Performing Arts Faculty: Stage Design Teacher & Technical Director

The Northwest School • Seattle, WA

228d • $57,931 - $105,644

About The Position

The Northwest School is an independent day and boarding school. We serve students in grades 6 to 12 on an urban campus in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. We provide an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that nurtures compassionate, globally aware and environmentally conscious individuals who find joy in learning and are ready to inspire and innovate in our interconnected world. Northwest fosters a warm, inclusive community dedicated to our school values. We believe that a diverse community enriches our institution, making it more creative and dynamic. The Northwest School is committed to building a faculty and student body that reflects the diversity of the broader society. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. The Northwest School seeks a Stage Design & Technology Teacher & Technical Director with professional experience in teaching, theatrical design, and technical direction. This position requires someone who works well with students from 6th-12th grade and can foster mentoring relationships among students in multi-level classroom environments. This is a 10-month .75 FTE teaching faculty position, comprised of .5 FTE teaching responsibilities and .25 FTE technical director responsibilities specific to Northwest School theatre arts productions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Experience in professional and educational stage productions and a solid background in theatre technology.
• A strong pedagogical toolkit for student accessibility to curriculum and success in the classroom.
• A commitment to the school's mission, values, and philosophy, as well as to a learning and working culture where all community members feel seen, valued, and heard.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree and 3+ years of teaching experience.

Responsibilities

• .5 FTE Teaching: One section of Middle School Stage Design & Technology, one section of Upper School Stage Design & Technology. Courses cover the fundamentals of design and technical work in the theater through classroom instruction and practical application. Students will demonstrate their learning in at least one of these areas by participating in at least one school theatre production.
• Skills taught within these courses include: Scenic design, carpentry, painting, and prop construction; Use of CAD software; Lighting design and lightboard operation; Sound design and soundboard operation; Stage management; Front of house roles; Backstage crew roles.
• Successful instruction includes: Creating clearly articulated and sequenced lesson plans that build on students' prior knowledge; Engaging students individually and in group settings; Assessing student learning via formal and informal assessments; Delivering feedback that is substantive, informative, and drives student learning; Enforcing applicable safety practices in the theatre/classroom environment; Utilizing classroom management strategies that uphold the mission and values of our community; Working with members of team to ensure vertical and horizontal alignment of Theatre Curriculum.
• .25 Technical Director: Support all MS and US Theatre productions. This includes: Serve as Technical Director for all school theatre productions. Work with theatre director(s) and Costume Design teacher to organize, design and manage the technical aspects of performances, including load-in and strikes of sets. Support student stage managers/assistant directors, backstage crew, and front of house team, etc. in carrying out these roles.
• Complete additional carpentry work outside of class time to ensure safety. Attend Tech Week rehearsals and supervise/manage the technical aspects of mounting each production. Manage/maintain the Black Box theatre technical booth, greenroom, and workshop. Maintain records of inventory. Ensure maintenance/upkeep of tools, audio-visual equipment, software, lighting & sound instruments and grid and all technical equipment.
• Collaborate with Performing Arts Department Chair to manage production budgets; maintain inventory and order specialized supplies. Make recommendations to the Dept Chair regarding capital purchases of technical equipment.
• Attend all required faculty meetings, including Arts, Full Faculty, Division, D.E.I., and Professional Development meetings. Serve as an academic advisor to a group of middle or upper school students. Communicate and collaborate regularly with department chair, division directors, and colleagues. Complete all other duties of teaching faculty at NWS as assigned by department chair, divisional leadership, or head of school.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and life and accident insurance coverage, fully paid for employee only coverage.
• A retirement program matches up to 6% of an employee's salary after one year of service in a 403(b) plan.
• An intentional, mission focused school culture.
• Generous time off, lunch, access to the on-site fitness facility.
• An exceptional commitment to professional development.
• A unique urban location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree