Venue Design Consultant

Venue Design Consultant

Join Charcoalblue as a Venue Design Consultant.

We are seeking a Venue Design Consultant to join our talented team in the Theatre Consulting department. You will be instrumental in conceiving, guiding, and constructing innovative performing‑arts venues around the world. Working with clients, architects, and other consultants in a collaborative team structure, you will influence the design of a wide range of arts‑related building projects, from early concept stages through commissioning on site.

As a Venue Design Consultant you will define our venues’ look and feel, shape, form, and architectural integration. You will develop front‑of‑house, backstage, technical and seating designs, ensuring sightlines, accessibility, and code compliance. You will communicate design concepts clearly to clients and teammates, produce supporting drawings, and deliver high‑quality work in line with company standards. You will report to one of our Theatre Consulting EMEA Associate Directors and will receive role‑specific inductions and ongoing training.

The role anticipates service to EMEA and Australian projects, with collaboration across global Charcoalblue offices in the US. You may coordinate communication across time zones via video conferencing.

To apply, please complete the online application form and submit a short CV (1‑2 pages) and a cover letter addressing the prompts below. Interviews are scheduled for December 2025. We will only accept applications via our online system. Interviews will be held in person at our London Studio or remotely via Microsoft Teams.

• Why do you consider yourself suitable for this role and what would you like from the job?
• Which previous experience would you highlight as particularly relevant? (Please highlight any design experience for performance buildings.)
• Describe your experience designing performing‑arts spaces and your familiarity with the RIBA architectural design stages.
• Describe your experience and competence using CAD and other drawing tools, including Revit.
• Finally, please highlight any elements of the role where you may need additional support.
• What are your salary expectations in line with experience?

• Provide venue design for projects, working alongside Charcoalblue’s experienced designers and team leaders.
• Produce, issue, and present own design solutions, 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.
• Work with external architectural and engineering teams to optimize theatrical requirements while meeting aesthetic and technical requirements.
• Develop understanding of local and international building codes and regulations.
• Ensure project accessibility meets or exceeds statutory requirements.
• Present holistic design solutions, balancing spatial quality, performance functionality and budget.
• Participate in site visits, workshops, coordination, construction progress, commissioning, and other purposes as required (occasional UK and international travel).
• Manage delivery of auditorium seating design to client deadlines, including management of Charcoalblue resources, client resources and contractors.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, on scope, and on budget.
• Draft emails, presentations, reports and budgets with minimal administrative support; attend meetings and site visits as required.
• Prioritise requirements and changing needs of assigned projects, with support from line manager and team.
• Contribute to continual development of internal design and technical resources.
• Discuss work and share ideas, experience and lessons learned with other designers.
• Be open to new ideas, technologies, communication methods and design tools; proactively support innovation.
• Adhere to and promote Charcoalblue Cultural Values.

• Three years of experience as a designer with a background in architecture, theatre design, theatre consulting or similar; preferably in construction or performing‑arts industries.
• CAD skills in both 2D and 3D, including rendering,…