Prop Supervisor (HR Title: Prop Master)

Southern Methodist University; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Methodist University in Dallas seeks a Prop Supervisor to plan, create, acquire, modify, and manage props for Meadows productions, working closely with designers, directors, faculty, and students to meet artistic and budgetary goals.

The on-site role emphasizes teaching prop construction techniques, safe practices, and collaborative problem-solving while supporting a dynamic arts program and a safe, organized shop environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Production or related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred; experience in theatre production is valued.
• At least 1 year of hands-on production or props-related work required.
• Experience with prop research, budgeting, inventory, and shop safety preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, build, purchase, rent, borrow, or alter props and set dressing.
• Collaborate with designers, directors, and production staff to meet goals.
• Attend meetings and rehearsals to coordinate prop requirements.
• Manage budgets for productions and keep purchasing records.
• Teach safe working practices to students and supervise prop shop operations.

Skills

Theatre production

Prop construction

Budgeting

Collaboration

Safety practices

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Vectorworks

AutoCAD

VCarve

Concur

Job description

Job Description - Prop Supervisor (HR Title: Prop Master) (MEA00000163)

Job Description

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU Meadows School of the Arts educates visionary artists, scholars, and arts and communications professionals to create sustainable and transformative impact on both local and global society. Today, the Meadows School has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States and offers training in an unique mix of the arts – visual (art and art history), performing (dance, music, and theatre) and communications (advertising, film and media arts, corporate communication and public affairs, and journalism) – as well as a preeminent programs in arts management and arts entrepreneurship and creative computation.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Props Specialist is responsible for the planning, creation, acquisition, modification, and management of properties for Meadows productions. Working closely with designers, directors, faculty, and production staff, this position researches, builds, purchases, rents, borrows, or alters props, furniture, and set dressing to meet the artistic, functional, historical, and budgetary needs of each production.

The position manages production and shop budgets; maintains and develops the School’s inventory of props, furniture, tools, and materials; and coordinates rentals and borrowing arrangements. As part of the School’s educational mission, the Props Specialist works directly with students to teach safe working practices, prop construction and craft techniques, research, problem-solving, and professional collaboration while supporting a safe, organized, creative working environment.

Essential Functions:

Research, build, purchase, rent, borrow, or alter props, furniture, and set dressing for productions and related performance activities. Interpret designs and production needs to create safe, functional, and appropriate properties that meet artistic, historical, budgetary, and scheduling requirements.

Collaborate with scenic designers, directors, faculty, and production staff to develop practical solutions that support the artistic goals of each production. Collaborates with the lighting staff to build, wire, and maintain Practical Lighting Fixtures.

Attend all production meetings and technical rehearsals to coordinate prop requirements and respond to production needs.

Manage budgets for individual productions and prop shop supplies, including purchasing and tracking expenditures. Plan and prioritize resources to meet production needs within established budgets and timelines while maintaining appropriate purchasing documentation.

Work directly with students to teach safe working practices, prop construction and craft techniques, research, problem-solving, and professional communication. Support student learning through hands‑on instruction and model effective collaboration and professional practices.

Organize, maintain, and develop the School's inventory of props, furniture, tools, and materials. Maintain an orderly and functional prop shop and storage areas, and coordinate prop rentals and borrowing arrangements for students, productions, and outside groups as appropriate.

Weekend and evening work will be required to accommodate technical rehearsals and strikes for all shows as appropriate.

Occasional travel to purchase props, supplies, and construction materials .

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s is required. Master's is preferred. A degree in Theatre Production, Design or another art related field is preferred.

A minimum of one (1) year of hands‑on experience in theatrical production, scenic design, properties, or related production work is required.

Experience constructing, modifying, sourcing, and maintaining props and/or scenery using a variety of materials, tools, and techniques is required.

Experience working collaboratively with designers, directors, production teams, and student or peer crews and/or experience with prop research, budgeting, purchasing, inventory, shop organization, and safe working practices is preferred.

Experience may be gained through undergraduate coursework, academic productions, internships, summer theatre, or professional work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

The ability to use standard shop equipment (such as table saw, band saw, drill presses, jigs, grinder, etc.) as well as a basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office is required.

Knowledge of upholstery, welding work, woodworking/joinery, soldering, casting/molding, foam carving, circuitry, puppetry, sewing/textiles, rigging, scenic painting, and/or an understanding of advanced manufacturing methods (CNC router, 3D printing, laser cutting, etc.) is preferred.

Working knowledge of Vectorworks, AutoCad, VCarve, PhotoShop and/or Concur is preferred.

A valid drivers license is required.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Bend, squat, stand, crawl, climb, kneel
• Reach above shoulders
• Handle objects (dexterity)
• Push/Pull

Carry/list over 50 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by September 9, 2026.

Position will remain open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.