Technical Services Manager

Job Description:

Te Kura Toi Matihiko | School of Creative & Digital Arts
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Generous superannuation provisions (up to 6.75% employer contribution)
• Permanent full-time position (37.5 hours per week)

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Technical Services Manager? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

You will lead the technical heartbeat of the School of Creative & Digital Arts, spanning Screen, Fine Arts, Music, and Kōawa Studios. This is a hands-on leadership role where you bring together people, equipment, and spaces to deliver seamless outcomes across teaching, research, and commercial production.

You will:

• Run day-to-day technical operations across studios, workshops, and performance spaces
• Balance academic schedules with commercial production demands without missing a beat
• Lead and inspire a team of skilled technicians, building capability and a strong, service-focused culture across a diverse set of Creative programmes
• Ensure equipment, facilities, and workflows are always ready, reliable, and operate within the highest health and safety standards
• Oversee complex production planning including crew, logistics, and studio bookings
• Support exhibitions, performances, screenings, and student projects to a high technical and professional standard
• Drive asset management, maintenance planning, and smart investment in equipment
• Lead and inspire the technical team through one-to-one coaching, mentorship and providing opportunities for professional development and growth in their roles.
• Manage technical services budgets, procurement plans and their implementation and operational purchases at a day-to-day level.
• Coordinate technical workloads and priorities and ensure effective communication and coordination across the various needs and sites that make up Digital Screen, Fine Arts, Music and Kōawa Studios.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are a senior technical leader from a creative or production environment who knows how to deliver under pressure and lead from the front.

You understand what great looks like in studios, on set, and behind the scenes and you know how to build a team that delivers it every time.

You bring:

• At least 10 years of relevant commercial industry and senior operational experience
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience managing staff
• Deep industry experience in screen, creative, music, or production environments
• Proven leadership of technical teams with a focus on performance and development
• Strong operational oversight across studios, equipment, and production workflows
• Experience delivering complex projects, events, or productions end to end
• Financial confidence including budgeting, procurement, and resource planning
• A sharp focus on health and safety in technical or workshop environments
• The ability to adapt quickly, solve problems, and keep things moving in high-pressure situations
• Strong relationships across industry or the ability to build them quickly
• An understanding of te ao Māori and a commitment to inclusive practice will strengthen your impact in this role.

You are practical, credible, and solutions-focused. You are just as comfortable on the floor as you are planning at a strategic level.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

You will work alongside academic leaders, creatives, technicians, and industry partners, right at the centre of a vibrant creative ecosystem.

You will lead the technical team while collaborating across disciplines to ensure every production, project, and learning experience is fully supported.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

At UC, being part of our team means more than just a job. We are committed to supporting our kaimahi | staff’s career and wellbeing with benefits designed to help our kaimahi grow and feel connected, supported and valued.

UC’s Benefits approach is shaped by Ngā Uara | Our Values Whanaungatanga, Tiakitanga, and Manaakitanga. They are designed to be relevant, support and inspire our people, they include:

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• UC Parental Leave (up to 9 weeks paid) + 26 weeks Government paid parental leave and onsite childcare facility
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangements
• professional development and study opportunities
• supportive working environment
• a wide range of retail discounts across shopping, entertainment and travel
• on-campus staff discounts including UC RecCentre
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as UC RecCentre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

For more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

We offer a range of benefits, for more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc . (For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/ )

The closing date for this position is: 17 April 2026 (midnight, NZ time)*Please note applications will be reviewed after the close date.*

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role.