Higher Ed Diverse Jobs | Technical Director and Scene Shop Manager at University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States

Technical Director and Scene Shop Manager

Apply Now

University of Notre Dame

Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
Category: Admin-Other Administrative Positions
Application Deadline:

Job Description

Job Title

Technical Director and Scene Shop Manager

Job Description

Throughout its history, the University of Notre Dame has made an extraordinary commitment to advancing the arts. From its earliest days of building art collections and constructing performance venues, the University has continuously invested in a purposeful engagement with the arts on campus and throughout the wider community. We are searching for someone who shares the same passion and mission to join our dynamic team as the Technical Program Director with the College of Arts and Letters.

Job Description: The Technical Program Director has a vital role within the College of Arts and Letters, supporting multiple departments including Film, Television, and Theatre, Musical Theatre, Opera, and Shakespeare. This position is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the Scene Shop, scenic storage, and scenic work within the college. Under the supervision of the Production Manager and with direction from the individual production directors, the Technical Program Director leads teams of students through the build, installation, maintenance, and strike of over eight productions per year.

The ideal candidate is a leader who sets a positive tone for the work environment and fosters a culture of learning and excellence. The Technical Program Director’s top priorities will be:

Scene Shop Oversight

Ensures the production of theatre scenery and sets on schedule by determining the kind and amount of materials required, the tools or equipment needed, the order and sequence involved in the fabrication of the single items or complete units, and the time required to meet production deadlines.
Ensures the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the Scene Shop, scenic storage, and scenic work within all rehearsal, performance, and auxiliary spaces.
Under the supervision of the Production Manager and with direction from the Production Director, Lead a team of students through the build, installation, maintenance, and strike of over eight productions per year.
Ensures the efficient daily operation of the theatre scenery shop by maintaining a sufficient inventory of supplies, construction materials and equipment, and purchasing replacement items as needed.
Promotes preventive maintenance as a strategy in maintaining hand and power tools as well as gas and electric welders by performing and directing the routine maintenance and cleaning of all tools and equipment in the scenery shop.
Ensures an accident-free learning and work environment by enforcing safety rules and supervising students when operating scenery shop tools and equipment.

Scenic Design & Development

Produces quality theatre scenery by assisting the technical director, scenic designer and artistic director in the development of desired product.
Seeks the most artistically appropriate solution in the completion of the projects by utilizing industry-accepted practices and tolerances when working with such materials as wood, metal, plastics, and canvas.
Directs the activities of the scenery shop by planning and organizing construction projects utilizing rough sketches, basic blueprints or verbal instructions.
Assists in shaping the final scenic designs by providing construction advice and artistic input to the designer and technical director.
Supports theatre presentations by assisting in the set up of stage units, directing the placement and rigging of scenery, and supervising the dismantling and storage of stage units following the production.

Scene Shop Budget

Responsible for adhering to the individual production budgets as well as overseeing the Scene Shop budget. Budget oversight begins the pre-planning phase for each production and concludes only when the production has closed and is taken down and stored or disposed of (strike).
Work closely with scenic designers, directors, production managers and producers to ensure that individual productions and overhead fits within the established budgetary profile.

Please note: This is a five-year, limited-term position. Contingent on funding, the position may be extended.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Theatre with an emphasis in Technical Theatre
At least two years practical work experience in the technical preparation and construction of theatre scenery and stage units

Skills:

Supervisory skills are required.
Mechanical skills in the use of hand and power tools, and gas and electric welders are required. The ability to read and understand floor plans, color renderings, electrical schematics, and advanced construction plans or blueprints is required.
Strong oral and written communications skills are required.
The ability to instruct on material relevant to technical production labs is required.
The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

Effort:

The ability to lift and carry materials weighing between 50 – 100 pounds on a daily basis is required.
The position requires prolonged standing, frequent bending or stooping and climbing of steps and ladders.
Occasionally may be required to work on stage grid at a height of 60 feet.

Other: The scope of the job may require working evenings and/or weekends, particularly prior to openings of theatre production presentations.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with an MFA in technical theatre, as well as those with the skills and expertise to lead one course per year for students in scenic design or construction. Preference will also be given to those who have previously served as Technical Director for an academic or professional institution.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please note: This is a five-year, limited-term position. Contingent on funding, the position may be extended.

Department

Dean's Offc-Coll. of Arts & Letters (30000)

Department Website

https://al.nd.edu/

Family / Sub-Family

Academic Aff / Performing Arts

Career Stream/Level

EIC 2 Professional

Department Hiring Pay Range

Up to $70,000