Job Opportunities
Open Position: Technical Director
Department of Theatre and Visual Arts, Fordham University
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 Director of Production and supervises the Assistant Scenic Shop Supervisor and Students.
Open Position: Light and Sound Supervisor
Reporting to the Director of Production, the Light and Sound Supervisor is the central manager who supports the main stage and studio productions, manages the electric shop, and maintains much of the equipment.
Essential Functions Mainstage Productions:
There are two mainstage productions per semester, four per academic year. The Light and Sound Supervisor is responsible for the load-in, focus, hang, and strike of light and sound equipment. 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 light and sound designers’ submitted plans and discussing viability with the designer and Director of Production
- Provide a cost analysis to ensure the design can be built within the given budget
- Order materials needed to execute design, submit expenses, and monitor budget
- Oversee students working in the electrics shop to ensure correct and safe practices
- Oversee strike of the four productions and “mini-strike” when necessary
- General troubleshooting and problem solving throughout technical rehearsals and performances periods
Electrics Shop:
- Ensure safe and correct practices in the shop
- Maintain tools, equipment, and materials
- Schedule and supervise student crews and coordinate work schedules
- Recommend and assist Director of Production in hiring overhire labor
Theater Program Responsibilities:
- Provide upkeep of classroom technical needs relative to light and sound
- Track, monitor and provide feedback for students’ learning and progress
- Oversee work study students hours and submit hours for approval
- Attend bi-weekly faculty and production meetings
- Mentor and approve student lighting, sound, and video designs for studio productions
- Support classroom needs where appropriate
- Help to maintain all theater program spaces
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
- Undergraduate Degree (BA, BFA, BS)
- Minimum of 3 years of production experience with light and sound design, production management, and budget administration
- Experience working with directors and theatrical productions
- Required Qualifications: Knowledge and SkillsCommitment 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 Electrics Shop.
- Teaching and/or mentoring experience
- Resourceful and works independently to ensure that each task is thoroughly executed
- Ability to supervise, work with, and teach students
- Ability to delegate effectively and meet students where they are in their level of experience
- Ability to maintain artistic intent within financial and time constraints
- Possess a thorough understanding of the lighting and sound design and implementation processes and all of the related aspects of the overall theatre production process
- Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills
- Preferred Qualifications - Master’s of Fine Arts
- Experience in sound design