Production Services Manager

James Madison University; Waynesboro, Harrisonburg (VA, VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the performing arts seeks a dynamic Production Services Manager to oversee technical management and production staff for a variety of performances. This full-time role involves collaborating with faculty and staff to ensure high-quality productions while managing budgets and schedules. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and communication skills, with a proven ability to work under tight deadlines. Join a vibrant community dedicated to artistic excellence and enjoy comprehensive benefits, including health insurance and a tuition waiver program.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Tuition Assistance

Disability Insurance

Paid Maternity Leave

Paid Paternity Leave

Paid Vacation

Sick Leave

Community Service Leave

Qualifications

• Experience supervising technical production personnel in a performing arts institution.
• Ability to operate complex lighting and sound systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage technical aspects for various performances and events.
• Supervise scheduling for production staff and guest designers.

Skills

Technical Production Supervision

Lighting Operation

Sound Design

Budgeting

Scheduling

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Experience in Performing Arts

Tools

Theatre Systems

Job description

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The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is the premier performing arts destination in the Shenandoah Valley presenting world-class theatre, dance and music entertainment. The Center houses 5 performance venues – a 600-seat Concert Hall, 450-seat Mainstage Theatre, 200-seat Recital Hall, 200-seat Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre and a flexible seating Studio Theatre Black Box. The Center presents an annual Encore Season featuring up to 16 internationally recognized professional artists/ensembles. 300+ ticketed and non-ticketed performances are presented annually including guest artists, faculty members and emerging young talent from JMU’s CVPA. The Forbes Center attracts over 45,000 patrons per year.

With 200+ full-time faculty members and 1,300 full-time majors, CVPA brings together Schools of Art, Design and Art History (SADAH); Music (SOM); and Theatre and Dance (STAD). CVPA also houses the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the Office of Creative Propulsion (OCP), Madison Art Collection, and multiple Art Galleries. The OCP is focused on integrative arts – bridging gaps across disciplines and between the university and the community to support collaboration in the arts. The CVPA is committed to advancing division- and university-level strategic goals, and empowering students to act boldly, justly and inclusively to create their unique path.

The Production Services Manager is a full-time exempt 12-month Classified Staff position within the CVPA. We seek a dynamic, well-qualified production management professional to engage and support a complex performing arts center season and a College of Visual and Performing Arts. The ideal candidate will have the capacity and drive to deliver expert technical management and production staff oversight for professional guest artist, student, and faculty performances. The position reports to and is evaluated by the Executive Director of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

•Manage technical aspects for professional, faculty, student ensemble, and guest artist performances and events in the Forbes Center including design details for sound, lighting, stage set-up for all Concert Hall and Recital Hall performances, conferences, and on-stage events in these and other Center venues. Production personnel in the School of Theatre and Dance do not report to the Forbes Center Production Manager.

•Supervise the work and scheduling for the Technical and Operations Coordinator, up to four production fellows per season, guest designers, over hire labor, part-time student crew, and outside contractors.

•Work with the Dean, Executive Director of the Forbes Center, and the Schools of Music and the Theatre and Dance administration, faculty and staff to schedule the yearly production calendar.

•Coordinate with the Sound Engineer to ensure all productions have first-rate sound design.

•Manage day-to-day operations for the production office including production budget expenditures by show.

•Collaborate with the School of Music Opera Director on Opera performances.

•Work with the Executive Director of the Forbes Center to determine short- and long-term technical replacement and upgrade needs. Manage and maintain an inventory of all technical equipment in the Forbes Center.

•Work with faculty and staff in the School of Theatre and Dance to provide technical guidance as needed and to ensure technical systems are maintained.

Qualifications:

•Experience with supervision of technical production personnel in a performing arts institution.

•Ability to operate and train others to operate complex lighting, sound, automation, rigging and other theatre systems.

•Budgeting and scheduling experience.

•Excellent communication, leadership, short and long-term planning skills.

•Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with various constituent groups to achieve their artistic vision, and faculty and student goals, while adhering to a budget.

•Ability to work a varied weekly schedule, which may include some early mornings, nights, and weekends.

•Excellent organizational skills.

•Ability to work well as part of a team, adapt to change, and work under tight deadlines.

Additional Considerations

•Lighting and scenic design experience.

•Safety Training (OSHA, or other certifications).

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Design, Finance, and Training

• Industries

  Higher Education, Broadcast Media Production and Distribution, and Performing Arts

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Tuition assistance

Disability insurance

Paid maternity leave

Paid paternity leave

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