Technical Director/Designer

DePauw University•Greencastle, IN

About The Position

The Technical Director/Designer oversees all technical operations for theatrical productions and performing arts events, including scenic design and construction, lighting, sound, video, and rigging systems. The incumbent ensures safety compliance and coordinates the installation and operation of all technical elements. The Technical Director may serve as scenic and/or lighting designer for productions as assigned, and provides technical support for Institute of Music performances, admissions events, student organizations, and other campus events. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Reasonable Accommodations Statement To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential Functions Statement(s) Technical Director Role Approve set and lighting designs with regard to safety, compatibility and scheduling considerations. Coordinate technical rehearsals and load-ins for productions, including scheduling rehearsals, managing technical crews, and overseeing the installation of production elements. Recruit and schedule technical crew members, including shop workers, board operators. Provide training, guidance, and support to ensure that all crew members understand their roles and responsibilities. Develop production budgets for technical elements including sets, lighting, sound, and special effects. Monitor expenses, negotiate vendor contracts, and make budgetary decisions to ensure productions are executed within financial constraints. Mentor and evaluate student designers in collaboration with directors and faculty. Coordinate the procurement, construction, and maintenance of props for productions. Work with prop designers and artisans to ensure that props are created or acquired according to the artistic vision of the production, and manage their storage, transportation, and use during rehearsals and performances. Work with lighting designers to develop lighting plots and cues for productions. Oversee the installation and operation of lighting equipment, including hanging and focusing lights, programming light cues, and managing lighting effects during performances. Coordinate backstage activities during rehearsals and performances, including cueing actors, managing scene changes, and ensuring the smooth flow of the production. Serve as a liaison between the production team and the cast and crew to facilitate communication and resolve issues as they arise. Oversee all theatrical rigging operations including counterweight fly systems, calculate load capacities for flown elements, conduct regular inspections, train crew on safe rigging practices, and maintain inspection logs and documentation required for annual certifications. Maintain comprehensive inventories of scenic materials, stock scenery, lighting equipment, and related supplies. Develop and implement comprehensive safety procedures and protocols for all production activities to ensure compliance with OSHA, fire codes, and industry safety standards. Attend production meetings and operations meetings. Design Act as scenic designer and/or lighting designer for productions as assigned, which may include set design, lighting design, and video projection design for theatrical, music, and other performing arts events. Generate technical drawings for scenic and lighting elements as needed for construction and installation of materials. General Collaborate with the Director of Productions to review the performing arts production calendar and identify technical design needs. Review technical riders for guest artists as needed by the Director of Production. Provide technical support for guest artist events. Assist with events and performances as assigned in the Green Center, Music on the Square, and produced under the Creative School. Conduct regular safety inspections of equipment, facilities, and performance spaces, addressing any hazards and maintaining documentation of all safety checks. Support technical theatre courses by providing equipment access, technical demonstrations, and guidance to students as requested by faculty. Oversee production strikes. Assist in developing a technical plan for space upgrades. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of five years’ experience in design and construction of theatrical scenic elements and technical rehearsal required.
Experience with single purchase fly system operation required.
Microsoft Office Suite, Google Calendar and Google Apps, and Online Data Entry.
Experience with AutoCAD and/or Vectorworks is required.
Extensive organizational skills.
Must be available on some nights and weekends as events occur.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred; degree in technical theatre preferred.
Experience with stage lighting and video projections desired.
OSHA 30 training preferred.
Qualifications to acquire a Pyrotechnic license from the state of Indiana is desired.

Responsibilities

Approve set and lighting designs with regard to safety, compatibility and scheduling considerations.
Coordinate technical rehearsals and load-ins for productions, including scheduling rehearsals, managing technical crews, and overseeing the installation of production elements.
Recruit and schedule technical crew members, including shop workers, board operators.
Provide training, guidance, and support to ensure that all crew members understand their roles and responsibilities.
Develop production budgets for technical elements including sets, lighting, sound, and special effects.
Monitor expenses, negotiate vendor contracts, and make budgetary decisions to ensure productions are executed within financial constraints.
Mentor and evaluate student designers in collaboration with directors and faculty.
Coordinate the procurement, construction, and maintenance of props for productions.
Work with prop designers and artisans to ensure that props are created or acquired according to the artistic vision of the production, and manage their storage, transportation, and use during rehearsals and performances.
Work with lighting designers to develop lighting plots and cues for productions.
Oversee the installation and operation of lighting equipment, including hanging and focusing lights, programming light cues, and managing lighting effects during performances.
Coordinate backstage activities during rehearsals and performances, including cueing actors, managing scene changes, and ensuring the smooth flow of the production.
Serve as a liaison between the production team and the cast and crew to facilitate communication and resolve issues as they arise.
Oversee all theatrical rigging operations including counterweight fly systems, calculate load capacities for flown elements, conduct regular inspections, train crew on safe rigging practices, and maintain inspection logs and documentation required for annual certifications.
Maintain comprehensive inventories of scenic materials, stock scenery, lighting equipment, and related supplies.
Develop and implement comprehensive safety procedures and protocols for all production activities to ensure compliance with OSHA, fire codes, and industry safety standards.
Attend production meetings and operations meetings.
Act as scenic designer and/or lighting designer for productions as assigned, which may include set design, lighting design, and video projection design for theatrical, music, and other performing arts events.
Generate technical drawings for scenic and lighting elements as needed for construction and installation of materials.
Collaborate with the Director of Productions to review the performing arts production calendar and identify technical design needs.
Review technical riders for guest artists as needed by the Director of Production.
Provide technical support for guest artist events.
Assist with events and performances as assigned in the Green Center, Music on the Square, and produced under the Creative School.
Conduct regular safety inspections of equipment, facilities, and performance spaces, addressing any hazards and maintaining documentation of all safety checks.
Support technical theatre courses by providing equipment access, technical demonstrations, and guidance to students as requested by faculty.
Oversee production strikes.
Assist in developing a technical plan for space upgrades.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
Basic Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and Long Term Disability are paid for by DePauw University.
Full time employees may elect to purchase additional voluntary life insurance for themselves and their dependents.
Tuition Remission and Exchange, as well as Relocation Allowance are also employee benefits.
retirement savings plan
employee discounts and access to University resources
Vacation Time, Personal Time (hourly) and Sick Time policies
Cigna Employee Assistance benefit
Welch Fitness Center and wellness classes
Indoor Tennis and Track Center
University Libraries
Peeler art galleries
Green Center for the Performing Arts events and programs
Ubben lecture series
Free athletic events
Bookstore and Starbucks (Greencastle) discounts
Employee discounted meal plan
Free parking
Nature park, including walking and biking trails
Personal duplicating and printing discounts