Assistant Stage Manager (Lighting)

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is seeking an Assistant Stage Manager (Lighting) to join the SLSO Stage Crew as the primary lighting technician and operator for house lighting across Powell Hall and affiliated spaces.

The role supports rehearsals, concerts, and events, and may step in as Stage Manager as needed. This high-energy position requires collaboration with musicians and staff, strong organizational skills, and a willingness to work evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years lighting technician experience; 5+ years stage crew preferred.
• Experience in orchestral, concert hall, or performing arts setting is preferred.
• Strong collaboration and communication with musicians, staff and vendors.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work a variable schedule including evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the SLSO’s primary lighting technician, programmer, and operator for house lighting.
• Maintain lighting inventory, troubleshoot fixtures, and document maintenance.
• Lead stage crew when assigned, manage production schedules, and support runs/tours.
• Operate house lighting, video, and sound systems and mentor extra stagehands.

Skills

Lighting technician

Stage crew

Team leadership

Budgeting

Planning & organization

A.V. systems

Power tools

Tools

Lighting consoles

Hand & power tools

PC/Mac environments

Job description

REPORTS TO:

Director of Production

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Stage Manage (Lighting) is a core member of the SLSO Stage Crew, serving as the organization’s primary lighting technician and operator. This role supports rehearsals, concerts, recordings, select rentals/events, and special presentations across Powell Hall, the Steward Family Education and Learning Center, and offsite venues/tours. The Stage Crew is also responsible for routine and preventive maintenance of house equipment including theatrical lighting to ensure optimal reliability and safety. All members of the crew perform basic operation of the SLSO's house audio, lighting, and video systems, and have the skills to operate hand and power tools. Additionally, this role steps in as Stage Manager when assigned, directing stage crew activity and ensuring sage, efficient backstage operations.

As an important member of the SLSO Stage Crew that provides support across many activities, an ideal candidate possesses teamwork and leadership, is proactive and self-starting, and supports a positive work atmosphere by interacting and communicating in a manner that enhances collaboration with musicians, guest artists, co-workers, supervisors, customers, and vendors. This is a high energy, fast-paced position requiring planning, organization, ability to manage work for multiple concurrent projects and attention to detail, and requires a variable work schedule, regularly including evenings and weekends.

RESPONSBILITIES:

Lighting & Technical Production

• Serve as the SLSO’s primary lighting technician, programmer, and operator for all house lighting systems across Powell Hall and the Jack C. Taylor Music Center.
• Regularly maintain lighting inventory, troubleshoot fixtures and controls, and maintain up-to-date maintenance records.
• Partner with Director of Production to evaluate lighting upgrades, draft project proposals and labor estimates, and support department budgeting.
• Operate and troubleshoot house lighting, video and sound systems, providing basic instruction to extra stagehands as needed.

Stage Operations

• Organize, prepare, place, and strike, stage equipment, risers, and large instruments for rehearsals, concerts, presentations, and rentals in Powell Hall, the Steward Family Education and Learning Center, and other designated spaces in the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. In addition, perform work to support tours, run-outs, and select services outside the venue.
• Serve as Stage Manager when assigned: lead full-time stage crew and extra stagehands, maintain production schedules, and uphold professional standards.
• Proactively address technical or operational issues and report concerns to SLSO management.
• Ability to drive vehicles (up to 26-foot box trucks) for run-outs and local touring needs.

Administration & Maintenance

• Collaborate with the Stage Manager and Production Manager to maintain production files, stage documentation, and equipment inventory.
• Participate in production meetings, track communication via Outlook, and complete follow-up on item tasks promptly.
• Perform general maintenance and support facility turnover between events.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong background in concert production and stagecraft, lighting consoles, hand and power tools, and basic A.V. systems (video experience a plus). Knowledge of PC network environment using Microsoft Office applications is also required, knowledge of Mac environment a plus.
• Minimum 2 years lighting technician experience; 5+ years overall stage crew experience preferred.
• Experience within an orchestral, multi-use concert hall, or performing arts environment is strongly preferred.
• Professional and collaborative approach to communicating with musicians, guest artists, staff, customers and external partners.
• Proven fiscal responsibility, with the ability to manage work and resources within established budgetary parameters.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with a track record of taking initiative and resolving issues proactively.
• Ability to work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with frequent distractions.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs; with frequent standing, bending. and stooping.
• Valid Missouri Class E (for hire) driver’s license or other state equivalent (SLSO can help facilitate).
• Must be or become a member of I.A.T.S.E. Local No. 6 as defined in the CBA.