Technical Director

Manoa Valley Theatre; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 42,500 - 57,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible scheduling

Flexible PTO

State and Federal holidays (when oper.

Theatre closure between Christmas and 

Professional development

Job summary

Mānoa Valley Theatre is seeking a Technical Director to lead the technical operations across our six‑show Mainstage season, Music & Comedy Series, special events, and rentals. This role emphasizes safety, collaboration, and delivering high‑quality productions that serve our Hawaiʻi community.

The TD will manage scenic construction, load‑ins, rehearsals, and shop maintenance, mentoring staff and volunteers while upholding our standards of artistic excellence and inclusive culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in technical theatre, scenic construction, and theatre production.
• Strong woodworking, construction, and project management skills.
• Ability to read technical drawings and safely operate shop equipment.
• Knowledge of stagecraft and production practices.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and flexible production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Technical Director for MVT's six-show Mainstage season, Music & Comedy Series, special events, and facility rentals.
• Plan and oversee scenic construction, load-ins, technical rehearsals, strikes, and storage.
• Develop production schedules and attend production meetings, designer runs, technical rehearsals, and weekly staff meetings.
• Collaborate with directors, designers, stage managers, staff, volunteers, and production teams to ensure productions are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Build, install, modify, and maintain scenery from technical drawings.
• Operate woodworking tools and equipment safely while troubleshooting production challenges.
• Maintain the scene shop, theatre equipment, technical inventory, and backstage spaces.
• Support facility maintenance, capital improvements, and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Supervise and mentor overhire staff, interns, students, and volunteers.
• Foster a safe, collaborative, and respectful production environment.
• Manage scenic budgets, order materials, track expenses, and identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising artistic quality.

Skills

Technical theatre

Woodworking

Construction

Reading technical drawings

Stagecraft

Communication

Organizational skills

Evenings/weekends availability

Education

Degree in Technical Theatre

Tools

Rigging

Welding

Lighting

Sound

Job description

At Mānoa Valley Theatre, everything we do begins with our community.

We believe theatre has the power to bring people together, spark conversation, celebrate diverse perspectives, and strengthen our shared humanity. Every production we create is an opportunity to reflect, uplift, and connect our community.

Founded in 1969, Mānoa Valley Theatre produces professional-quality theatrical experiences while fostering creativity, education, and meaningful community engagement. We are seeking a Technical Director who shares our belief that great theatre is built not only through technical excellence, but through collaboration, service, and a commitment to creating a welcoming space where artists, volunteers, audiences, and community members thrive.

Our Values

Theatre is life-changing.

Extraordinary begets extraordinary.

Equity, inclusion, safety, and access are our shared responsibility.

We are caretakers of MVT's legacy.

Position Summary

The Technical Director (TD) is an essential member of Mānoa Valley Theatre's leadership team, helping transform artistic vision into meaningful experiences that serve our community. More than managing scenery and production logistics, the Technical Director creates the environment that allows artists, volunteers, students, and staff to do their best work together.

The TD oversees all technical operations for Mānoa Valley Theatre's six-show Mainstage season, Music & Comedy Series, special events, theatre rentals, and community programming. This hands‑on leadership position is responsible for planning, constructing, installing, and maintaining scenic elements while ensuring the theatre's facilities, equipment, and production operations support the highest artistic, operational, and safety standards.

Working closely with directors, designers, production staff, volunteers, students, and community partners, the Technical Director transforms artistic concepts into exceptional productions while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive production culture. The successful candidate is someone who enjoys mentoring others, solving complex challenges, maintaining high production standards, and helping create theatre that reflects and celebrates the diverse stories of our Hawaiʻi community.

Production & Technical Leadership

• Serve as Technical Director for MVT's six-show Mainstage season, Music & Comedy Series, special events, and facility rentals.
• Plan and oversee scenic construction, load-ins, technical rehearsals, strikes, and storage.
• Develop production schedules and attend production meetings, designer runs, technical rehearsals, and weekly staff meetings.
• Collaborate with directors, designers, stage managers, staff, volunteers, and production teams to ensure productions are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

Scenic Construction & Facilities

• Build, install, modify, and maintain scenery from technical drawings.
• Operate woodworking tools and equipment safely while troubleshooting production challenges.
• Maintain the scene shop, theatre equipment, technical inventory, and backstage spaces.
• Support facility maintenance, capital improvements, and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Leadership & Administration

• Supervise and mentor overhire staff, interns, students, and volunteers.
• Foster a safe, collaborative, and respectful production environment.
• Manage scenic budgets, order materials, track expenses, and identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising artistic quality.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for educational programming, community initiatives, Opening Nights, the Mānoa Marquee Gala, Music & Comedy Series, theatre rentals, and other special events.
• Coordinate technical needs for rental clients and assist with facility emergencies and other duties that support MVT's mission.

Qualifications

Required

• Experience in technical theatre, scenic construction, and theatre production.
• Strong woodworking, construction, and project management skills.
• Ability to read technical drawings and safely operate shop equipment.
• Knowledge of stagecraft and production practices.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and flexible production schedules.

Preferred

• Degree in Technical Theatre or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience supervising staff, volunteers, or students.
• Experience with rigging, welding, lighting, sound, or advanced theatrical systems.
• Nonprofit or community theatre experience.

Physical Requirements

• Lift up to 50 pounds.
• Work safely on ladders, scaffolding, and elevated platforms.
• Stand, bend, kneel, climb, and work extended production hours.
• Safely operate construction tools and equipment.

Salary

$50,000 annual salary, annual cost of living adjustments eligibility, and performance-based bonus eligibility.

Benefits

Employer-sponsored health insurance, flexible scheduling, flexible PTO, State and Federal holidays (when operationally possible), theatre closure between Christmas and New Years, and professional development opportunities.

• At MVT, you'll do more than build scenery—you'll help create meaningful experiences that bring our community together through the power of live theatre. Working alongside talented artists, dedicated volunteers, and a passionate staff, you'll play a vital role in shaping MVT while producing work that reflects, celebrates, and serves our community.