Production Manager

• Department: Production
• Reports To: AVP, Performance Operations
• Status: Exempt – Full Time
• Salary: $80,000 – $90,000
• Start Date: Fall 2024
• Supervises: Casual Production Staff, Union Stage Crew of 13 House Crew (4 Heads, 6 Assistant Head, 3 Specialists) and extra Crew

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, by celebrating diversity, shall be America’s foremost urban presenter of arts and entertainment, a creative and effective leader in arts education for children, a convener of useful and enlightening civic engagement events, and a catalyst for economic development in its home city of Newark.

Position Summary:

As a manager in the production office, the Production Manager works with the AVP, Performance Operations by aiding in the day to day stage and performance related operations, including stage schedules, the maintenance of stage related equipment and facilities, performance expense management and reporting. The Production Manager assists the AVP, Performance Operations to oversee the daily stage labor and other contracted employees in order to successfully fulfill the production requirements of the event. Primary assignments include production management of pop, rock, comedy, community engagement and arts education, internal NJPAC, and Women@NJPAC presentations along with rentals of nonprofit and for-profit live events and broadcasts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advance and manage presentation of pop, rock comedy, community engagement and arts education presentations including rentals of nonprofit and for profit live events and broadcasts. Must be in regular communication with clients to ensure all technical elements are implemented
• