Director of Production

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER•Chicago, IL

3d•$125,000 - $135,000

About The Position

The Director of Production is a strategic, accomplished, creative leader who works closely with the Artistic Director to bring a full season of programming to life on the stages at CST. This position is a member of the theater’s Senior Staff and is responsible for providing innovative and strategic leadership of the Production departments including long-range and annual season planning, budgeting, and allocating financial and staff resources. The Director of Production facilitates effective communications between directors, designers, creative teams and the production staff; supervises the contracting of employees and designers; monitors progress of all production elements; ensures resilient, efficient, and stable production operations; develops productive relationships with labor unions and maintains high artistic standards for all productions within budget parameters. This position reports to the Artistic Director and works closely with the Executive Director, Artistic Administrator, and General Manager as well as other members of the senior staff to plan and support the full breadth of activity at CST. The Director of Production’s direct reports include the Production Manager, Technical Director, Costumes Department Manager, Properties Department Manager, Lighting and Video Department Manager, Sound Department Manager, and Hair and Wig Supervisor.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree with at least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in production management; preferably in large producing theaters.
Experience in an organization engaged in multi-venue operations and organizational growth.
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively and collegially within a complex performing arts organization while affecting and leading change where needed.
Experience overseeing multi-faceted operations and business in a fast-paced, public-serving institution.
Demonstrated success in juggling multiple projects and competing priorities across multiple streams with attention to detail.
Experience and success in advancing organizational inclusive strategies in a complex organization that includes a unionized workforce.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team and positive work culture.
Exceptional relationship management skills to function as the primary liaison with creative teams, vendors, and staff
An ability to interact effectively with commercial producers, artists, donors, and a board of directors with tact, diplomacy and gravitas.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to initiate creative solutions for complex problems
Strong organizational, prioritization, time, and project management skills.
Ability to demonstrate a deep commitment to advancing equity and inclusion.
Negotiation, analytical, and research skills to interpret data, prepare conclusions and successfully negotiate terms and conditions of contracts and proposals that are in the best interest of the institution

Responsibilities

Oversee and lead the Production Departments and their staff and create a solution oriented, positive culture that supports the work of the directors and designers for each production as well as supports the work of other CST departments including education, development, and marketing/communications.
Support the Artistic Director and participate in long range and season planning process.
Attend and actively contribute to season planning meetings by suggesting creative teams and programming ideas and perspectives.
Provide focus, prioritization, and context for production department managers in a landscape of multiple and concurrent commitments.
Collaborate with Artistic Administrator in creating a welcoming and supportive environment and consistent onboarding of creative teams to the organization.
Facilitate effective and productive design and production meetings, ensure deadlines are met and oversee the tech/production process.
Coordinate effective communication among the directors, designers, creative teams and all members of production staff.
Manage commercial transfers and CST national and international touring efforts.
Engage with commercial producers and co-producing partners and ensure a positive experience with the production departments.
Serve as the lead with IATSE, USA Scenic Artists, SDC as well as part of the negotiation team for all union agreements. Understand in detail the CBA’s for all unions to ensure CST creates and maintains a positive working relationship with all unions.
Oversee and monitor the creation of schedules for building, production and presentation activities.
Create the conditions for a safe working environment in all production and theater spaces. Ensure that necessary and appropriate stage safety training is regularly provided on schedule. Advise Executive and Artistic Director of possible risks or hazards
Implement a system of reviewing all production activities after each production or event and documenting lessons learned and how we can continuously improve in delivering productions in effective and efficient ways, including safety, timeliness, management of expenses, employee engagement, process improvement, and artist satisfaction
Create, maintain, and monitor a variety of complex production budgets and schedules that contribute to the fiscal health of the theater, including appropriate forecasting, maximizing efficiencies, and controlling costs.
Oversee annual production budget, monitor expenses to ensure they stay within budget and provide timely updates of actual expenses and projections.
Oversee the timely and complete scheduling of all stage production labor to ensure the most efficient use of staff
Oversee the accurate management of production payroll
Oversee the negotiations and contracting of design teams and directors and choreographers (scenic, props, costume, lighting, sound, other production support)
Develop and refine long-range staffing plans and long-range operating budget.
Develop capital facilities and equipment needs plan for a future capital campaign including strategies for equipment upgrades and obsolescence planning.
Oversee the development and solicitation of competitive bids for production and theater equipment, purchase/replacement, capital projects, and special vendor services. Make recommendations on best value or best pricing.
Explore revenue opportunities for potential expanded production facilities and existing theater spaces; develop business plans with revenue and cost forecasting
Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and as a conduit for information between senior management and production staff.
Attend full Board of Directors meetings as a member of senior staff
Proactively contribute to CST’s mission and values.
Positively contribute to a supportive, respectful, inclusive work culture, creating a future where our theatre is a home for all people, reflective of our community.
As a member of the leadership team, work some evenings and weekends as needed to attend Board meetings, opening nights, and community engagement events.
Performs other related duties as assigned.