Scenic & Props Design Associate

Act Sf; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco seeks a Scenic and Props Design Associate to collaborate across Mainstage, Conservatory, and Rentals. You will liaison between guest designers, shops, and departments, contributing full design and drafting packages while managing prop purchases and inventories.

The role requires Vectorworks proficiency, drafting skills, and budget experience, with on-site work and some hybrid flexibility in a dynamic theatre environment.

Qualifications

• BA/BFA in technical theatre or scenic design or equivalent professional experience.
• 2+ years of scenic and props design experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Vectorworks and drafting for design packages.

Responsibilities

• Serve as production liaison between guest designers and shops.
• Draft and integrate drawings for stage and prop plans; update paperwork.
• Generate show paperwork, ground plans, line-set schedules, and build drawings.
• Attend production meetings and represent scenic/props departments.
• Support rehearsal and tech periods; manage rehearsal props and transfers.

Skills

Vectorworks

2D/3D drafting

Budget management

Design collaboration

Education

BA/BFA in technical theatre or scenic design

2+ years professional experience

Tools

Dropbox

Google Drive

Microsoft 365

Slack

Asana

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Scenic & Props Design Associate

Full Time San Francisco, CA, US 1 Attachments

6 days ago Requisition ID: 1042

REPORTS TO: Associate Director of Production

STATUS: Regular/Full Time/Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $70,350-$73,000

ABOUT A.C.T.

American Conservatory Theater is an essential gathering place that brings artists and communities together to inspire and provoke. A.C.T.’s mission is to engage the spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area, activate stories that resonate, promote a diversity of voices and points of view, and empower theater makers and audiences to celebrate liveness. A.C.T. values inclusion, transformational learning, participation, and rigorous fun. A.C.T. is a Tony Award–winning nonprofit theater serving almost 200,000 people in the San Francisco Bay Area annually through theater, training, and education and community programs.

POSITION PURPOSE:

American Conservatory Theater (LORT B+) seeks a Scenic and Props Design Associate. This role works across many parts of A.C.T., including but not limited to the Mainstage season, Conservatory and Education programs, and other projects. On Mainstage productions, the Associate works closely with A.C.T. Production Management as a key production liaison between guest designers, all shops, and departments. For the Conservatory, Education, Rentals, and other company programming, the Associate may work with guest designers or act as a designer on select productions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, but rather a representation of job duties.

• Serve as the key production liaison between guest Scenic and Props Designers, the shops, and all production staff throughout the design development process: fielding questions, breaking the design down into its component parts, tracking changes and revisions, updating budget numbers accordingly, and coordinating technical needs.
• Support guest designers' drafting as needed, including integrating their drawings into accurate, current theater or event-space plans; providing floor plans, sections, 3D master drawings, renders, and inventories; and drafting prop build drawings for the Prop Shop that reflect the designer's intent.
• Generate and maintain industry-standard scenic show paperwork, Ground Plans, line-set schedules, and select build drawings as needed. Keep all drawings and design information current as changes occur, and distribute updated drawings and paperwork to the shops and Production Teams.
• Attend production meetings and speak on behalf of the scenic and props departments as needed.
• Work with Stage Management through studio rehearsals and the run of the production to support scenic and prop needs, including coordinating rehearsal room setup (rehearsal props, platforms, and other scenic elements), sourcing and delivering rehearsal props, and managing their transfer to the theater.
• Serve as Assistant Scenic and Props Designer during tech rehearsals and previews for all Mainstage productions: taking notes, communicating with other departments, attending morning work notes as needed.
• Maintain A.C.T.'s master venue drafting files and, with Production Management, the technical packages for all A.C.T. venues for internal and rental use; keep departmental files on company servers and shared systems organized and current.
• Work closely with the Prop Shop Supervisor and shop staff to ensure the efficient, timely, and on-budget delivery of all prop requirements for each production, including researching, sourcing, and purchasing or renting props, scenic materials, equipment, and expendables for shows and the department's general inventory, and tracking the properties budget and rehearsal prop notes.
• Serve as designer on select Conservatory and Education Program productions each season, producing the full design and drafting package independently, and provide planning, logistics, technical, and props support for Conservatory and Education programs, serving as Technical Director for load-in and strike as assigned.
• Support rental and development events as a designer and general production support, helping realize the vision of clients and staff.
• Provide indirect supervision to other members of the technical and production team as assigned, and work with Production Management to recruit additional design assistants for show-specific work as needed.
• Recommend maintenance and upkeep of equipment, tools, and facilities to Production Management, and assist with related purchasing, scheduling, and labor to receive and install parts and replacement equipment.
• Understand and work within the parameters of all applicable union contracts, including IATSE Local 16 (Stagehands), United Scenic Artists Local 829 (Designers), and Actors' Equity Association (Actors, Stage Managers).
• Assist Production Management with budget estimates, financial projections, and staff planning as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS & QUALITIES:

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Alignment with A.C.T.’s Mission, Values and commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• BA/BFA in technical theatre or scenic design, or equivalent professional experience (2+ years), with an emphasis in scenic and props design.
• Valid driver's license and a clean DMV record.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and reach overhead.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Bay Area. This is primarily an on-site, in-person position; some work-from-home flexibility is available for administrative, budget, and drafting tasks that don't require shop or on-site presence.
• Strong computer skills on PC or Mac, including proficiency in the following (required unless marked preferred):
  • Vectorworks (2D and 3D)
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive
  • Microsoft 365
  • Slack (Preferred)
  • Asana (Preferred)
• Demonstrated Vectorworks drafting proficiency, including the ability to independently produce complete design and drafting packages and to work accurately within another designer's files.
• Knowledge of or experience with automation control systems is a plus.
• Experience managing budgets and expenditures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with A.C.T. colleagues and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Willingness to work an irregular schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Detail-oriented, resourceful, and flexible, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact with a diverse group of constituents, including visiting directors, designers, artists, administrative staff, technical crews, and students.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to meet demanding situations with tenacity, diplomacy, and sensitivity under pressure.
• Excellent work ethic and ability to work well in a team.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & BENEFITS:

This role is based in San Francisco with hybrid work flexibility. A.C.T. offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid vacation and sick leave; and access to live theater performances and professional development opportunities.

Diversity makes us stronger. A.C.T. is committed to diversity in its programming and creating an inclusive work culture and environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’d like to learn more about A.C.T.’s values, mission, and EDI initiatives, please visit www.act-sf.org .

Attachments (1)

A.C.T. Scenic & Props Design Associate Job Description (10.2026).pdf