Assistant Stage Manager (Lighting)

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is seeking an Assistant Stage Manager (Lighting) to join the Stage Crew at Powell Hall.

The role provides essential lighting support during rehearsals, concerts, recordings, rentals, and special presentations across multiple venues. You will program and operate house lighting, assist with maintenance, and, when needed, step in as Stage Manager to lead the crew, coordinate schedules, and ensure safe, efficient backstage operations.

Qualifications

• Experience as a lighting technician and operator for house lighting systems.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong teamwork and communication with musicians, staff, and vendors.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary lighting technician, programmer, and operator for all house lighting.
• Maintain lighting inventory and troubleshoot fixtures and controls.
• Draft proposals and labor estimates for lighting upgrades and budgeting.
• Operate house lighting, video, and sound systems and train extra stagehands.
• Organize stage equipment, risers, and instruments for rehearsals, concerts, and tours.
• Serve as Stage Manager when assigned: lead crew and schedules.
• Collaborate on production files and inventory; assist with facility turnover.

Skills

Teamwork

Leadership

Proactive mindset

Communication

Project coordination

Attention to detail

Multi-project management

Tools

Lighting consoles

Video systems

Audio systems

Hand & power tools

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.