Production Manager

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

53d • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Manager reports to the Technical Director for college theater and oversees productions and related activities of the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club (HRDC), as well as undergraduate productions supported by the Office for the Arts and other special projects. The position manages main and black box stages and all disciplines of the production process. The Production Manager advises and mentors students on technical theater, design, production planning, and safe production practices; coordinates performance, rehearsal, and production-support spaces; and supervises production staff. The Production Manager works closely with students, directors, designers, professional staff, and other stakeholders to ensure that productions and projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in alignment with established artistic and institutional standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and five years of related experience.
• Management experience
• Ability and willingness to work a varied schedule including evening and weekends
• Demonstrated ability to work with students and staff of all backgrounds and skills.
• Experience coordinating multiple theatrical production disciplines.
• Working knowledge of scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, props, projections, and theatrical production processes.
• Experience maintaining community standards in a work environment.
• Excellent communication skills, judgment, and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a high-stress production environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage all phases and technical disciplines of the production process for HRDC and OFA-supported undergraduate productions. This may include planning, design development, construction, procurement, installation, load-in, technical rehearsals, performances, and load-out or strike.
• Coordinate production activities across scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, props, projections, and other technical or design areas required by each production.
• Develop and execute production strategies, schedules, and deadlines, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and in alignment with established artistic standards.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate students on design, production planning, technical theater, and production processes.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among students, OFA, and program, facility, and operations staff, as well as other stakeholders, ensuring that production needs are understood and addressed across all disciplines.
• Remain up-to-date on rehearsal, technical rehearsal, and performance reports
• Oversee daily production operations associated with HRDC and OFA-supported undergraduate performances.
• Coordinate the scheduling and use of rehearsal, classroom, performance, shop, storage, and production-support spaces required for HRDC and OFA-supported undergraduate productions.
• Manage undergraduate production and rehearsal schedules in coordination with students, production staff, and other institutional stakeholders.
• Create schedules for nonperformance events requiring exclusive use of the venues.
• Process and respond to rehearsal, performance, and production-space requests related to HRDC and OFA-supported undergraduate productions.
• Prepare and distribute relevant space and production schedules on a regular basis.
• Coordinate access to scenery, lighting, sound, costume, prop, projection, shop, storage, and technical-support spaces required for undergraduate productions.
• Monitor the appropriate use of assigned rehearsal, performance, and production spaces.
• Coordinate production needs among undergraduate groups sharing venue spaces and resources
• Supervise a team of regular, contingent, and student staff supporting HRDC and OFA-supported productions across scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, props, projections, and other production needs.
• Coordinate, supervise, and train staff and students in the safe operation of theatrical, technical, and production equipment.
• Facilitate workshops and training related to production practices, equipment operation, and a safe and healthy working environment.
• Promote consistent safety practices across all production disciplines.
• Oversee production budgets associated with HRDC and assigned OFA-supported undergraduate productions, including purchasing activities and accurate financial record-keeping.
• Monitor production expenditures across scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, props, projections, and other production needs.
• Oversee production inventory, equipment maintenance, storage, and related resources across all technical and design disciplines.
• Coordinate the purchasing, rental, maintenance, and return of production equipment and materials as needed for production in the Loeb drama center and beyond.
• Advances outside rental events and special events
• Determines needs and coordinates production support and staff for rentals

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level