Senior Technical Officer Production Arts - Set Design & Construction; Propmaking

FTE: 1FTE (working 37 hours per week)

Salary: UH5 £28,778 pa to £32,080 pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 25 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: College Lane Campus, Hatfield 

Main duties and responsibilities

You will provide specialist technical expertise in set building and prop making to support a range of production arts teaching across the School. You will deliver high‑quality practical support in line with current Health & Safety regulations and local rules. You will supervise students, coordinate workshop activity, prepare materials and equipment and carry out routine maintenance of facilities, equipment and software for timetabled teaching and research activities, ensuring that the working environment is kept operational, tidy and in good and safe working order in accordance with agreed University standards and statutory health and safety requirements. Additional responsibilities include assisting with the provision of practical content for prospective students, including that for Open Days and Applicant Days. 

Skills and experience required

You will have experience working in a technical role within further or higher education and bring demonstrable experience in set building, scenic construction and prop making for theatre, film, TV or live events, including experience of both workshop and location work. You will have experience of managing multiple resource demands within a HE context. You will possess advanced practical skills across timber and metal construction, upholstery, mouldmaking/casting, surface finishing, scenic painting and propmaking with competence in planning and executing builds to budget and schedule. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to work to deadlines, and being able to communicate effectively with external contacts, students at all levels, and with academic and technical colleagues is essential. The role requires good organisation skills and the ability to act independently and as part of a team. 

Qualifications required

You will be educated with a minimum of a HND/Degree or equivalent in Production Arts for Film & Television, Theatre/Stagecraft, Scenic Construction, Modelmaking, Prop Making, or closely related craft discipline or proven experience. An IOSH Managing Safely or similar qualification or working towards it is desirable.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.

Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.

We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Laith Shewayish l.shewayish@herts.ac.uk – Senior Technical Manager

Closing Date: 14 May 2026

Interview Date: W/C 01 June 2026

Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We particularly encourage applications from women and BAME candidates to reflect our diverse student cohort and staff under-representation where it exists. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies.

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