Lead Rigger - Washington Hilton, Washington, DC

Position Overview

Responsible for performing rigging activities in a Hospitality or convention center environment while upholding safety and quality standards per all trade, Encore/property guidelines and SOP’s.  Act as primary contact for venue’s clients.  Provide CAD diagrams of assigned facilities to prospective clients and assist current clients with rigging advances.  Perform hands-on rigging as well as the supervision of rigging team members during events.  Reports into Rigging Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities 

Rigging

• Advance, supervise, and execute event rigging plots as necessary.  

• Gather and organize all rigging tools and equipment per event needs. 

• Confirm carpet protected as required by local conditions.  

• Coordinate and assign rigging related tasks to crew.  

• Supervise crew building truss as needed.  

• Establish hang-point, connect hoist and attachments to permanent rigging points, connect GAC Flex spanset attachments to truss, connect/run and dress motor cables, run cable picks, ensure safety of scenic elements to hang-points and proper use of all truss protection equipment, inspect all cabling tie-offs. 

• Check that all truss bolts are tight, and pieces of flown equipment are safetied to truss. 

• Support other trades needing help raising gear through use of motor or lift, and check work for safety. 

• Remain on site until all motors have been raised to trim, final safety check has been performed, and client acknowledges completion of rigging.  

Equipment Compliance

• Use all equipment, including personnel lifts according to manufacture specification, and local conditions.  

• Visually inspect all hardware in use including motors and personnel lifts on an on-going basis.  

• Escalate any problems with hardware to the Rigging Coordinator. 

• Assist other technical trades with coordination efforts to execute show plot in harmony with all floor activity. 

Safety

• Secure and maintain proper lift and/or Working At Height certifications as necessary. 

• Responsible for all rigging labor efforts and overhead safety during an event, which may include removing personnel who are acting in an unsafe manner.  

• Follow all manufactures specifications and local conditions when using personnel lifts. 

• Riggers must be qualified prior to making any temporary rigging points or any points outside of a protected lift of any kind.  

• Inspect all rigging equipment prior to and following all rigging events.  

• Ensure the power phasing of motor controller is appropriate to prevent limit switches from being defeated.  

• Inspect all motors at trim to verify chain is in bag and will not run out.  

• Verify all elements are securely fastened and checked for safety. 

• Use experience and other learning opportunities in the field to works towards ETCP certification.

Project Management

• Work with vendors and clients in verifying loads applicable to their production are in accordance with venue loading capabilities.  

• Review/produce detailed rigging plot, identify any possible rigging obstacles or safety concerns and review with Rigging Services team to recommend possible solutions. 

• Work with Rigging Coordinator, DET and hotel teams to identify and coordinate storage and show flow opportunities.  

• Support the Rigging Coordinator in all inventory and organizational efforts with equipment.  

• Coordinate scheduling efforts with Rigging Coordinator/DET/DOS and discuss load-in/out efforts and hanging order with the Rigging Coordinator or Regional Rigging Manager.  

• Maintain Hospitality Rigging environment while supervising crew, including Encore, vendor or union rigging labor, maintaining, supporting, and mentoring crews on Encore and trade standards, including but not limited to workplace and rigging safety and professional conduct and appearance. 

Staff Development  

• Supervise the Riggers, Rigger and external workers during rigging events and provide input on the scheduling and performance management of these team members.  

• Mentor team members in the field to improve their rigging skills.  

• Assist Rigging Coordinator in identifying potential rigging team members and help prepare them in the field to take Encore Rigging Training class.

Job Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent

• 1 year of onsite rigging experience

• Qualified-Basic Rigging certification

• Lift Certification

• ETCP Certification is preferred

• Lift operation experience

• Ground rigging experience

• High rigging without harness experience

• Previous experience supervising a rigging team

Competencies

• People Development

• Exceeds Customer Expectations

• Concern for Quality

• Establishing Focus

• Analytical Thinking 

• Production Awareness

Work Environment

Work is performed in a hotel/convention center environment with moderate exposure to outdoor temperatures and to dirt, sand and/or dust.  The working conditions will vary between moderately quiet to noisy volumes.  Team members will use high-end equipment and electrical components and will be exposed to heights via lifts and ladders for long periods of time.  Team members may be asked to work in multiple hotel locations.  Working times will include irregular hours and on-call status including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.   Team members must adhere to appearance guidelines as defined by Encore based on an individual hotel or a representation of hotels in that city or area.