Technical Director Theatre Program
Job Description
Technical Director
Theatre Program, Lincoln Center
Fordham University
Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City. Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools.
- Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents
- A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan.
- As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
- As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.
- University employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.
Hybrid Policy:
Please review the Hybrid Policy here.
Position Summary
Fordham University seeks a skilled, experienced Technical Director with expertise
in scenic painting, carpentry, and building theatrical productions in an educational
environment for a full-time, fully benefited yearly position. The Theatre Program is
based at Fordham’s Lincoln Center Campus in Manhattan and is housed
academically within a department alongside Visual Art. Students receive a B.A.
with a concentration in one of four areas: performance, design and production,
directing, and playwriting. Historically, the Program produces four mainstage
productions with professional guest artists and sixteen student-led studio
productions annually. Fordham Theatre is committed to cultivating an expansive
vision for the program that assures its preeminent standing, elevates its profile as
an innovative leader in the field of undergraduate theater training, and centers
social justice, anti-racism and anti-ableism in all aspects of its work.
Under the direct supervision of the Production Manager, the Technical Director
plays an integral leadership role in the Fordham Theater Program.
Responsibilities range from the full execution of designs for the mainstage
productions; management of the scenic shop and supervision of students,
including work-study student workers; and mentorship of student-led studio
productions. Detailed responsibilities are listed below and can be altered in
agreement with the technical director and production manager. The ideal
candidate will have a passion for arts education, strong collaboration,
communication skills; excellent technical skills and expertise, and be able to
maintain high quality and standards within a safe and supportive work
environment. The chosen candidate is deeply committed to equity, access and
inclusion and has a joy and passion in sharing knowledge and learning with
students.
This position reports to the Production Manager and supervises the Assistant
Scenic Shop Supervisor and Students.
Essential Functions
Mainstage Productions
There are two mainstage productions per semester, four per academic year. The
technical director is responsible for the build of the scenery, rigging, and
supervising student crews throughout
the process. This includes, but is not limited to:
∙Attend all production meetings, as well as communicate with designers
outside of formal meeting times.
∙Attend technical rehearsals
∙Interpret the scenic designer’s submitted plans and discussing viability
with the designer and production manager
∙Provide a cost analysis to ensure the set can be built within the given
budget
∙Create technical working drawings to be used to construct scenery and
teach students how to utilize them
∙Order materials needed to build scenery, submit expenses, and monitor
budget
∙Oversee students working in the scenic shop to ensure correct and safe
practices.practices.
∙Oversee and coordinate scenic painting and/or hiring of scenic artists
when necessary
∙Oversee strike of the four productions and “mini-strike” when necessary.
∙General troubleshooting and problem solving throughout technical
rehearsals and performances periods.
Scenic Shop
The Technical Director is responsible for overseeing the scenic shop and the
students who are doing lab hours in the shop. This includes but is not limited to:
∙Ensure safe and correct practices in the shop
∙Maintain tools, equipment, and materials (Flats, platforms, soft goods,
etc.)
∙Supervise the Assistant Scenic Shop Supervisor
∙Maintain first aid and safety supplies
∙Schedule students lab hours in the scenic shop
∙Schedule and supervise work study students in scenic shop
Theater Program Responsibilities
The Technical Director is a leader within the Theatre Program, a valued and
integral member of the theater program staff and contributes to the program in a
variety of ways beyond the scenic shop. These include but are not limited to:
∙Track, monitor and provide feedback for students’ learning and progress
∙Oversee work study students hours and submit hours for approval
∙Attend weekly faculty and production meetings
∙Mentor and approve student scenic designs for studio productions
∙Teach lab portion of collaboration class
∙Support classroom needs where appropriate
Qualifications:
∙Commitment to an inclusive, accessible, and equitable workplace
environment; sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic,
socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and backgrounds of faculty, staff and
students.
∙Collaborative leadership style with leadership experience working in a
professional and/or educational Scene Shop.
∙Teaching and/or mentoring experience
∙Scene painting and carpentry skills
∙Resourceful and works independently to ensure that each task is
thoroughly executed.
∙Ability to supervise, work with, and teach students
∙Delegates effectively and meets students where they are in their level of
experience
∙Ability to maintain artistic intent within financial and time constraints.
∙A thorough understanding of the scene design and construction processes
and all of the related aspects of the overall theatre production process.
∙Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Working Conditions and Physical Necessities:
∙Ability to work long hours and work with a flexible schedule, including
nights and weekends.
∙May have to work at heights, around moving machinery, and with
exposure to noise, vibration, and dust.
∙Ability to work safely in an environment containing potentially hazardous
electrical equipment, fumes, and/or materials.
∙Ability to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting,
bending, standing, climbing, and/or walking. Capable of lifting 50lbs.
Essential Functions Note
This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.
Management Responsibilities
Guides work of other employees who perform essentially the same work and/or
student workers. Organizes, sets priorities, schedules and reviews work, but is
generally not responsible for final decisions in hiring, performance management
or compensation.
Required Qualifications: Education and Experience
∙Bachelor Degree
∙Minimum of 5 years of experience working in a scenic shop
∙Teaching and/or mentoring experience at the undergraduate level
Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills
∙Commitment to an inclusive, accessible, and equitable workplace
environment; sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic,
socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and backgrounds of faculty, staff and
students.
∙Collaborative leadership style with leadership experience working in a
professional and/or educational Scene Shop.
∙Scene painting and carpentry skills.
∙Resourceful and works independently to ensure that each task is
thoroughly executed.
∙Ability to supervise, work with, and teach students.
∙Delegates effectively and meets students where they are in their level of
experience.
∙Ability to maintain artistic intent within financial and time constraints.
∙A thorough understanding of the scene design and construction processes
and all of the related aspects of the overall theatre production process.
∙Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
∙Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to
the goals of Jesuit Education.
Minimum Starting Salary: $87,000
Maximum Starting Salary: $92,000
Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.
START DATE: ASAP
APPLY HERE: https://careers.fordham.edu/postings/7979
ABOUT FORDHAM
Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an
exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000
students in its 9 colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx
and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center
Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United
Kingdom.
Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and
welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.
Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other
protected categories
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