Working Title: Technical Director
Classification Title: Performing Arts Tech (PAT III)
Posting Details
Priority Application Deadline (Posting will remain open until filled): Wednesday, September 6th at 11:55 p.m. PST
Hiring Preference
Eligible on-campus applicants in California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) Bargaining Units 2,5,7, and 9 will be given first consideration in the recruitment.
Position Summary
Under the general direction of the Department Chair, the incumbent serves as lead technical staff, and is responsible for the general technical direction of all theatrical and dance productions. In collaboration with the Production Team and Faculty, the Technical Director is responsible for the oversight of construction in the Theatre Department shop and provides coordination, lead direction, design, scenic area budget management, and technical support for the department, which includes creating and constructing scenery properties, operating and maintaining stage equipment, inspecting, repairing, and performing regular maintenance on riggings and equipment to ensure safety standards.
The Technical Director proposes estimated budgets for individual productions within the season and participates in budget meetings with members of the Production Team to develop the season budgets.
The incumbent works with students and faculty to understand production goals, and to provide training in the various roles assigned for technical rehearsals and performances, and to assist students in technical aspects of production and backstage organization.
In collaboration with the Production Team and Department Chair, the incumbent provides weekly plans of stage usage for production needs, maintains overall production schedules with technical needs and deadlines, maintains the budgetary aspects of both theatre and dance productions, determines and coordinates the acquisition of supplies and materials, and facilitates open communication regarding the status of productions.
FLSA: Non-Exempt (Eligible for overtime compensation)
Recruitment Type: Regular
Work Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Monday - Friday occasional weekends as necessary
The Department of Theatre and Dance at California State University, Sacramento, commit ourselves and our programs to call out systemic racism and to actively promote a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment onstage, in rehearsals, in classrooms, and among each other. This commitment is rooted in providing a broad and thorough foundation of the history, theory, literature, performance, design/technical, and management practices of theatre and dance. Our imaginative and ambitious curriculum, supported by studio work and productions, challenges and nurtures our students to be interdependent, inclusive leaders who embody diverse practices in theater and dance. Our collaborative, artistic environment reflects a complex global perspective, complemented by national and international faculty and staff experience.
https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/theatre-dance/
Incumbents at this level (PAT III) are highly skilled, with experience in multiple areas of production support. They coordinate the most complex projects and provide overall technical and operational leadership. Incumbents also may serve as the technical and/or operational production manager.
Scenery and Staging Operation – Using ingenuity, technical abilities and knowledge of production goals, themes and set designing, creates and constructs scenery properties from design specifications. Work may include: painting sets, scene décor, and murals; operating and maintaining stage equipment; inspecting, repairing and performing regular maintenance on riggings and equipment to ensure safety standards are maintained; working with students and faculty to understand production goals; and attending performances to assist students in technical aspects of production and backstage organization.
Entry to the third level within this classification requires highly skilled experience working for a theater, repertory, or stock company engaged in multiple applicable production specialties such as costume construction, stage and set construction, lighting production, and/or sound/audio and/or video production.
This background normally would be achieved through professional training or applicable college coursework and practical experience.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain a welcoming and inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents including faculty, students, staff, and members of the community.
- Demonstrated history of and commitment to building and maintaining a respectful and professional work environment.
- Substantial experience providing lead work or supervision to staff who work independently and in teams on complex production builds, with difficult designs and materials.
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop and manage production projects and budgets.
- Sophisticated knowledge of design theory and principles to be able to translate design specifications, blueprints or drawings into costume, scene, lighting or sound production and effects.
- Substantial experience in:
- Several technical aspects of production support
- Addressing the methods and problems in multiple production specialties
- Managing and coordinating the use of multiple theatrical facilities
- Practical knowledge of directing and stage management for management of performance lab needs in the staging of productions, including the demonstrated ability to:
- Assist in the creation of clear plans for the production crew members
- Manage performance needs including but not limited to grid assignments, movements, and settings
- Line assignments
- Set change assignments.
- Comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the technical aspects of construction, implementation, and operation of staging materials and effects in several theatrical production specialties, including the ability to read, create, provide edits, and maintain current copies of drawings and plots for production.
- Proven experience in creating and constructing props and scenery from the design phase through the final product.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain stage equipment and monitor for repair, replacement, and safety inspection., including the coordination of repair, replacement, and safety inspection needs with corresponding budgets and schedules.
- Demonstrated ability to perform safety checks on stage rigging, maintain and stage equipment, and train others in safety protocols and procedures.
- Comprehensive knowledge of safety measures and hazards related to theatrical productions.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise and provide training for stagecraft staff, assistants and crew members.
- Demonstrated ability to work with and instruct faculty on course, practicum, and production goals and procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to support classroom instruction by performing classroom demonstrations related to stage and set construction.
- Practical knowledge and experience with knowledge of
- Production equipment, including but not limited to all scene shop hand tools and power tools including skill saw, band saw, table saw, radial arm saw, power drill, pneumatic staple gun, cut awl, rivet gun, power lift, and motorized paint frame.
- Artist and drafting tools including computer, spray equipment (spray guns, spatter guns, airbrush, paint mixer) brushes, rollers, hot glue guns, and any prop construction equipment including scale rule, sculpting, and carving tools.
- Welding and welding equipment related to stage building and prop construction including metalworking and welding skills.
- Working knowledge of stage construction and design and of CAD drafting.
- Comprehensive knowledge of theatrical lighting, sound/audio equipment, video equipment and their respective implementations.
- Good working knowledge of carpentry and carpentry skills.
- Relevant OSHA certification.
- Experience with Theatre ADA Compliance.
- BA Theatre Arts or Engineering or relevant area of comparable professional experience.
Documents Needed to Apply
Resume, cover letter, and digital portfolio (submit link or file).
Failure to upload required documentation may result in disqualification.
About Sac State
Sacramento State is located in the heart of California’s capital city, five miles from State Capitol. The lush, 300-acre campus is situated along the American River, close to numerous bike trails and other recreational areas. Sacramento, also known as the “Farm-to-Fork Capital,” is one of the most ethnically diverse and livable cities in the country, with a population of half of a million. Sacramento State’s 31,000 students come not only from the Greater Sacramento Region, but also from across the state, country, and world. Our 1800 faculty and 1,500 staff are committed to meeting our mission: “As California’s capital university, we transform lives by preparing students for leadership, service, and success. Sacramento State will be a recognized leader in education, innovation, and engagement.” As the regional hub of higher education, Sac State is dedicated to student success, diversity, equity and inclusion, community engagement, philanthropy, and campus safety.
As evidenced by the values embedded in our Hornet Honor Code, Sacramento State is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all faculty, staff, students, and guests are welcome and valued. Our commitment is more than simply ensuring that our campus is free from bias and discrimination, but is one devoted to celebrating many diverse identities, life experiences, and perspectives that enrich our community, teaching and learning.
To learn more about why you should join the Hornet Family, please visit the Why Sac State? page.
Background Check Disclaimer
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with California State University, Sacramento. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current California State University, Sacramento employees who apply for the position. One variation of background check required could be a LiveScan screening, which involves submitting fingerprints at a certified LiveScan Service Center.
COVID-19 Vaccine Certification Information:
Per the
CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is strongly recommended that all California State University, Sacramento employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.
Out of State Employment Policy
Sacramento State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees (up)on date of hire to reside in the State of California.
As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.
Equal Employment Opportunity
California State University, Sacramento is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or disability. Sacramento State hires only those individuals who are lawfully authorized to accept employment in the United States.
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Fire Safety Right-To-know Act Notification:
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the current Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for viewing at https://www.csus.edu/clery .
The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Sacramento State for the last three (3) calendar years. Paper copies are available upon request at the Police Service Center located in the University Union.
Eligibility Verification
Selected candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the United States. California State University, Sacramento is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (i.e. H-1-B Visa).
Note to Applicants:
Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview unless required by collective bargaining agreement.