Assistant Technical Director

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER•Chicago, IL

5d•$70,000 - $72,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the Assistant Technical Director partners with the Technical Director in the technical planning and management of scenic production for the Theater’s produced and presented works. The ATD takes ownership of assigned projects and day-to-day shop and stage operations, translating scenic designs and approved technical drawings into clear work plans and leading crews through safe construction, installation, changeovers, maintenance, and strikes. The role includes interpreting and developing working drawings, answering shop staff’s technical questions, coordinating materials and staffing, tracking progress and labor against schedules and budgets, and communicating issues and proposed changes to the Technical Director and other departments. The ATD also represents CST in communication with external collaborators’ technical departments to support performances on CST stages and at site-specific venues throughout Chicago. Work is primarily at CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, with work also taking place at the CST Warehouse, City Parks, and other off-site performance venues. Work hours are generally 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, but may be scheduled earlier or later. Overtime, evening, weekend, and holiday hours are necessary. The position involves varied work environments, including construction shops, stages, trap rooms, catwalks and grids, warehouses, loading docks, and outdoors. The work may involve dirty, noisy, low-light, tight, or cramped spaces; potentially hazardous materials and equipment; and regular use of personal protective equipment. The position requires physical tasks such as climbing, stooping, pushing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling; extended periods sitting or standing and working at a computer; working at height; operating tools with manual dexterity; and repeatedly moving up to 50 pounds. The role may also require performing physical tasks while wearing a body harness, hardhat, and safety glasses.

Requirements

A minimum of five years of experience in technical direction, scene shop management, or stage operations supervision at a large regional theater or equivalent.
AutoCAD literacy and drafting abilities, including 3D drafting capabilities.
Working knowledge of all aspects of scenic technical design and production.
Knowledge of rigging, stage engineering, scenic construction techniques, carpentry, welding, and safe working practices in the theater.
Project management and decision-making skills.
Demonstrated exceptional human management skills in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Mission-driven.
Ability to perform physical tasks including climbing, stooping, pushing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling; ability to sit or stand for long periods and work at a computer for hours; ability to work at height; ability to move up to 50 pounds repeatedly; and manual dexterity in operating tools.
Ability to work overtime and evening, weekend, and holiday hours as necessary.

Responsibilities

Manage IATSE technicians and a large workforce of over-hire carpenters.
Create construction drawings and technical designs for CST in-house builds.
Interpret scenic drawings in the context of the full production.
Answer shop staff’s technical questions.
Independently plan and lead crews in the safe execution of assigned shop and stage operations.
Work with the Technical Director to manage off-site build locations, particularly off-site scene shops.
Coordinate procurement of scene shop materials and supplies.
Coordinate implementation of safety programs within the scene shop.
Monitor technical rehearsals and take notes from the scenic designer.
Represent CST in communications with external collaborators’ technical departments to support performances on CST stages and in site-specific work throughout Chicago.
Coordinate hiring of over-hire labor for load-ins and load-outs.
Coordinate management and hiring of scenic charge artists.
Track assigned work against schedules and alert the Technical Director early to delays, staffing needs, or technical issues.
Help maintain scene shop inventories.
Participate in committees, events, training, and other initiatives as needed.
Model CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration, as well as its customer service ethos.
Perform other duties as assigned.