Venue Design Consultant

Thank you for your interest in Charcoalblue. 

We are seeking a Venue Design Consultant to join our talented team.

As a Venue Design Consultant in the Theatre Consulting team, you will be instrumental in conceiving, guiding, and constructing some of the most amazing and creative venues for the performing arts across the world. Working with clients, architects, and consultants in a collaborative team structure, you will influence the design of a vast range of arts related building projects, all of which share a focus on innovative and inspired solutions to a client’s brief. Our Venue Design Consultants have a key role within that project team which starts in the early concept stages right through to completion and commissioning on site. Working closely with the team, you will be instrumental in defining our venues’ look and feel, shape, form, as well as architectural integration and functional planning of front of house, backstage and technical spaces. 

As well as defining architectural and theatrical concepts, your responsibilities will also include technical auditorium design aspects such as sightlines, accessibility, code compliance, design coordination and seating design and specification. You will be expected to effectively communicate design ideas to clients and the wider design team using clear presentation skills and tools and produce supporting drawings and documentation. You will deliver high quality work in line with company standards and help motivate the entire design and construction team with good humour and passion for the performing arts. 

You will report to one of our Theatre Consulting EMEA Associate Directors, who you will meet regularly to ensure you are fully supported in your role. Since theatre consultancy is a specialist field, we will provide role-specific inductions and ongoing training to help you succeed. 

The role is anticipated to service our EMEA and Australia based projects working with our external project teams in local and Australian time zones. However, it may also involve collaborating with the global Charcoalblue team to provide Theatre Design support on projects run from our international offices in the US, including coordination of communication with Charcoalblue designers and external consultants in other time zones through the use of video conferencing. 

To apply please complete the online application form and submit a short CV (1-2 pages max.) and a cover letter addressing the below prompts: 

1. Why do you consider yourself to be a suitable person for the post and what you would like from the job? 
2. Which of your previous experience would you highlight as being particularly relevant? Please highlight any design experience for performance buildings. 
3. Describe your experience of designing performing arts spaces and how familiar (or not) you are with the RIBA architectural design stages. 
4. Describe your experience and competency using CAD and other drawing tools including Revit. 
5. Please highlight the elements of the role requirement where you may need more support in your role. 
6. What are your salary expectations in line with experience? 

We look forward to receiving your application and expect to interview in December 2025. We will only accept applications via our online system.  

Interviews will either be held in person at our London Studio, or remotely (via Microsoft Teams) - time, date and location will be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.   

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide venue design for projects, working alongside Charcoalblue’s experienced designers and team leaders. 
• When required, produce, issue, and present your own design solutions, room developments, sketches, drawings, reports, specifications, schedules, budgets, and other information. 
• Meet with clients to evaluate and discuss their needs for a project as they relate to theatre design (and beyond). 
• Work with the external architectural and engineering team to optimize the theatrical requirements of the project ensuring a continuity of the project’s aesthetic aspirations whilst meeting technical requirements. 
• Work with our designers to develop an understanding of local and international building codes and regulations. 
• Ensure the accessibility of projects is meeting, if not exceeding, statutory requirements, in line with the ambitions of Charcoalblue. 
• Work with our internal design team to present a holistic design solution, balancing all aspects of spatial quality, performance functionality, and budget. 
• Participate in site visits for client workshops, architectural coordination, construction progress, commissioning and other purposes as required. This position will require occasional UK and international travel. 
• When required, you will actively manage the delivery of auditorium seating design to client deadlines, which will involve management of Charcoalblue resources, client resources, and the work of appointed contractors. 
• Ensure your projects are delivered on time, on scope, and on budget. 
• Draft emails, presentations, reports, and budgets, as necessary with minimal administrative support, and attend meetings and site visits as required. 
• Prioritise the requirements and changing needs of the projects assigned to you, with support from your line manager and project team. 
• Contribute to the continual development of our internal design and technical resources. 
• Discuss yours and others’ work and share ideas, experience and lessons learned with other designers at Charcoalblue. 
• Be open to new ideas, technologies, communication, and design tools and proactively support innovation in our design work and practices. 
• Occasional UK and international travel. 
• Adhere and promote Charcoalblue Cultural Values 

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and may be subject to alteration over time as we develop the service.