Director, Technical Direction - Portable NEW

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 partners with artists, brands, IP holders and place makers to bring culture-defining, never-before-seen experiences to life. With a legacy of innovation spanning over 45 years, TAIT has grown from pioneering in rock ‘n’ roll concert staging to setting the global standard for extraordinary live events and experiences through cutting‑edge technology, precision engineering, and creative design. TAIT’s 20 global offices have developed iconic productions and experiences in over 30 countries, all seven continents, and even outer space for renowned performers, theme parks, exhibits, and venues across the globe, including partnerships with Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, Royal Opera House, Nike, NASA, Bloomberg, Google, Beyoncé, and The Olympics.

Position Purpose

The Director, Technical Direction, Portable is the market‑based leader for Technical Direction across TAIT’s Portable Market. The role leads Technical Directors assigned to Live and Brand projects, and is accountable through those teams for the quality, consistency, safety, and commercial effectiveness of technical delivery across the project lifecycle.

Beyond leading the Technical Director team, this role serves as Innovate’s representative within the Portable Market, partnering with market leadership and cross‑functional leaders to shape the strategy for technical work and translate it into clear priorities for capability, staffing, and process. This leader is key to shaping the evolution and expansion of Technical Direction at TAIT, particularly as we adopt more industry‑standard expectations for technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, team development, workload planning, and resourcing of Portable Technical Direction across Live and Brand, balancing market demand with long‑term capability and succession needs.
• 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.

Management Responsibility

The Director, Technical Direction, Portable leads the Technical Direction organization serving Live and Brand and is accountable for performance, development, resourcing, and succession across the team. The role also oversees the Drafting team supporting Portable work. Direct reports include:

• Executive and Lead Technical Directors
• Managers of Technical Directors and Draftspeople

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technical theatre, design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of experience in technical direction or technical delivery, including 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.

TAIT is an equal opportunity employer fully committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran or any other protected characteristic as outlined by international, national, state, or local laws.