Head of Electrics

San Francisco Opera Association; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

San Francisco Opera Association seeks a dynamic Head of Electrics to lead the Electrics Department. The role drives all lighting, projection, and related effects for a busy repertory season, coordinating with guest designers and the production team.

The candidate will plan staffing, manage budgets, and ensure safety across venues, including the War Memorial Opera House. Strong leadership and communication are essential for success in this high-pressure environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of staff supervision in a repertory production setting.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, and crews.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with all staff levels.
• ETCP certification required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Electrics Department for all productions and projects.
• Plan crew sizes, skills, and timelines within budgets.
• Oversee load-ins, rehearsals, performances, and load-outs.
• Maintain OSHA/CalOSHA and NFPA 70E safety standards.
• Collaborate with guest designers and production teams.
• Manage payroll and department administrative tasks.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Budget management

Planning

Communication

Safety compliance

ETCP certified

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Equivalent work experience

Tools

ETC lighting consoles

Vectorworks

Lightwright

Disguise

WatchOut

MBOX

Luminex networking

Google Suite

Excel

Job description

PURPOSE: Reporting to the Managing Director of Production, the Head of Electrics provides leadership for the Electrics Department at San Francisco Opera Association (SFOA), overseeing and ensuring the successful operations of the Electrics Department.The Head of Electrics must be a highly professional, calm, organized, collaborative, experienced and creative individual, who is an excellent communicator (both verbally and in written materials), and who thrives working with a team and as a member of a team. This individual excels under pressure and in varied work environments, keeping lines of communication open at all times. The role requires knowledge and technical expertise across the many aspects of theatrical lighting, including electrics, projections/video and special effects (pyrotechnics, atmospheric effects, etc.) in a repertory performing arts environment.This individual will specialize in team building and personnel management, with skills in advance planning and attention-to-detail. They know how to set a positive, professional tone in keeping with Production Department priorities. The candidate will have creative vision and will cultivate positive relationships with all guest designers, creative team members and company members. The Head of Electrics will diligently maintain the highest possible production values and standards as a team leader working on behalf of SFOA.The Head of Electrics is responsible for extensive and successful season preparation, load-in, technical rehearsals, staging rehearsals, performances and load-out for all productions – both new to SFOA and revivals. They are also responsible for any projects undertaken by San Francisco Opera Association that require lighting, projections or set electrics as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement between SFOA and Local 16 IATSE.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS, SKILLS, AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE:Work closely with the Managing Director of Production, the Resident Lighting Director, the Lighting Department, and the Technical Department. Advise on best practices and operations of the Electrics Department, serving as a creative challenge-solver with sound judgement who can focus quickly on solutions and efficiencies while communicating openly and clearly.Maintain a positive relationship and open communication with IATSE Local 16 Business Agent and Stewards.Attend assigned planning meetings, budget meetings, production meetings and design presentations as needed, along with regular Heads of Department weekly meetings and any other meetings as required, both during the Opera season and the off-season.Organize and delegate to team members as they collaborate in all Electrics Department work for each assigned production and/or project. Foster collaboration with all departments, while maintaining an open-door policy for interdisciplinary projects and tasks.Safety Priorities: Maintain workplace safety standards, including adherence to OSHA, CalOSHA and NPFA 70E guidelines. Have general first aid training and familiarity with stage emergency protocols to ensure a safe work environment. Ensure compliance with hazardous material regulations, as well as local hazardous waste disposal programs and recycling regulations.Administrative Tasks & Material Management: Manage and submit Electrics Department payroll under the rules of the SFOA and the current IATSE Local 16 contract. Track, document and archive all new productions and remounts, in digital and hard copy format. Plan crew sizes, skill requirements and timelines to meet project demands and budgets. Schedule electric crews efficiently, at the War Memorial Opera House and other locations. Coordinate project flow, schedules and venue requirements. Create estimates and material lists, often in collaboration with the Production Administrative team. Order rentals and materials, and coordinate shipments with vendors. Ability to track multiple rentals, deliveries and returns throughout the season and maintain good relationships with preferred local vendors. Maintain inventory of equipment, tools and essential supplies in multiple venues/locations. Research lighting, networking, electrical, effects and dimming equipment.Project Management & Team Operations: Strong stage acumen. Ability to manage team members, ensuring a positive, professional environment as well as productivity and efficiency. Experience managing budgets and quality control, balancing costs without compromising standards. Have strong familiarity with office practices including file management. Have practical working knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook, Photoshop, Vectorworks, Lightwright, Google Suite, QuickBase, and other data management applications.Use of Equipment & Tools: Experience operating ETC lighting consoles and other DMX control devices, Strand dimmers, Johnson Controls, Luminex networking, and wireless dimming controls. Knowledge of networking best practices and equipment. Familiarity with ETC lighting devices, Arri HMI equipment, Elation moving lights, Licht Technik equipment, Vari-Lites, LED fixtures and other lighting equipment. Knowledge of video projectors, lenses, control systems and servers such as MBOX, WATCHOUT and Disguise.Participation in Company Trainings: Organize and track team members’ required training for the various consoles, software, fall protection, forklift, first aid, other safety training, plus required HR trainings.WORKING CONDITIONS:Onsite (Opera House): Indoors with temperatures and noise levels typical of stage and electrics shop environments.Offsite (Various venues and locations): Indoors and outdoors depending on the project, with varying temperature and noise levels.Scene Shop and Warehouse: Indoors and outdoors with temperatures and noise levels typical of scene shop and warehouse environments.PREREQUISITE SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:Must be a full member of -OR- willing to join IATSE Local 16.Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent work experience.8+ years of staff supervision preferred.Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a large-scale repertory performing arts organization.Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact with all staff in a professional, confidential, clear and tactful manner.ETCP certified.Ability to work on weekends and evenings as needed.