Theatrical Scene Prop Shop Supervisor

Northeastern University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Theatrical Scene and Prop Shop Supervisor at Northeastern University oversees the scenic, prop, and lighting shop spaces to ensure safe, organized, and efficient operations during academic terms and productions. This temporary, full-time role supports load-in/strike and provides hands-on training to students.

With a focus on safety, budgeting, and collaboration with faculty and EHS, the supervisor coordinates tool purchases, inventory, and maintenance while aligning with the academic

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Theatre, Technical Theatre, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience supervising or training others in a shop or production environment.
• Experience in theatrical scenic/prop/lightings shops with hand and power tools, rigging, and basic electrics.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operation of scenic/prop/lighting shop spaces and ensure safety and organization.
• Train and supervise students; provide hands-on guidance for coursework and productions.
• Assist with load-in and strike; support organization and storage of materials.
• Develop and enforce shop safety protocols and maintain safety training records.

Skills

Shop supervision

Student training

Inventory management

Budgeting

Tool use

Safety training

Flexibility (evenings/weekends)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Theatre/Technical Theatre

Tools

Rigging

Lighting tools

Electrical basics

Job description

Theatrical Scene Prop ShopSupervisor

Salary Range: $35.00 To$40.00 Hourly

Job Summary

About the College of Arts, Media and Design

CAMD is acommunity of creators, designers, technologists, and communicatorsapplying creativity across disciplines and emerging technologies.The college supports experience-driven teaching, learning, and research across design, communication, media, and the arts.

About the Opportunity

The Theatrical Scene and Prop Shop Supervisor is a temporary, full-timeposition that manages the day-to-day operation of the department'sscenic, prop, and lighting shop spaces in support of academicinstruction and theatrical productions during the term of theappointment. The Supervisor maintains a safe, organized, andefficient working environment, oversees the acquisition and upkeepof tools, equipment, and consumable materials, and provideshands-on training and supervision to students working in the shopsfor coursework and production assignments.TheSupervisor works collaboratively with faculty, production staff,and University Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to upholdsafety standards across all shop operations and to support load-inand strike for department productions. This is a short-term,fixed-duration position that runs through May 3, 2027. Continuationis subject to department need, safety standards as prescribed bythe Provost's Safety protocols, and available funding. The rolerequires a flexible schedule aligned with the academic andproduction calendar, including evening and weekend hours.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Shop operations, equipment, and purchasing(35%)

• Supervise thedaily operation of the scenic, prop, and lighting shop spaces,ensuring they are safe, organized, and properly maintained.
• Maintain,inspect, and repair shop tools and equipment, and coordinateoutside service or repair when needed.
• Oversee thepurchase of new tools, equipment, and consumable supplies,including sourcing, budgeting, and maintaining vendorrelationships.
• Maintainaccurate records related to equipment inventory, maintenanceschedules, and material purchases.

Student Training and Supervision(30%)

• Partner withfaculty and production staff to train and supervise studentsworking in the shop spaces, including instruction on proper tooluse and shop procedures.
• Providehands-on assistance and guidance to students completing classassignments and production work in the shop spaces.

Production Support: Load-in andStrike

• Assist otherpersonnel with the load-in, organization, and storage of scenicmaterials, props, lighting equipment, and associated productionmaterials.
• Assist withload-in and strike duties for theatrical productions, workingalongside production staff and student crews.

Safety and Compliance(15%)

• Partner withUniversity Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to develop,deliver, and document safety training for students and staff.
• Establish,communicate, and enforce shop safety protocols, including properuse of personal protective equipment (PPE) and machine safetyprocedures.
• Maintainaccurate records related to safety training.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor'sdegree in Theatre, Technical Theatre, or a related field, orequivalent combination of education and professionalexperience.
• Demonstratedexperience working in theatrical scenic, prop, and/or lightingshops, including hand and power tool use, rigging, and basicelectrics.
• Experiencesupervising or training others in a shop or productionenvironment.
• Workingknowledge of shop safety practices and willingness to partner withEHS on training and compliance.
• Strongorganizational skills, including experience managing inventory,purchasing, or budgets.
• Ability towork flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to supportproduction load-in, tech, and strike schedules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience ina higher education or academic theatre setting.
• Familiaritywith scenic construction techniques and prop fabrication.
• Basicwelding, CNC, or other specialized fabrication experience.

Physical Requirements

• Ability tolift and carry up to 50 lbs., and to safely lift heavier loads withassistance or equipment.
• Ability tostand, bend, kneel, and climb ladders or lifts for extendedperiods.
• Ability towork in shop environments with exposure to dust, noise, and the useof power tools and machinery.
• Ability towork at heights and in confined production spaces as needed forload-in and strike.

Required Documents

• ResumeCoverLetter

Work Environment

This positionworks primarily in scenic, prop, and lighting shop spaces, as wellas performance venues during load-in, technical rehearsals, andstrike. The role requires a flexible schedule aligned with theacademic and production calendar, including some evening andweekend hours.

Financial Measures

Responsiblefor the purchase of shop tools, equipment, and consumable supplieswithin an assigned operating budget.

Supervision

This positionsupervises and trains students working in the shop spaces forcoursework and production assignments. It has no full-time directreports and receives direction from Robert Dutiel, Faculty,Technical Theater.

Expected Hiring Range:

$35-$40/hr With the pay range(s) shown above, thestarting salary will depend on several factors, which may includeyour education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, andskills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employeesalready in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and aresubject to change

Additional Information

NortheasternUniversity offers benefits-eligible employees a competitive andcomprehensive package designed to support your health, financialsecurity, and overall well-being. Employees joining our New YorkCity campus will begin with benefits equivalent to those of theinstitution formerly known as Marymount Manhattan College untilbenefits transition to Northeastern's full plans effective January1, 2027. Northeastern will provide further information in advanceofthat transition.

Current NYC campus benefits include:

• Medical anddental insurance
• RetirementplanLifeanddisability insurance
• Paidvacation, sick time, leave of absence, and other applicable paidtime off
• Tuitionbenefits for employees, dependents, and spouses

About Northeastern University

Founded in1898, Northeastern is a global research university and therecognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approachof integrating real-world experience with education, research, andinnovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners tocreate worldwide impact.Our globaluniversity system provides our community and academic, government,and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locallyand act globally. The system—which includes 15 campuses across theU.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partnersworldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, andsolutions.Theuniversity's residential campuses for undergraduate and graduatedegrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Ourresearch and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communitiesof Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, NorthCarolina; Miami; New York City, New York, Portland, Maine; Seattle,Washington; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver.Northeastern's personalized, experiential undergraduate andgraduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes theintersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquelypreparing graduates for careers of the future and lives offulfillment and accomplishment.Our researchenterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutionsoriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and studentswork in teams that cross not just disciplines, but alsosectors—aligned around solving today's highly interconnected globalchallenges and focused on transformative impact forhumankind.