Technical Director
The Technical Director is responsible for all technical aspects of the performance spaces at Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA). The candidate will manage, teach, supervise, and provide full-time technical expertise for the school and special events inside and outside of DESA including, but not limited to departmental productions, assemblies, fundraisers, galas, commencement ceremonies, and collaborative projects. The Duke Ellington School of the Arts houses an 800-seat theater with state-of-the-art stage infrastructure and acoustics, a 270-seat Performance Hall, a 120-seat Black Box, rooftop space, classrooms, a recording studio, and features an active production schedule.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Management and supervision of the technical design & production activities including scheduling, crew assignment (student/professional), facility maintenance (production spaces), and technical equipment.
- Facilitate the practical training and career preparation of technical theater students, as well as connecting DESA to outside entities, locally and beyond to support with internships, resources, and secondary education.
- Coordinates technical services with departments, administration, and partnerships inside and outside the school. Creating parameters that will be best used in each of the performance spaces, with a multifaceted goal of educating students, maximizing use, & maintaining upkeep.
- Create and maintain shops, space maintenance, and production budgets and systems for adequately & efficiently staffing the spaces. Build and stock scenery for use in art presentations and save the expense of one-time-use element.
- Increase technical support for all art presentations on and off campus for the organization and introduce new technology, training, and certification to current staff & some students.
- Develop and implement safety protocols and training for students and staff regarding power tools, rigging, material handling, and appropriate ways to manage each of the separate spaces.
- Identify and support designers (costume, lighting, audio, projection, etc.) in executing designs and building theatrical elements for productions and events. Oversee and support the shop build of the scenic design and other design functions.
- Support Chair in developing scenic design and construction and rigging curricula that will give students a real-world understanding of theatrical/event production protocols and practices.
- Develop business partnerships as it relates to building sets, and costumes, and/ or providing lighting and audio services and equipment. Work with the department Chair in obtaining sponsorships and funding that provide resources, master classes, workshops, apprenticeships, and scholarships.
- Work with manufacturers to develop relationships related to equipment maintenance, and servicing (technical support, securing return authorizations, completing repair functions required to resolve customer issues).
- Introduce new technology, training, and certification to current staff & some students. Raise and enhance the level of production of all art presentations with in-house support.
- Develop effective business practices relating to rentals/partnerships that best serve the needs and constraints of the institution. Work with local and regional theatres/organizations to build scenic elements for their productions (i.e., Mosaic, Fringe Festival, etc.)
- Working with students to understand the importance of a solid professional theatre foundation as a craft and business, as well as the different opportunities available to them. With more varied programming the potential for students to work with and learn from emerging artists/designers.
- Working with TCG, LORT, PRG, USITT, and IATSE on apprentice & recruitment opportunities coming out of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Connecting students with local and regional professionals for apprenticeships, assistant work, and entry-level jobs.
- Create opportunities for organizations to partner with Ellington on their productions (YoungArts Foundation, MOTH Foundation, etc.) and for visiting artists/designers to collaborate and work on campus.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in Technical Theatre, Production, or Theater Management and 10-15 years of related professional experience or a combination of education and experience from which highly comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
- Highly skilled, creative, out-of-the-box thinker, able to problem solve and work well with a diverse team in a busy educational setting.
- Possess good people skills, and mature judgment required to effectively work with a broad range of individuals/groups including faculty, staff, students, parents, partners, and vendors.
- Rigging and OSHA- 30 certifications
- Strong collaborative, organizational behavior and management, communication, and budget management skills.
- Knowledge of basic electricity, and modem stage construction including rigging, lighting, projection, video, sound, stage carpentry, and painting
- Classroom experience or shop training and educating students.
- Must have some knowledge of interactive media, project mapping and proficiency in using AutoCAD, Vectorworks, and Microsoft Office.
- Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects with competing priorities, make deadlines, and create timelines ranging from short to long-term.
- Background knowledge in safe handling and disposal of chemicals and hazardous waste.
POSITION TYPE:
Full-Time
SALARY: $75,000
Duke Ellington School of the Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
