Lighting Shop Manager & Designer

Shenandoah University; Winchester (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA invites applications for a Lighting Shop Manager & Designer on a full‑time, benefited basis. This role supports theatre productions, SSMT, and university events with lighting design and shop management across facilities.

You will oversee the lighting shop, supervise staff and students, draft plots, mentor designers, trains crews through tech rehearsals, and collaborate with faculty and the Executive Director for Performances

Qualifications

• BA or BFA in Design/Technical Theatre or related field.
• 2-4 years professional lighting design/technology experience.
• Mentorship and supervision experience with students and staff.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Ability to read production docs and draft lighting plots.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage year-round lighting shop operations for the Conservatory and SS MT.
• Train, schedule and supervise work-study students and seasonal staff.
• Mentor students completing lab hours for academic credit.
• Establish shop hours and maintain safety in the shop.
• Manage lighting shop tools, equipment, and budgets with faculty.
• Serve as Lighting Designer for select theatre productions and events.

Skills

Team management

Mentorship

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Independent and collaborative work

Education

BA/BB in Design/Technical Theatre

MA/MFA in Lighting Design and Production

Tools

Vectorworks

Lightwright

VOR

ETC EOS consoles

Job description

The Shenandoah Conservatory is seeking applications for a highlyqualified candidate to join our team as the Lighting Shop Manager& Designer. This is a full-time, benefited position located onour main campus in Winchester, VA.

Reporting to Shenandoah Conservatory’s Executive Director forPerformances and Engagement, and in coordination with TheatreDivision faculty, the Lighting Shop Manager & Designer supportsthe general operation and production needs of the Conservatory,with a specialized focus on the lighting design and productionneeds of the Theatre Division, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre(SSMT), as well as guest artist performances and other universityevents, as needed.

In addition to managing the lighting shop and inventory in thetheatre facilities, this position serves as a lighting designer forselect performances; works in consultation with Executive Directorand Theatre Division faculty, to assign designers, electricians,and light board operators to performances and events; mentorsstudent lighting designers; supervises and supports the lightingdesign team during technical rehearsals and performances as needed;trains and supervises work study students.

Responsibilities:

Lighting Shop Manager

• Oversee and manage year-round lighting shop operations, whichsupports productions by the Conservatory’s academic departments andShenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT), as well as specialuniversity events and guest artist performances
• Train, schedule and supervise work-study students and seasonalstaff
• Manage and mentor students completing lab hours for academiccredit in the lighting shop, ensuring that they receive necessarytraining and mentorship and that they complete required hours forcredit
• Establish and schedule lighting shop hours; maintain aconsistent presence in the shop to supervise students and ensuresafe practices
• Manage and maintain lighting shop tools, equipment andorganization; restock shop supplies on a regular basis; maintainand track shop budget in coordination with the lighting designfaculty
• Ensure a safe working environment in the lighting shop and inall Theatre Department instructional laboratory facilities andperformance spaces

Production Electrician

• Collaborate with faculty, guest artists, designers, andstudents to provide lighting and staffing support for productionsand events held in theatre facilities during the academic year,including serving as Production Electrician or mentor on thefollowing productions:
• Six theatre productions (three musicians, two plays and oneopera)
• One annual Holiday Gala
• One annual Conservatory Convocation
• Guest Artist productions as needed (one to two per academicyear)
• Additional university events, including those hosted byAdmissions, Advancement/President’s Office, and graduations andceremonies
• Serve as Production Electrician for three productions duringthe Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT) summer season — workingwith designers to implement designs; hiring, training, andsupervising seasonal lighting staff; overseeing safe and effectiveuse of equipment and resources; troubleshooting issues as theyarise; and assisting/advising the production and creative team asneeded
• Serve as Production Electrician for three productions during the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT) summer season — working with designers to implement designs; hiring, training, and supervising seasonal lighting staff; overseeing safe and effective use of equipment and resources; troubleshooting issues as they arise; and assisting/advising the production and creative team as needed

Lighting Designer

• Serve as the Lighting Designer and/or act as a mentor forstudents in design or technical positions for up to two TheatreDepartment productions per academic year, providing the guidance,support and structure that students need for their design and/orproduction work, as well as assisting as needed during the hang,focus, tech week and strike
• Draft lighting plots and prepare cue sheets and/or overseestudent designers as needed
• Serve as the Lighting Designer for the annual Holiday Gala

General Lighting Support

• Assist lighting design faculty and other production staff inthe management of office operations including:
  • Communicate with internal and external stakeholders toeffectively coordinate lighting and staffing needs
  • Schedule and prepare resources and personnel to run events
  • Prepare and edit production paperwork and drafting
  • Attend and actively participate in production meetings

Adjunct Teaching

• This position offers an opportunity to be separatelycontracted, as needed, for adjunct teaching responsibilities intheatre production. Adjunct teaching assignments are at thediscretion of the Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance andbased on the needs of the Theatre Department.

Reporting Relationships

• This position reports to the Executive Director of Performances& Engagement and works in close collaboration with the TheatreDepartment, Lighting Design and Theatre Design Production (TDP)faculty and staff, and SSMT leadership.

Required Skills

Required Qualifications

• BA or BFA in Design/Technical Theatre or related field
• 2-4 years professional experience in lighting design ortechnology
• A deep understanding of emerging technologies matched by adriving passion for mentorship, students, and education
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in stage electrics
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Must possess management and administrative skills as well asthe capabilities to supervise student workers, efficientlyschedule
• student staffing for the lighting shop and effectivelyadminister policies
• Competence in Microsoft Office or Google Suite
• Proficiency in Vectorworks, Lightwright, and VOR
• Proficiency in ETC EOS Family consoles
• Ability to read and prepare production documentation, includinglight plots, sections, magic sheets and cue lists
• Must be able to work independently, but also enjoy workingcollaboratively as part of a team, including working with diversepersonalities and constituencies.
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks, work under deadlines andprioritize workload.
• Current driver’s license
• Ability to safely operate a counterweight rigging system
• Must be able to climb ladders and multiple flights of stairs,navigate in dim production passageways, and lift up to 50 poundsregularly

Desired Qualifications

• MA or MFA in Lighting Design and Production or in a relatedfield
• Two to three years of professional experience in theentertainment industry
• Experience teaching at the university level

Required Experience

An ideal candidate will possess the following skills andexperience: assisting designers in a professional or academicsetting; ability to provide a full set of documentation (lightplot, section, magic sheet, cue list, etc.) for a show they havedesigned or assisted on; knowledge and experience in stageelectrics (i.e. Production Electrician) and ETC EOS Familyconsoles; proficiency in Vectorworks, Lightwright, VOR, MicrosoftOffice suite, G suite; management and mentorship of variouslyskilled labor; and time and project management.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educationalexperience and culture through its faculty, administration, andstaff diversity. All candidates are strongly encouraged to includea statement in their cover letters addressing how they cancontribute to that commitment.

**Note: A pre-employment background check will be required, and asatisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire.

**Authorized to work in the United States is a pre-condition of employment. At this time, Shenandoah University is not in a position to sponsor international visas.

Shenandoah University values individuals and communities'unique and diverse perspectives locally and globally. It seeks tofoster mutual understanding in an inviting community whereindividuals are welcome and respected. The university does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy,sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic or national origin,age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’sstatus, or on any other basis protected under applicablelaw.

Salary Range

$45,000.00 - $46,000.00

Salary Type

Not Applicable