Technical Director

JOB TITLE:Technical Director (TD)

REPORTS TO: Director of Production

REPORTING STAFF: Staff technicians, Over Hire Technicians

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

PAY RANGE: $78,000 - $85,000 per year

POSITION OVERVIEW

The TD is the manager of the scenic department, and is responsible for the technical design, construction, installation, maintenance and planning processes for all scenic elements for Chicago Shakespeare Productions, which include a diverse array of produced and presented work.  The TD manages coordination and communication with commercial scene shops hired to construct scenery for CST productions. In conjunction with the other production department managers, the TD creates and distributes load-in and strike schedules for all departments. Chicago Shakespeare Theater is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment. Visit our website to learn more about our IDEA to Action platform.www.chicagoshakes.com/ideatoaction.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed.
• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.
• Manages IATSE technicians as well as a large workforce of over hire carpenters.
• Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace.
• Reviews, interprets, and troubleshoots scenic design drawings to assess financial and practical feasibility.
• Develops budget estimates based on early drawings and provides suggestions on scope adjustments as needed.
• Actively collaborates with scenic designers to best realize their concepts within the responsible bounds of budget, time, staffing resource, and infrastructure.
• Manages the technical design process and provides quality control for scenery built for CST by commercial scene shops.
• Creates and/or manages the creation of construction drawings and technical designs for CST in-house builds.
• Plans and manages load-ins and strikes for all CST productions.
• Designs and supervises the installation of all rigging for CST productions.
• In conjunction with the Director of Production, manages and continually develops the implementation of safety programs throughout all production departments.
• Manages automation system design for all productions.
• Represents CST in the communication with the technical departments of external collaborators in order to fully support their performances both on CST stages and in site specific work throughout Chicago.
• Plans the transfer of CST scenery to outside producers in venues around the world.
• Develops strategic long-term plans for the scenic department and its infrastructure.
• Partners collaboratively with other departments in the organization to support and realize events related to fundraising, audience development, and educational initiatives.
• Helps to administer all backstage safety programs and works with Director of Production in ongoing development of safety initiatives.
• Manages financial tracking, purchasing, payroll processing, budgeting, and approving expenses for the scenic department.

ADDTIONAL DUTIES

• Coordinates with Production Department heads to create and distribute the change-over schedules throughout the season for each venue.
• Assists Director of Production and Production Department heads to project, schedule, and track labor throughout the production department.
• Schedules and leads all Risk Assessment meetings for load-ins, onstage rehearsals, and previews.
• Helps maintain inventories.
• Manages radio stock and maintenance.
• Creates project specific schedule and budget tracking documents as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMPENTENCIES

• Service, ingenuity, and collaboration
• Emotional intelligence
• Demonstrated exceptional human management skills in a fast paced environment.
• Mission-driven
• Decision making
• Planning
• Project management
• Expert level of AutoCAD literacy and drafting abilities; 3D drafting capabilities.
• Expert-level knowledge of all aspects of scenic technical design and production.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Extensive knowledge of rigging, stage engineering, scenic construction techniques, carpentry, welding, and safe working practices in the theater.
• Knowledge of theatrical lighting and sound rigging practices and equipment.
• Knowledge of scenic automation theory, system design, installation, and troubleshooting, including scenic winches, elevators, and pneumatics involving integration across axes.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work hours are generally 7am-3pm, Monday through Friday, but may be scheduled earlier or later depending on need.
• Overtime hours will be necessary.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday hours will be necessary.
• Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL but will at times work in other locations such as the CST Warehouse, City Parks or other off-site performance venues.
• Works in a variety of environments including but not limited to construction shops, stages, trap rooms, catwalks and grids, warehouses, exposed loading docks, and outdoors.
• Work environment may be dirty, noisy, in low-light, or in a tight and cramped space.
• Will be exposed, at times, to potentially hazardous materials and equipment.
• Will regularly be required to wear PPE (for example safety glasses, knee pads, earplug/muffs, etc.) during work activities.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

• Perform a variety of physical tasks including but not limited to climbing, stooping, pushing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling.
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work at a computer for hours at a time.
• Work at height in locations including but not limited to catwalks, grids, ladders, and genies.
• Perform a variety of physical tasks while wearing safety equipment including body harness, hardhat, and safety glasses.
• Push, pull, lift, and move up to 50 lbs. at times on a repetitive basis.
• Use of manual dexterity in the operation of tools.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE                                                                       

• A minimum of five years of experience in technical direction, scene shop management or stage operations supervision at a large regional theater or equivalent.

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Navigator automation control software experience welcomed

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 which means 14 days has passed since obtaining 2 doses of a primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Proof of vaccination must be provided before beginning work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater or a request for a qualifying exemption must be submitted and approved prior to beginning work.