Monthly Archives: May 2021

Title:               Technical Director

Reports to:     Production Manager

Start Date:     July 1, 2021 (flexible)

About the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) is a resident ensemble theatre company bringing Shakespeare and the Classics to life for all. Operating out of The Otto M. Budig Theater, CSC hosts a year-round theatrical season in addition to special events, educational programming, and community engagement activities. In its theatrical portfolio, CSC executes up to ten mainstage productions and six touring productions annually. Beyond its theatrical portfolio, CSC collaborates with many local community and arts organizations.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) are priorities of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. CSC strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, sex, religion, creed, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other legally protected classification. All team members are expected to advance CSC’s DEIA commitments.

Position Overview

The Technical Director is essential to the Production team of CSC, collaborating closely with designers, other production team members, the Production Manager, and the Producing Artistic Director to ensure that all projects produced at CSC are artistically executed to the highest possible standard.

The Technical Director is primarily responsible for the scenic build and installation of all CSC productions. They manage a team which oversees the electrics, sound, and video needs of CSC. Design opportunities may be available if they are both interested and qualified. This is a hands-on position that spends many working hours physically building or installing scenery.

Like all team members, the Technical Director is expected to follow evolving health and safety protocol as CSC navigates its reopening in response to changing expectations from the Actors’ Equity Association and various government institutions. They will also be involved in the rebuilding of their shop staff, the production team, and the departments operating procedures and cadence.

The Technical Director has base schedule of 40 working hours per week. Extended hours and modified work weeks may be necessary due to technical rehearsal schedules and specific production needs.

Responsibilities

Production

• Oversee the build and install of all scenic designs (inclusive of minimal rigging and automation).
• Execute budget passes against scenic design drafts.
• Collaborate on build calendars with other department heads to coordinate element handoff timing.
• Source and purchase materials necessary for scenic executions.
• Engage contractors, rental houses, and specialists as necessitated by design execution.
• Oversee CSC rentals from outside theaters and companies. Ensure all equipment is used properly and returned on time.
• Execute notes from designers and production team members.
• Lead strike and changeover calls, including set-up of tech tables and necessary equipment.
• Assist as necessary with video and sound installs and strikes.
• Attend production meetings, technical rehearsals, design runs, and tech meetings.
• Participate in the build process as necessary for design executions.
• Execute projects as assigned through the Shakes Makes program.
• Oversee shop and show maintenance and organizational requirements.
• Maintain inventory of expendables; order supplies and stock items as needed.
• Keep shop and storage areas safe, clean, and uncluttered.
• Maintain scenic stock and oversee scenic rentals.
• Participate in stage cleaning and preparation leading into technical rehearsals and build processes.

Management

• Supervise scenic shop staff including, overhire, and contractors. This includes hiring, onboarding, evaluating, coaching, and leading these team members.
• Collaborate with Production Manager for team member job descriptions and contracting.
• Participate in searches for guest designers, production staff, and overhire.
• Schedule department to ensure adequate support to meet scenic execution deadlines.
• Regularly oversee members of the CSC Touring Company in production department rotations.
• Participate in staff annual review processes, both for self-evaluation and direct-report evaluation.
• Maintain and enforce high safety standards in shop, stage, and working spaces.

Fiscal

• Collaborate with Production Manager to establish annual department budget and business plan, including budgets per production, overhire budgets, annual shop operating budgets, and capital expense recommendations.
• Turn in expense reports and reimbursement requests to the Production Manager.
• Track production budgets and labor resources.
• Analyze end-of-show and end-of-season financial reports to observe spending patterns, budgetary issues, and identify reporting or processing errors.

General

• Advance the diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and strategic goals of CSC.
• Adhere to company policies and regulations per the CSC Company Handbook.
• Maintain a safe, fair, and ethical working environment.
• Collaborate with the Production Manager to improve overall aesthetic product and production processes.
• Maintain CPR certification provided by CSC.
• Provide personal, reliable mode of transportation.
• Other duties as requested by the Production Manager.

Competencies & Qualifications

The items listed below are guidelines to skills and ambitions that a successful candidate should have. Successful candidates will identify as possessing the majority of these skills or being actively interested and committed to developing these skills. Candidates who have yet to cultivate some of these attributes, but feel passionate about growing them may still find success in this role.

Cultural

• Passionate about cultivating a work environment and work product that supports CSC’s DEIA initiatives.
• Drive to create excellent theater that has a significant impact in the community and beyond.
• Eagerness to learn.
• Ability to remain tactful in stressful situations.
• Desire to lead a team, develop their skills, and foster their professional development.

Technical

• Previous experience in technical theater with a focus on scenic carpentry. Experience in other departments including automation, rigging, video, sound, lighting, properties, scenic artistry, costumes, or management a plus.
• Comfortable problem solving and making decisions with limited supervision.
• Proficiency with PC use and the Microsoft Office suite.
• Able to convert design renderings into drafted construction drawings (Vectorworks preferred).
• Familiarity with standard scenic construction techniques and best practices.
• Previous experience budgeting designs and tracking expenses.
• Willingness to learn and enforce OSHA safety standards and industry safety best-practices.
• Able to communicate with designers, directors, technicians, vendors, and other collaborators verbally and in writing.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $38,000-$42,000 (received through biweekly payroll). In addition to this salary, the Technical Director receives:

• Access to profit-sharing bonus program after first year of employment.
• Ten days of paid vacation, accrued seasonally.
• Six days of paid sick leave, accrued seasonally.
• Paid holiday leave.
• Access to group health insurance with 50% of employee premiums paid by CSC.
• Optional enrollment in Health Savings Account plan.
• Access to dental insurance with 50% of employee premiums paid by CSC.
• Life and AD&D coverage for the employee paid by CSC.
• Parental leave, short-term medical leave.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match.
• Free access to CSC educational programming for dependents (Groundlings Junior, Groundlings, Summer Camp).
• Complimentary enrollment and membership to the Y which offers fitness facilities throughout the region and other wellness benefits.
• Complimentary and discounted tickets to all CSC productions.