Director, Portable Technical Direction

TAIT; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

TAIT is seeking a Director, Technical Direction, Portable to lead the Portable Technical Direction teams across Live and Brand projects. You will drive strategy, staffing, and process improvements to deliver high‑quality, safe, and commercially effective technical delivery worldwide.

Reporting to market leadership, you will shape capabilities, define operating models, and partner with cross‑functional leaders to translate market needs into actionable plans while developing talent across

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in technical direction or technical delivery.
• 4+ years of demonstrated people leadership.
• Proven track record delivering complex Live, Brand, touring, or other portable entertainment projects at scale.
• Broad technical knowledge across automation, rigging, structures, AVL, show control, drafting, manufacturing, and delivery.
• Experience establishing technical and team processes.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience shaping scope, resourcing, schedules, risk, and budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to translate market strategy and stakeholder needs into actionable plans.
• Clear and credible communicator with the ability to represent Innovate with clients, market leaders, and technical teams.
• Experience leading teams across locations and supporting projects around the globe.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, team development, workload planning, and resourcing of Portable Technical Direction across Live and Brand.
• Represent Innovate within Portable Market Leadership, advising and informing on technical solutions, capacity, and priorities to market strategy and planning.
• Shape and adapt the Portable Technical Direction operating model, including role expectations, decision rights, engagement points, and cross‑functional handoffs.
• Define and evolve the Technical Direction strategy for portable work, including expanding the role of Technical Directors within Live toward a broader industry‑recognised model.
• Refine and enforce Techncial Direction’s role in TAIT Project Process, including interactions with Market leaders and other capabilities.
• Sponsor standards, process, and training that drive efficient, high quality, and consistent technical delivery.
• Build and maintain a workforce and succession plan for Technical Directors and Draftspeople, aligned to the Portable pipeline and evolving market needs.
• Set clear expectations for direct reports, coach and hold leaders accountable, and ensure effective performance management and development pathways throughout the organisation.
• Partner with the Director, Technical Direction, Fixed to align core Technical Direction processes, standards, metrics, talent practices, and shared learning across markets and Innovate competencies while preserving market‑specific needs.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technical theatre, design, or a related field

Job description

TAIT is seeking a Director, Technical Direction, Portable to lead the Portable Technical Direction teams across Live and Brand projects. You will drive strategy, staffing, and process improvements to deliver high‑quality, safe, and commercially effective technical delivery worldwide.

Reporting to market leadership, you will shape capabilities, define operating models, and partner with cross‑functional leaders to translate market needs into actionable plans while developing talent across