Asst Lighting Designer

San Francisco Opera Association; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

San Francisco Opera Association seeks an experienced Lighting Assistant to support guest designers and the Resident Lighting Director. You will liaise with designers, electrics crew, and staff to implement lighting requirements for repertory, rental, and co-productions.

You will create and adapt lighting designs, maintain plots and paperwork, and supervise electrics focus during changeovers. Strong communication and organizational skills, plus the ability to work evenings and weekends, are

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in theatre or equivalent experience.
• VectorWorks training or proven expertise required.
• 3–5 years of assistant lighting design experience in a professional environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist guest lighting designers and/or the Resident Lighting Director on productions.
• Coordinate and communicate lighting design needs with designers, electrics team, and staff.
• Create lighting designs or assist with designs for mainstage and related programming.
• Maintain lighting plots, paperwork, and archival information.
• Supervise electrics focus during changeovers and call or assist with cues.
• Ensure safety compliance and coordinate with stage management and other departments.
• Manage schedules and paperwork for seasonal lighting assistants and interns.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Deadline management

Organization

Independence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in theatre

VectorWorks training

Tools

VectorWorks

Lightwright

Moving Light Assistant

Microsoft Office

Job description

PURPOSE: To assist in the overall management, coordination, creation and successful execution of lighting designs for all seasonal productions and associated programming at San Francisco Opera.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:Perform duties as a first or second assistant to guest Lighting Designers and/or Resident Lighting Director on productions as assigned. Liaise between designers, electrics team members and staff members.Works with the in-house Lighting Director, plus the lighting and technical teams to review, research, determine and communicate lighting design requirements of designers for SFO repertory productions, rental productions and co-productions.Create lighting designs or assist with designs as assigned for special events and non-mainstage opera productions and related programming.Be an active participant of the production department, helping to coordinate the competing priorities of a repertory schedule.Provide information as necessary to technical and electrics team members for projects.Assist in the supervision of the electrics focus during changeovers.Serve as lighting representative for performances as assigned to ensure integrity of the lighting design, including calling or assisting with follow spot cues and coverage.Create and maintain lighting plots, lighting paperwork and other archival information.Support and adhere to the onstage safety program including, but not limited to, state and federally mandated safety programs and risk assessments.Communicate lighting design needs with other departments in a clear and concise manner.Gain familiarity with stagehand union Collective Bargaining Agreement.Manage priorities and paperwork assignments for all seasonal lighting assistants in conjunction with Lighting Director.Assist in the management of lighting intern(s)SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:Schedule and manage lightwalkers.Provide general office assistance and support.Prepare and maintain lighting department files as assigned.Provide support for assigned non-mainstage events or projects when necessary.Perform other job-related duties as assigned.EQUIPMENT OR MACHINES, IF ANY, THAT MUST BE OPERATED TO PERFORM THE POSITION ACCEPTABLY: Computer, printer, plotter, headset, stage technology, copier, telephone and other general office equipment and machines.WORKING CONDITIONS: Indoors and occasionally outdoors with temperature and noise levels typical of a stage environment.EDUCATION:Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university theater department, or equivalent work experience.Completion of an accredited VectorWorks training course is required, or proven expertise.EXPERIENCE:Minimum three to five (3 to 5) years assistant lighting design experience in a professional environment (non-academic).Repertory experience preferred but not required.PREREQUISITE SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:Knowledge of modern stage lighting, theater production, intelligent lighting/moving lights, and light board programming.Highly skilled with Lightwright, VectorWorks, Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) and Moving Light Assistant software, among other programs, systems and platforms.Experience with conventional, LED, scroller and intelligent light programming.General knowledge of and/or interest in projection design and related software.Experience working in a professional environment with union team members (i.e. stage crew) preferred.A team-oriented approach is critical.Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.Ability to use a stage intercom system (headset and microphone) with clarity.Ability to maintain confidentiality.Ability to organize, prioritize and complete varied tasks quickly and accurately.Assist with the coordination of the day to day and weekly scheduleAbility to exercise good judgment and initiative.Ability to maintain several projects of equal priority at once and sustain productivity under pressure.Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.Assist on filming projects and other events.Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills with an emphasis on gathering and sharing information to ensure the best possible productions.Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact with artists, staff, the public, and volunteers in a professional, confidential and tactful manner.Able to sit at a computer and/or production desk for over eight hours per day; see clearly in low-light situations such as are common backstage and in the theater; and walk on complex stage settings to accomplish tasks such as lighting focus, etc.Must perform the functions of the position in a safe manner.