Working/Functional Title Lead Piano Technician Position Summary Job Duties and Responsibilities: - As Lead Piano Technician, serve as a strategic partner, working with other staff and faculty to provide services and provide technical assistance for recitals, concerts, and research activities undertaken by students, faculty and guest artists in the College of Music.
- Coordinates and provides concert level artistic tuning, regulating and voicing of performance pianos in the College of Music Buildings, Fairchild Theatre and the MSU Alumni Chapel.
- Communicate with College of Music administrative officers regarding piano technology operations and business. Make recommendations for new piano purchases, instrument disposal (trade-ins, sale) and gift-in-kind piano donations.
- Work with University Advancement on projects of special importance to the College of Music or to central administration.
- Manage a team of piano technicians including temp/on-calls, students and contractors. Train and assess technicians' work; provide support and training to ensure ongoing success and advancement of staff technicians.
- Create and maintain a plan for the care of an inventory of approximately 215 keyboard instruments, including 60 Steinway grand pianos, 3 historic keyboards and 3 pipe organs. This includes determining the need- and use-appropriate assignment of instruments in faculty areas, classrooms, practice facilities and performance venues.
- Manage the annual Piano Technology budget; work with the College of Music Executive Management team on annual budget requests and special funding requests.
- Maintain relations and accounts with industry sources, including piano supply houses and manufacturers, and our special local partners.
- Maintains professional and technical competence through seminars, workshops, membership in professional associations, outside readings and related professional development activities.
Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills Knowledge such as that acquired in the first two or three years of college, technical or vocational school in music, music technology, or a related program; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in concert tuning, maintaining, repairing and rebuilding grand pianos and related stringed keyboard instruments; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Desired Qualifications - Bachelor degree from an accredited college, university, or conservatory preferred.
- Business management, organizational, and writing skills.
- Experience with budget management and procurement protocols within a university or similar organization.
- Experience tuning and maintaining a wide variety of keyboard instruments including Steinway, Yamaha, and Boston pianos.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Steinway construction, action rebuilding, and keyboard geometry.
- The ability to encourage efficiency within a team and identify processes to improve the work environment and maintain staff cohesion.
- Proficiency as an aural concert tuner/technician with the ability to use advanced interval checks.
- A strong sense of ethics and understanding of conflict of interest and conflict of commitment rules and conventions.
- A collaborative spirit and attitude: the ability to work with a variety of personnel, especially the piano faculty and administration in the College of Music; experience working with individuals from diverse communities.
- Ability to form and promote a "vision" for the long-term health of the department and the piano inventory.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends; must be able to travel between multiple University buildings.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status. Required Application Materials Cover letter Resume Together-we-will Statement The university is requiring all MSU students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with limited exceptions. Learn more at: https://msu.edu/together-we-will/Work Hours STANDARD 8-5 Bidding eligibility ends 5/17, 11:55 PM |
