Production Team Lead/TD Supervisor

ACME Corp. Production Resources; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ACME Corp. Production Resources in Milwaukee seeks a seasoned Production Team Lead/Technical Director Supervisor to oversee the production and fabrication shop, coordinating staff and resources for theatre, events, and experiential installations.

You will read blueprints, estimate materials and labor, schedule with Sales PMs and SMEs, supervise crews, and ensure safety and equipment upkeep across shop and job sites. The role includes travel to client locations and occasional evenings/weekends.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of full-time supervisory experience in technical theatre/events related to scenery/prop construction or shop management.
• Experience supervising diverse personnel and communicating effectively.
• Strong leadership, organizational and communication skills; ability to supervise teams.
• Able to train others in fabrication, equipment maintenance and safety standards.
• MA/MFA preferred; BA considered with relevant experience.
• Knowledge of theatre production, safety, and rigging; ability to interpret plans.
• Experience across at least two production areas and budgeting experience.
• Must lift/move equipment and work safely at heights; OSHA 10 preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the production and fabrication shop.
• Coordinate staff, plan, organize, and participate in custom fabrication projects.
• Read blueprints and ensure fabrication/prep aligns with specifications.
• Estimate materials, time and labor; manage budgets and scheduling with SMEs.
• Attend production and planning meetings; ensure safety and equipment upkeep.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Budgeting

Project planning

Communication

Safety standards

Problem solving

Blueprint reading

Education

MA or MFA in Theatre Arts

BA in Theatre or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Production Team Lead/Technical Director Supervisor

STANDARD HOURS/WEEK:45 (approximate), typically Monday-Friday during standard business hours but some evenings, weekends, and long days will be required to meet client needs and deadlines.

CLASSIFICATION:Full-time, non-exempt

TRAVEL:Work will be primarily out of the branch, and at client locations. Out of town travel due to client needs may be required, depending on job specifics.

JOB SUMMARY / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Technical Director (TD) Supervisor oversees the daily operations of the production and fabrication shop. They oversee and develop staff assigned to the shop and coordinate/execute pulling and prepping rentals and materials for jobs. The TD Supervisor plans, organizes, manages/oversees, and participates in the custom fabrication process for traditional theatre, special events, and commercial/experiential installations such as escape rooms, haunted houses, theme parks, etc. Projects include long term installations that the general public interacts directly with, in addition to more transitory projects such as traditional theatre and events. The TD Supervisor balances time, budgets, and complexity. They serve as a cost estimator, including materials, time, and labor. They work closely with the Sales Project Managers and subject matter experts (SMEs) to create a realistic schedule for each project. The TD Supervisor attends production meetings, sales meetings, site visits, planning meetings, and post-mortems as needed to understand and coordinate shop and staff needs. They read and interpret blueprints, drawings, and plots to ensure that elements are fabricated and/or prepped according to specifications. They assist in installations and strikes at client sites. The TD Supervisor ensures a safe working environment, proper care and maintenance of equipment, rigging systems, and stage elements, and upkeep of all shop and warehouse spaces to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently. The TD Supervisor works with a great deal of independence and exercises good judgment in performing a wide variety of duties. They are called upon to deal with a range of technical issues and must possess a working knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures of theatre, events, dance, music productions, and presentations including stage, set, sound, and lighting design implementation. The TD Supervisor performs a variety of routine as well as complex and highly technical functions requiring creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. The TD Supervisor also interacts and works collaboratively with a wide variety of personalities and situations requiring diplomacy, tact, friendliness, poise, and firmness while fostering a collaborative and positive work environment and ensuring tools and equipment are used in a safe manner and that safety precautions are followed. The TD Supervisor is responsible for directing and overseeing the successful completion of all aspects of work in the shop and on job sites.

Must have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and current vehicle insurance meeting state requirements. Work schedule will include evenings and weekends as necessary based upon client needs.

Ultimately, the TD Supervisor must perform efficiently in a fast-paced environment and demonstrate excellent problem solving and decision making skills, while consulting with internal SMEs as needed. This position is required to record hours accurately using the company timeclock system and to submit complete expense reports on time.

This job summary is intended to reflect typical duties, is not a complete representation of the position, and is not limited to additionally assigned responsibilities. All staff are expected to assist with cross departmental workloads to ensure excellent customer experiences.

QAULIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 4 years of full time work experience in a supervisory role in technical theatre/events as it relates to scenery/prop construction or shop management. Previous TD and shop management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with creative personnel, supervising or teaching crews, and communicating effectively with diverse personalities.
• Demonstrated strong leadership, collaborative, organizational, and communication skills and the ability to supervise teams of employees.
• Must effectively train and instruct others in event/theatrical fabrication, equipment maintenance and prep, and communicate safety standards
• MA or MFA in Theatre Arts, Technical Theatre, Theatrical Design, or a closely related field is strongly preferred. Candidates with a BA in theatre and earned experience in the areas of professional theatre/events and/or higher education will be considered.
• A working knowledge of the principles and practices of theatre/event staging in the following areas: theatrical fabrication, sound engineering, stage lighting, video and projections, scenic painting, rigging, and theatre safety.
• Thorough knowledge of gear and setup processes for lighting systems, audio systems, and video systems, as well as familiarity with theatrical fabrication techniques.
• Additional experience in at least two or more of the following areas: prop design and construction, stage set design, rigging, stage lighting, sound, operation/use of stage equipment or other related production/event functions. Formal, informal, and cross-disciplinary experiences will be considered.
• Must be able to lift and move equipment of varying sizes, maneuver road cases, and work safely at heights.
• Experience administering budgets.
• Demonstrated experience working safely on/with aerial lifts and platforms, catwalks, and ladders is preferred.
• Must possess OSHA 10 Construction certification or have the ability to acquire certification within the first 90 days of employment.
• Preference given to those with a proven ability to safely run, maneuver, navigate, and drive vehicles or mechanized equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, personnel lifts, passenger vehicles, and box trucks. Must be willing and able to learn if not already experienced in this area.
• Valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving record, current vehicle insurance meeting state regulations, and reliable transportation required.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

• Expertise in and the ability to teach others the proper use and care of hand and power tools used in stage production.
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, methods, and equipment used in technical aspects of theatrical production, including set construction, prop construction, lighting, sound, rigging, scenic painting, and special effects related to theatrical productions and live events.
• Well versed in current standards and practices, as well as new advances and technology as it relates to fabrication, projection, sound, lighting, rigging and installation.
• Computer literacy in Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) and the ability to learn new programs.
• Working knowledge of electronics, stage equipment and rigging, and audio-visual media; knowledge of computerized and manual stage lighting control systems.
• Strong time management skills with adaptability to changing priorities, deadlines, and the ability to manage numerous concurrent projects.
• Possess good judgment, sensitivity, analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize and problem solve. For this position a love of puzzles and researching answers to common issues is a must.
• Ability to flourish with minimal guidance, be proactive, and handle uncertainty.
• Skilled at managing multiple complex projects simultaneously while completing tasks in a timely fashion and meeting deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to be clear and concise.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work enthusiastically with a wide range of individuals to foster productive partnerships and relationships, both internally and externally.
• Must be tenacious, flexible, and exhibit good humor under pressure.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the job summary above and meeting the physical requirements below.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in warehouse, fabrication shop, and office settings; to stand, walk, or sit for prolonged periods; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 50 lbs unassisted; to operate stage equipment and tools requiring fine dexterity, repetitive hand movement, or fine coordination.
• Must be able to frequently climb and descend stairs and ladders, safely use common construction tools (e.g., screw gun, table saw, chop saw, pneumatic tools, etc.), use stage lighting and controls, sound controls, video controls, theatrical rigging equipment, aerial lifts/platforms, ladders, stage platforms.
• Perform physical activities that require considerable use of your hands, arms and legs, and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials for a prolonged period of time.
• Able to visually inspect equipment and use fine motor skills to assemble/disassemble equipment.
• A steady energy level and a calm demeanor
• Able to work safely at heights.
• Able to perform all essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires employees to work in a wide variety of work environments including in extreme heat and cold. Loud noises, both sustained and sudden, are common. Work is performed primarily, but not exclusively, in an indoor environment; some noise, dust, variance in temperatures, moisture, and/or humidity, paint fumes during certain stages of fabrication; exposure to electrical hazards, mechanical hazards, chemical hazards, explosive hazards, and/or burn hazards.

MATERIALS

• Provide own smartphone capable of taking and sending pictures. A discounted phone plan is available after 60 days of employment.
• Provide own steel-toed shoes

*We reserve the right to conduct a background check at any time during the course of employment.

Please note that job descriptions are not intended, and should not be construed, to be exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job. They are intended to be accurate reflections of principal job elements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.