Guest Artist Technical Director

Parkland College; United States; On-site; USD 7,000 - 10,000; Part time

Job summary

Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois seeks a Guest Artist Technical Director for a seasonal, part-time appointment on campus. Responsibilities include overseeing technical aspects of theatre productions, coordinating lighting, sound, and set design, and mentoring students.

The position reports to the Theater Artistic Director and requires a Bachelor's in Technical Directing, CAD/Vectorworks experience, intermediate to advanced carpentry, and ability to lift up to 70 lbs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Technical Directing is required.
• Experience with CAD or Vectorworks is required for planning and drafting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and ensure safety and quality of lighting, sound, set construction, and effects for productions.
• Collaborate with designers to create safe sets that preserve artistic integrity and provide clear tech plates.
• Lead and supervise rigging, fly system operation, and maintenance of the fly system.
• Coordinate with Assistant Technical Director, stagehands, and students to build, maintain, and strike sets.
• Provide daytime availability in the scene shop to assist with construction questions and mentoring.

Skills

Lighting design

Sound design

Set design

Project leadership

Mentoring students

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Technical Directing

Tools

CAD/Vectorworks

Job description

Guest Artist Technical Director

The Guest Artist Technical Director is a seasonal, exempt, part-time appointment located on Parkland College's Campus in Champaign, Illinois with a salary range of $7,000.00 - $10,000.00 commensurate with qualifications, experience, and production schedule. This appointment will conclude with the strike of the final production in Spring 2027 semester.

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION(S) IS FILLED.

The Guest Artist Technical Director works with the Assistant Technical Director to execute the technical aspects of theater productions and aid in coordination for the use of campus theater spaces. This appointment serves on a schedule established by the Theater Artistic Director. The position involves completing assigned projects within deadline and handling multiple tasks simultaneously with limited supervision. The Guest Artist Technical Director must be able to plan and design lighting, sound, and sets; manage multiple productions and events in different phases of completion; and successfully lead employees to complete their tasks efficiently and safely.

Applicants must submit:

• An online employment application
• Cover letter
• Resume or CV

Essential Job Functions:

• Oversee and provide support for the safety and quality of all technical aspects of productions including lighting, sound, set construction, and special effects
• Work with designers to engineer safe sets that maintain the creative integrity of the artistic design and provide clear tech plates for scene shop construction
• Lead and oversee theatrical rigging, operating and maintaining a single purchase fly system
• Work with Assistant Technical Director, stagehands, and students to build, maintain, and strike sets
• Provide in-person availability with daytime hours in the scene shop to help build and answer construction questions from the set team
• Performs professional duties in accordance with the established policies and procedures of the college.
• Is available for student mentoring.
• Maintains regular office hours to ensure availability for student consultation; provides assistance to students in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the department chair.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Technical Directing.
• Experience using drafting software such as CAD or Vectorworks.
• Intermediate to advanced carpentry skills.
• Ability to lift up to 70 lbs. overhead.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to learn the Parkland information system and new programs as technology changes.
• Maintains all professional credentials required to teach in area of discipline.
• Prospective new hires will successfully complete a post offer, pre-employment criminal background check with fingerprinting. The background check review includes, but is not limited to, exclusionary offenses per the Illinois School Code and Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
• In an effort to comply with SURS return‑to‑work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self‑Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.

Equal Opportunity Employer