Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

Supervises all of the personnel and expenses involved in the manufacture, mounting, maintenance, running, and striking of all production elements of all Productions of the Pioneer Theatre Company. Supervises the daily coordination of work between departments. Actively participates in the planning for the future of the pioneer Theatre Company and advises the Artistic Director concerning the feasibility and costs involved in the undertakings of the theatre.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts, or a related field, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); seven years of professional theatre experience; and a thorough knowledge of stage design and layout, properties, lighting, sound and sound effects, stage rigging, carpentry, welding, painting, prop making and costumes required. Excellent oral and written communications skills; supervisory and training skills; an ability to work in a detail and deadline-oriented environment; and a commitment to the service excellence concept also required.

A Master's degree in Theatre Arts is preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

1. Hires, fires, disciplines, directly supervises department heads, makes salary recommendations and responds to grievances for all the production staff.
2. Develops, maintains and administers production budgets for the seven main stage shows produced annually.
3. Encourages interdepartmental communications, and communications between artists and directors and design and production personnel.
4. Participates in planning and achieving the artistic goals of the theatre.
5. Assesses the technical feasibility of proposed projects and passes that information to the Artistic Director.
6. Develops relationships with subcontractors, vendors, and other campus departments to encourage trade and donation of goods and services.
7. Supervises the set construction staff.
8. Organizes and coordinates the daily work between departments.
9. Estimates and orders materials relating to set construction.
10. Trains or assigns training of apprentices.
11. Participates in the creative process regarding the transformation of plans and scale models to full scale settings.
12. Acts as a representative of the theatre to off campus organizations and schools requesting speakers or tours.
13. Develops production deadlines and calendar for the season.
14. Participates in the long range planning for the improvement of the facilities, equipment and personnel.
15. Maintains the tools and equipment of the theatre.
16. Stocks hardware and supplies in inventory.
17. Maintains shop health and safety standards.

Problem Solving

The incumbent has the authority to hire, fire and discipline production staff employees. Recommendations are made to the Artistic Director and Managing Director concerning salary decisions. Recommendations are also made regarding materials budgets based on the incumbent's projections of expenses for the proposed season. Once the budgets are established, the incumbent has the freedom and responsibility to disperse the funds as is necessary to achieve the desired results.

Some challenges the incumbent encounters deal with the designs and budgets for the settings. Specific costs and time estimates must be made to determine if a project is feasible. Often creative solutions must be discovered to create the desired effect within the limitations of budgets, time and space. The incumbent, in conjunction with designers, craftspersons, and department heads, is responsible for inventing cost-effective means of achieving desired settings and effects.

Other problems that face the incumbent lie in hiring talent not currently on the staff, searching for unusual materials, researching unfamiliar procedures or techniques, inventing new effects, or locating and procuring specialized equipment. The incumbent must diplomatically seek compromises in order to balance what is desired with what is affordable and feasible.

Comments

The incumbent attends all rehearsals on stage. This requires six to eight sixteen hour days every six weeks. She/he must also be on call during performances.