Production Manager - #270010

Western Carolina University; Cullowhee (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Carolina University is seeking a Production Manager to oversee planning, scheduling, purchasing, and compliance for the School of Stage & Screen in Cullowhee, NC. The role leads production meetings, coordinates across areas, and mentors student stage managers and film teams.

The position also teaches a cross-listed three‑credit production course (THEA 270, 371, 486) and may teach additional courses as workload allows, with evening and weekend commitments during productions.

Qualifications

• Production management, scheduling, calendars, and documentation.
• Ability to organize information among faculty, staff, students, guest artists, and campus partners.
• Experience teaching undergraduate production courses.
• Ability to manage multiple productions and deadlines under deadline pressure.
• Knowledge of university procedures and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee production planning, scheduling, purchasing, procedures, and compliance.
• Organize and facilitate production meetings; coordinate across production areas.
• Mentor student stage managers and supervise student film processes.
• Establish and teach production-management procedures and best practices.
• Teach cross-listed production courses and potentially additional topics when possible.

Skills

Production management

Scheduling

Communication

Teaching

Project management

Education

Master's degree in theatre or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Production Manager - #270010

Western Carolina University

Department:

School of Stage & Screen

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:

• 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
• 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA).

The Production Manager serves as the central organizational and communication hub for productions within the School of Stage and Screen. The position oversees production planning, scheduling, purchasing, procedures, communication, and compliance across the School's theatre and film production activities.

The School produces four fully realized theatrical productions each academic year, numerous student films, a web series, and the annual Controlled Chaos Film Festival. The Production Manager develops and maintains integrated production calendars; organizes and facilitates production meetings; tracks deadlines and deliverables; coordinates information among production areas; and identifies scheduling, resource, safety, and compliance concerns.

The Production Manager provides leadership and mentorship to student stage managers and supports the organization of student film processes. The position establishes consistent production-management procedures and helps students develop professional practices in scheduling, documentation, collaboration, communication, and production leadership.

This position teaches a regular cross-listed three-credit production course comprising THEA 270, Theatre Arts Workshop I; THEA 371, Theatre Arts Workshops II; and THEA 486, Theatre Production.

The Production Manager may teach additional courses in stage management, production management, or related areas as workload and scheduling permit.

Evening and weekend work is required during technical rehearsals, performances, film productions, festivals, and other scheduled production activities.

The School of Stage and Screen serves approximately 180 students across five degree tracks and a dance minor. The School offers a BFA in Theatre with concentrations in Musical Theatre, Acting for Stage and Screen, and Entertainment Design and Technology; a BA in Stage and Screen; and a BFA in Film and Television Production. Its experiential curriculum emphasizes storytelling across all degree tracks.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Production management and scheduling: Knowledge of entertainment production processes, production calendars, meetings, rehearsals, performances, and production documentation.
• Communication and coordination: Ability to organize and communicate complex information among faculty, staff, students, guest artists, and campus partners.
• Project management: Ability to manage overlapping productions, establish priorities, monitor deadlines, anticipate conflicts, and support timely completion of production work.
• Procedures and compliance: Ability to develop production procedures, maintain records, apply institutional requirements, and coordinate with university offices.
• Teaching and mentorship: Ability to teach undergraduate production courses and mentor student stage managers and production personnel.
• Collaboration and judgment: Ability to facilitate meetings, resolve competing priorities, respond to changing circumstances, and develop practical solutions under deadline pressure.
• Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Office or similar programs for scheduling, project-management, spreadsheet, document-sharing, and communication systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Interested candidates must already be legally authorized to work in the United States and will not require any immigration sponsorship or support.
• Master's degree in theatre, production management, stage management, film production, arts administration, or a closely related field from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Demonstrated professional or academic experience in production management, stage management, or the coordination of live performance or film productions.
• Experience managing complex schedules, production meetings, deadlines, documentation, and communication across multiple production areas.
• Demonstrated qualifications to teach undergraduate courses in the assigned discipline.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience as a production manager or stage manager.
• Experience managing productions in a college or university environment.
• Experience teaching production management, stage management, or production practicum courses.
• Experience mentoring student stage managers and production teams.
• Experience developing production policies, calendars, handbooks, or compliance documentation.
• Demonstrated commitment to experiential education and student professional development.

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

For questions or additional information, please contact Tory DePew at [e-mail]

AA/EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call [phone] or email at [e-mail].

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.