Audio Visual Project Manager – Installations
Chelmsford, Essex
Full time, Monday to Friday
Salary: £45,000 to £55,000 depending on experience
Office-based, with travel to client sites
About Spotlight Sound
Spotlight Sound is a Chelmsford-based AV company delivering sound, lighting, video, service, maintenance and installation projects across churches, schools, theatres, public halls, hospitality venues and commercial spaces.
We are looking for an experienced Audio Visual Project Manager to take ownership of installation enquiries from first contact through to completion.
This is a key role in the business. At the moment, much of the install process is handled by the Managing Director, including initial client calls, site visits, surveys, specification, quoting, planning, engineer handover and project preparation. We now need someone experienced enough to take this on and run the process properly.
The role
This is a client-facing, technically focused project management role.
You will handle new installation enquiries, speak with clients, carry out site visits and surveys, understand what the client is trying to achieve, specify the right solution, prepare the quote, plan the job and hand it over clearly to the engineers.
Once a project is confirmed, you will coordinate the work through to completion, making sure the equipment, labour, paperwork and client communication are all properly managed.
This is not a hard sales role, but you must be confident with clients, commercially aware and able to turn enquiries into well-scoped, profitable and deliverable installation projects.
Key responsibilities
- Manage installation enquiries from initial contact through to completion.
- Carry out site visits and surveys across churches, schools, theatres, public halls, hospitality venues and commercial spaces.
- Understand client requirements and translate them into practical AV solutions.
- Specify suitable systems across sound, lighting, video, control, cabling, racks, microphones, projection, displays and associated infrastructure.
- Prepare accurate quotes and proposals using our internal quoting structure, supplier pricing and margin framework.
- Make project decisions within our agreed systems and commercial framework.
- Prepare clear engineer packs including survey notes, photos, marked-up plans, equipment lists, cable routes, access notes, labour requirements and handover information.
- Plan and coordinate installation works with engineers, suppliers, subcontractors and clients.
- Order and coordinate equipment so jobs are ready before the team arrives on site.
- Prepare project paperwork including RAMS, job sheets, completion notes and handover information.
- Act as the main client contact during the project, keeping communication clear and professional.
- Track project progress, cost and quality so jobs are delivered properly, profitably and on time.
- Support engineers with technical queries before and during installation.
- Close projects down properly with completion notes, snagging, handover information and internal follow-up.
What we are looking for
- Strong AV installation experience across commercial, education, worship, theatre, hospitality or public venue environments.
- Experience managing AV installation projects from survey and quote through to delivery and handover.
- Confident technical knowledge across audio, video, lighting, control, cabling, rack systems and commissioning.
- Good commercial awareness when specifying equipment, labour, access requirements, subcontractors and project costs.
- Ability to produce clear project information for engineers rather than relying on verbal handovers.
- Comfortable carrying out site surveys and identifying practical installation issues before they become problems.
- Strong client communication skills with the ability to ask good questions and explain technical solutions clearly.
- Organised and detail-focused, able to manage multiple enquiries and live projects at the same time.
- Comfortable using project management systems for quoting, scheduling, documents and communication.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to client sites when required.
Useful experience
Experience with any of the following would be helpful:
- Churches, schools, theatres, public halls or hospitality AV
- Sound system design and installation
- Stage lighting or architectural lighting systems
- Projection, displays, video distribution or digital signage
- Control systems, DSPs, networking or Dante
- Preparing engineer packs, project mark-ups or installation documentation
- StarDraw or similar schematic/design software
- RAMS, site paperwork, contractor coordination or CDM awareness
- Working with AV engineers, subcontractors and suppliers
Formal AV drawings and schematics would be a bonus, but the main requirement is the ability to produce clear, practical project information that engineers can actually work from.
Why this role matters
This is a chance to take real ownership of AV installation projects inside a growing business.
We want to move away from jobs being carried in people’s heads and build a stronger process with better surveys, better quotes, better engineer packs, clearer handovers and more consistent project delivery.
The right person will reduce pressure on the Managing Director, improve the client experience, give engineers better information and help us grow the installation side of the business properly.
What we offer
- Salary of £45,000 to £55,000 depending on experience
- Full-time, Monday to Friday role
- 28 days holiday including bank holidays
- Chelmsford office base
- Company/pool vehicle available for business travel where required
- Varied installation projects across churches, schools, theatres, public halls, hospitality and commercial venues
- Opportunity to shape how installation projects are surveyed, quoted, prepared and delivered
- A practical, growing AV business where good ideas can be put into action quickly
How to apply
Send your CV and a short note explaining your AV installation and project management experience.
We are especially interested in hearing from people who have carried out site surveys, specified AV systems, built quotes, prepared engineer handovers and taken responsibility for getting installation projects completed properly.
Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
