Lead Electrician

Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Ashland (OR); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon seeks a Lead Electrician to supervise the Lighting & Video department, program ETC EOS consoles, and lead hangs, focuses, and strikes for a demanding repertory schedule.

You will design and implement lighting and video elements, oversee rigging and SOP updates, and train staff in safe, efficient operations. Strong leadership and electrical knowledge required.

Qualifications

• Five years of professional theatrical lighting experience with emphasis in programming ETC EOS Family consoles, plus leadership experience.
• Two years of experience supervising staff.
• Expert knowledge of lighting equipment, electrical theory, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lighting & Video department staff; oversee hangs, focuses, and strikes; design plans for show-specific lighting and video elements.
• Implement overhead rigging for lighting and video equipment with other departments.
• Train staff in lighting operations, SOPs, and safety practices.
• Create and maintain Lighting & Video SOPs and related paperwork.
• Program and run ETC EOS family consoles during rehearsals and performances; support show lighting programmer and assistant electricians.

Skills

EOS EOS Family programming

Programming EOS Consoles

Lighting & Video

Rigging

Team Leadership

Electrical Safety

Lightwright

Vectorworks

NEC Guidelines

MS Office & Cloud Apps

Tools

ETC EOS Family consoles

Lightwright

Vectorworks

NEC

Job description

Description

Now Hiring: Lead Electrician
Department: Lighting | Reports to: Lighting Department Manager
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Union
Expected Start Date: Oct 1, 2026
Pay Rate: $30.84 hourly
Location: Ashland, OR
This position is represented by IATSE Local 154.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

1. Models and supports the mission and values of OSF by:
   • Demonstrating inclusive behavior.
   • Maintaining a safe working environment free from any aggressions.
   • Recognizing micro-aggressions and interrupting behaviors that hinder OSF’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
2. Leads Lighting & Video department personnel and participates in all hangs, focuses and strikes; creates technical plans for installation of show-specific specialty lighting projects; creates plans for, builds and installs show-specific specialty lighting, video and special effect/atmospheric elements collaborates with other production department stakeholders on the safe installation of set specific lighting and special effects elements.
3. In consultation with other production departments, leads the implementation of overhead rigging of lighting and video equipment.
4. Supervises and trains departmental staff in day-to-day lighting department operations and safe practices.
5. In conjunction with the Lighting & Video Department Manager, creates, maintains and updates Lighting & Video Department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
6. Creates and manages lighting data networks and circuiting plans for OSF venues.
7. Programs/runs ETC EOS Family lighting consoles for technical rehearsals, and as assigned.
8. Trains departmental staff in programming SOPs.
9. Provides programming support to the show Lighting Programmer/Technician and/or Assistant Lead Electrician during technical rehearsals.
10. Plans and leads work calls in consultation with the Department Manager.
11. In consultation with the Department Manager, Lighting Designer, and other production departments, prioritizes notes and programming calls during the tech process.
12. Trains other OSF production staff in proper operation of lighting equipment when needed (e.g., Stage Operations staff operating follow spots).
13. Runs and understudies shows as assigned.
14. Creates and maintains necessary lighting related paperwork, working drawings, procedural documents, etc.
15. Creates and executes schedules/procedures for maintenance and repairs of OSF Lighting & Video department equipment and workspaces.
16. Keeps equipment warranties up to date and refers broken equipment to the Department Manager for off-site repairs.
17. Works with other production department staff, to plan and execute interdepartmental, show-related projects.
18. Works with the Department Manager and other stakeholders to create, update and improve changeover procedures, documentation and check lists.
19. Communicates clearly, concisely, and in a timely fashion with other members of the company.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Upholds best practices of good stagecraft in conjunction with OSF Lighting & Video Department policies, other production departments and artistic stakeholders.
2. Works alongside and in collaboration with all other production personnel.
3. Assists Video Supervisor and Video Engineers/Technicians with lighting and video systems integrations as needed.
4. Keeps all storage and workspaces organized and clean.
5. Sets up and strikes tech tables.
6. Coordinates and assists with lighting related special projects/requests from Stage Management, and other OSF stakeholders.
7. Runs shows as needed.
8. Performs lighting changeover duties when necessary.
9. Works with other OSF staff on non-show-related, interdepartmental projects as needed.
10. Other duties as assigned

Supervision Received:
Lighting & Video Department Manager

Supervision Exercised:
Assistant Lead Electricians; Lighting/Video Technicians, other Lighting & Video Department staff; FAIR participants

Qualifications & Skills:

Work Experience: Five (5) years of professional theatrical lighting experience with an emphasis in programming ETC Eos Family
Consoles; two (2) years’ experience supervising staff.

