Production Manager
Status: Year-round, full-time, Exempt
Dates: starting in April, 2024
Supervisor(s): Artistic Director
Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday typical with some variable hours, especially during summer and fall
Salary: $905.00 per week ($47,060 annually)
Shakespeare & Company, a non-profit organization located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, seeks an organized, hands-on, and motivated person to be our Production Manager beginning in April 2024.
Shakespeare & Company is committed to evolving its approach to diversity and inclusion to engender an active process and positive change toward equity in its employment and artistry. Our goal is to engage ourselves in endeavors that enrich and promote a more just society, and we seek to engage those who will embrace our vigorous commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility as well as anti-racism initiatives. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically underrepresented in theater and theater administration including People of the Global Majority, LGBTQIA , women, people who are neuro-diverse, and people with disabilities. Shakespeare & Company is committed to the principles of equal employment and to providing equal employment opportunities; we intend to maintain an inclusive work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on sex, gender, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, military service, veteran status, pregnancy or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Shakespeare & Company is committed to a COVID-safe environment: in most cases employees will have completed their COVID-19 vaccination regimen, will get tested before they start work, and re-test as needed, adhering to local, state, and union safety protocols where and when appropriate.
Reporting to the Artistic Director, the Production Manager will work to hire and supervise Scenery, Lighting, Electrics, Paints, and Sound department staff for all Performance and Education Program performances and residencies, lead the shops in safe and efficient workplace practices, maintain the significant shop space and resources, manage production budgets and rentals of equipment and stock. The position will require regular contact with a variety of external and internal constituencies and will require collaborative, strategic, flexible, positive, and curious thinking. The ideal candidate is eager to maintain a commitment to values of equity and inclusion with experience communicating effectively with groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experiences. This is a year-round, full-time position, and benefits include paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A successful Production Manager will:
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Support the Company’s artistic goals and aspirations through careful study, prediction, and reporting of financial, staff, and other requirements to carry out the desired programming in an appropriate manner.
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Lead the Production Departments (sets, props, lights, sound, paints) and their activities including monitoring the annual expenses as budgeted, overseeing all production efforts for stage shows and residencies for the Education Program including the Fall Festival of Shakespeare, the Spring Tour, the spring residencies in elementary and middle schools, Young Company, and summer Youth Programs.
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Solicit, hire, train, and supervise shop personnel of 15-20, meeting with staff members regularly.
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Evaluate employees’ progress and performance.
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Negotiate and generate seasonal employees’ contracts.
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Enforce HR issues and policies, especially as they pertain to seasonal staff.
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Develop a schedule of activities including time on stage, deadlines, load-ins, change-overs, strikes, designer due dates, residency dates, and daily schedules for production staff.
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Maintain Theatre & Production Department stock and facilities, supplies, and equipment.
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Coordinate loans and rentals of its production department stock.
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Contract with outside vendors and facilities for use and/or co-production activities.
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Act as Chief Safety Officer, working with the Director of Facilities to ensure that all work and public spaces and work methods are appropriately safe, especially regarding building and fire codes and OSHA.
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Ensure a safe and clean working space for Production Department employees.
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Attend or be represented in all production meetings, technical and dress rehearsals, and some rehearsals.
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Serve in any Production position (i.e., carpenter, sound engineer, etc.) at times they are unfilled.
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With Artistic Director, General Manager, and Finance Director, create Production Department budgets.
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Advise as necessary on future theatre and Production Department and facility capital requirements.
This position includes hands-on daily tasks as well as supervisory duties.
In addition, Shakespeare & Company expects that all employees adhere to Company policies and procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook; work safely; perform duties as workload necessitates; maintain a positive and respectful attitude; utilize discretion regarding proprietary information; communicate regularly with supervisor about departmental issues; demonstrate regular and consistent attendance and punctuality; participate in Company events as needed or required, and complete other duties as assigned.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CHARACTERISTICS
The successful candidate will have:
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Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and timelines.
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Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
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Strong interpersonal skills.
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A positive energy, and an inspiring, forward-thinking, empathetic, and collaborative working style, exhibiting an openness to many perspectives and experiences.
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Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
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Strong computer skills, Microsoft Office, Vectorworks, and QLab preferred.
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A commitment to values of anti-racism and anti-oppression and personal and/or professional experiences advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
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Interest and respect for the foundational principles and methods in Shakespeare & Company’s commitment to the actor/audience relationship.
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Demonstrated experience in a high-transaction performing or other arts or non-profit environment.
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Completion of a COVID-19 vaccine regimen and booster, if eligible.
We understand that there are many paths to developing skills and acquiring experience and therefore welcome candidates from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds for this role who have demonstrated equivalent transferable skills to carry out the major duties outlined in this job description. This job will entail climbing stairs; reaching with hands and arms; using hands to finger objects and controls; lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds; legal operation of a motor vehicle; climbing ladders; close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision; and reading of written, printed, and/or computer screen data.