Asst Lighting Designer

Paycom; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

San Francisco Opera is seeking a seasoned Seasonal Lighting Assistant to support lighting design for all seasonal productions at the War Memorial Opera House. You will work with guest Lighting Designers and the Lighting Director to develop and execute lighting plans, maintain plots, and ensure safety and archival documentation.

This role demands strong knowledge of stage lighting, VectorWorks and Lightwright, the ability to work evenings and weekends, and clear communication with production

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in theater or related field.
• Completion of VectorWorks training or proven expertise.
• 3-5 years of assistant lighting design experience.
• Experience with union crews preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist guest Lighting Designers and Resident Lighting Director and liaise between designers, electrics team members and staff.
• Review, research, determine and communicate lighting design requirements for SFO repertory, rental, and co-productions.
• Create lighting designs or assist with designs for special events and non-mainstage productions.
• Coordinate priorities of a repertory schedule with the production department.
• Provide information to technical and electrics teams for projects.
• Assist in supervision of electrics focus during changeovers.
• Serve as lighting representative to ensure lighting design integrity during performances.
• Create and maintain lighting plots, paperwork, and archival information.
• Adhere to onstage safety programs and risk assessments.
• Communicate lighting needs with other departments clearly.
• Gain familiarity with the stagehand union CBA.
• Manage priorities and paperwork for seasonal lighting assistants with the Lighting Director.
• Assist in managing lighting interns.

Skills

Stage lighting

Production experience

Teamwork

Deadline-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in theater or related field

VectorWorks training completed

Tools

VectorWorks

Lightwright

Microsoft Office

Moving Light Assistant

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: War Memorial Opera House - San Francisco, CA 94102, Position Type: Seasonal Full Time, Salary Range: $6,400.00 - $7,400.00 Salary/month, 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.

Qualifications: 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 schedule
• Ability 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.