Production Manager

American Stage Company•St. Petersburg, FL

16d

About The Position

The Production Manager is an active member of American Stage’s senior staff and is responsible for coordinating and executing the theatre’s production operations. The role provides leadership across production management, budgets, scheduling, technical operations, artist logistics, company management, union compliance, facilities coordination, and production-related purchasing and contracts. The Production Manager works with the Managing Director, Producing Artistic Director/Artistic Director, department heads, and other teams to deliver productions safely, creatively, on schedule, and within established budgets. The role is also the primary organizational liaison for guest artists from onboarding through the completion of their engagements, helping provide a professional, welcoming, and well-organized experience. The Production Manager leads production planning and execution, develops and maintains production schedules, oversees production departments and personnel, monitors budgets and expenses, coordinates guest artist logistics, and supports union and contract administration. The position participates in senior leadership planning and works across departments to support productions and organizational operations. The successful candidate fosters a positive, efficient, inclusive, and collaborative production culture aligned with American Stage’s mission, vision, and values. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with a 40-hour workweek. The stated salary range is $45,000–$55,000 annually. The position requires evening, weekend, holiday, and extended technical rehearsal work as production schedules require, as well as responding to production needs outside standard business hours when necessary. Eligible employees are offered health, dental, and vision insurance, plus paid vacation, holidays, sick time, and personal days in accordance with American Stage policies.

Requirements

Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in production management, company management, theatre management, or a related role in a professional or regional theatre environment.
Demonstrated experience managing production budgets, schedules, personnel, vendors, and multiple concurrent priorities.
Thorough knowledge of theatrical production processes, backstage operations, and production best practices.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities.
Strong financial management skills and demonstrated ability to monitor budgets, track expenses, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities in fast-paced or high-pressure production environments.
Ability to collaborate with artists, technicians, administrators, vendors, and organizational leadership.
Experience with digital project management, scheduling, and administrative tools, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office/Excel.
Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, production paperwork, schedules, contracts, and budgets.
Knowledge of theatrical health and safety standards and safe working procedures.
Demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative workplace.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive personnel and artist matters professionally.
Ability to work independently while maintaining strong communication and accountability across departments.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended technical rehearsal hours as required by production schedules, and respond to production needs outside standard business hours when necessary.
Ability to navigate production spaces, backstage areas, shops, rehearsal spaces, and performance venues safely.
Ability to remain stationary or active for extended periods during rehearsals, technical processes, performances, meetings, and other production activities.
Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move production-related materials or equipment as reasonably required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Theatre, Performing Arts, Theatre Management, or a related field preferred.
Experience working with theatrical unions and union agreements, particularly AEA; familiarity with SDC and USA is preferred.
Familiarity with theatrical design and technical software such as Vectorworks, AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar applications.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of production elements, ensuring work is completed safely, on time, and within budget.
Create and maintain the master production calendar, including design deadlines, build schedules, rehearsals, technical rehearsals, performances, strikes, and other milestones.
Work with artistic and organizational leaders to develop season calendars, rehearsal and performance schedules, and production timelines.
Work with the Artistic Department on selecting and engaging designers and other guest artists as requested.
Participate in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and supervising production employees and seasonal staff.
Manage and supervise full-time production staff, designers, seasonal and overhire employees, production fellows, and other production personnel as applicable.
Allocate production management responsibilities among the Technical Director, Costume Shop Manager, and other production staff as appropriate.
Oversee scenic, lighting, sound, costume, and other production departments, coordinating with department heads to meet artistic and technical expectations, schedules, and budgets.
Lead the production process from pre-production and initial design meetings through opening and performances, maintaining communication among creative teams, production staff, and organizational leadership.
Ensure creative teams understand available resources, production deadlines, technical limitations, and performance-space requirements.
Track production progress and identify scheduling, staffing, budget, or technical challenges early enough to develop solutions.
Oversee production facilities, equipment, and technical assets, including maintenance, rentals, purchases, inventory, and appropriate use.
Serve as a primary liaison for facility needs involving rehearsal spaces, performance spaces, production areas, and artist housing.
Ensure production operations comply with applicable health and safety regulations and accepted theatrical best practices; promote a safe, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative working environment.
Develop and manage production and department budgets in collaboration with the Artistic Director and Managing Director.
Track production expenses against approved line-item budgets and maintain accurate financial records and reconciliations.
Monitor spending and communicate budget variances, projected overages, and potential savings in a timely manner.
Work with the Managing Director and accounting staff to ensure production expenses are properly coded to the General Ledger and processed promptly.
Manage production-related purchasing, rentals, materials, equipment, and technical service contracts; negotiate with vendors and service providers when appropriate.
Participate in long-range financial and operational planning as a member of the senior leadership team.
Serve as the primary organizational contact for directors, designers, and other guest artists throughout their time at American Stage.
Coordinate artist onboarding, including contracts, housing, travel, transportation, per diems, schedules, and other logistical needs.
Develop and maintain digital systems for artist onboarding, contracts, expense tracking, scheduling, and company management.
Coordinate guest artist housing, prioritizing efficient and cost-effective use of American Stage-owned or otherwise available housing.
Coordinate guest artist travel and local transportation as needed.
Provide artists timely and accurate information about schedules, housing, transportation, rehearsal and performance expectations, and organizational procedures.
Serve as the primary liaison for guest artists staying in Artist Housing and work with the Managing Director and Artistic Director to address issues.
Provide guest artists a welcoming and professional experience while maintaining appropriate boundaries and compliance with organizational policies and budget limits.
Help visiting artists integrate into American Stage’s organizational culture and community; resolve logistical concerns in a timely, professional, and solutions-oriented manner.
Serve as a primary liaison with applicable theatrical unions, including Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), and United Scenic Artists (USA), as applicable.
Ensure union contracts, reports, payroll documentation, pension and health payments, and other required paperwork are accurate and submitted on time.
Work with the Managing Director and accounting/payroll staff to comply with union agreements and organizational requirements.
Maintain organized records of artist contracts, union documentation, and production-related agreements; assist with interpreting and implementing applicable union agreements and requirements.
Meet regularly with direct reports to ensure they have the information, resources, support, and training needed to perform their duties effectively.
Conduct annual performance reviews for direct reports.
Communicate regularly with the Managing Director and Artistic Director about production milestones, budgets, staffing, artist logistics, and emerging issues.
Provide status updates on production progress, budget performance, scheduling, and company management matters.
Collaborate with Artistic, Marketing, Development, Education, Front of House, Finance, and other departments.
Participate in senior leadership discussions, long-range planning, policy development, and organizational problem-solving.
Advance American Stage’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in production staffing, artist engagement, workplace culture, and organizational practices.
Perform duties consistently with American Stage’s mission, vision, and values, and undertake other duties as assigned.