and routing 4K projection, confidence monitors, and repeater displays ETC/Chauvet audience lighting Shure wireless microphone systems and live sound reinforcement Teleprompter and confidence-monitor workflows Williams AV assisted listening equipment NDI video workflows Show flows, cue sheets, and run-of-show documents Dante audio over IP Bitfocus Companion DMX lighting and RTMP streamingCommon video, audio, and media formats Corp conferencing platforms and integrated rooms Note: Experience on comparable broadcast production switchers, routers, digital consoles, and DSP platforms will be considered.} Success Profile White-glove service mindset and sound judgment around senior leaders and high-profile events. Calm, decisive, and solutions-focused during time-sensitive production issues. Organized and detail-oriented, with disciplined preparation, documentation, follow-through, and escalation. Able to translate technical detail into clear recommendations for varied audiences. Committed to safe, reliable, accessible operations, repeatable standards, and continuous improvement. Salary Range $23.49 - $37.10 USD (Hourly) Please note that the salary information provided herein is base pay only (gross); it does not include other forms of compensation which may or may not apply to this specific position, namely, performance-based bonuses, benefits-related payments, or other general incentives - none of which are guaranteed, may be subject to specific eligibility requirements, and are wholly within the discretion of Astreya to remit. Further, the salary information noted above is a range that consists of a minimum and maximum rate of pay for this specific position. Where an applicant or employee is placed on this range will depend and be contingent on objective, documented work-related considerations like education, experience, certifications, licenses, preferred qualifications, among other factors. Astreya offers comprehensive b enefits to all Regular, Full-Time Employees, including: Medical provided through UHC (PPO, HSA, Surest options) / Medical provided through Kaiser (HMO option only) for California employees only Dental provided through UHC Nationwide Vision provided by UHC Flexible Spending Account for Health & Dependent Care Pre-Tax Account for Commuter Benefit/Parking & Transit (location-specific) Continuing Education and Professional Development via various integrated platforms, e.g. Udemy and Coursera Corporate Wellness Program provided by Goomi Group Employee Assistance Program Wellness Days 401k Plan Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance Short Term & Long Term Disability Critical Illness, Critical Hospital, and Voluntary Accident Insurance Tuition Reimbursement (available 6 months after start date, capped) Paid Time Off (accrued and prorated, maximum of 120 hours annually) Paid Holidays Any other statutory leaves, paid time, or other ancillary benefits required under state and federal law