Qualifications/skills:

• Expert level knowledge and ability to program ETC EOS Family (EOS Ti, GIO and ION) lighting consoles.
• Expert knowledge of industry standard conventional and automated lighting equipment.
• Expert knowledge of industry standard operating procedures regarding theatrical lighting.
• Expert knowledge of electrical theory and electrical safety.
• Detailed knowledge of Lightwright software.
• Working knowledge of Vectorworks software.
• Working knowledge of NEC guidelines.
• Proficient rigging knowledge/skills.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office suite, e-mail, and cloud-based collaboration software (Mac, PC & apps).
• Ability to read, interpret and create lighting plots, typical theatrical lighting paperwork, and other typical theatrical technical drawings.
• Ability to effectively lead a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to build and foster strong working relationships with staff and guest artists throughout OSF’s organizational structure.
• Comfortable working with simultaneously rigid and dynamic schedules and procedures, necessitated by OSF’s repertory operations.
• Experience using typical hand and power tools (e.g., screw guns, screwdrivers, shop vacs, etc.).
• Ability to handle stressful situations to achieve successful outcomes.
• Ability to work as a team member in a collaborative environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Other Skills, Ability and/or Knowledge:

• Experience with Vari*lite, High End and Clay Paky automated luminaires.
• Experience with LED fixtures such as ETC Lustr2, PixelLine/PixelRange, Strand, Chroma Q, generic LED/pixel tape, etc.
• Extensive working knowledge of wired and wireless lighting control and networking protocols.
• Working knowledge of show control protocols (NDI, OSC, Midi, SMPTE, etc.).
• Knowledge of Low voltage systems and wiring practices.

Physical:
Climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl. Frequently lift up to 50 lbs. Comfortable regularly working at heights of up to 45’ in backstage spaces, personnel lifts, and ladders, wearing fall arrest harnesses, ascending vertical ladders of 25’. Frequently squat, kneel, or crouch while maintaining position. Stand, walk and sit for up to 10 hours per day.
Hours Requirements:
Standard work week is Tuesday through Sunday. Night-time and weekend hours are regularly required. Overtime is required, especially during technical rehearsal periods. The ability to work a variable, split-shift schedule is required.

Desired Skills:

Familiarity or experience with:

• Moving light maintenance and repairs – especially certification from a major manufacturer.
• A repertory theater environment
• Electronics/Arduino programming
• Theatrical video projection systems
• Dataton Watchout or other media server software
• Electrical and electronics soldering

Organizational Background

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) was founded in 1935 in Ashland, OR, and has grown from a three-day festival of two plays to a nationally renowned theatre arts organization that presents a rotating repertory season of up to 10 plays and musical, including illuminating interpretations of Shakespeare, other enduring classics, and new works. OSF productions have been presented on Broadway, internationally, and at regional, community, and high school theatres across the country. OSF received the 1983 Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and is one of the largest nonprofit theatres in the nation with three stages, including an outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre.

Statement of Purpose

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival creates world-class theatre, revealing our collective humanity through illuminating interpretations of new and classic plays, and inspiring a love of our art form for current and future generations.

Company Values

We are committed to working toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, creating a space of belonging for all audiences and employees—through concrete actions and systemic improvements.

We nurture and support our artists, attracting and retaining diverse, innovative talent across the organization.

We believe in the transformational power of collaborative artmaking and performance.

We recognize the importance of responsible stewardship of resources and sustainable business, financial, and environmental practices.

We serve the public good and engage with and respect our community of artists, audiences, staff, local citizens, patrons, donors, and the greater theatre community worldwide.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.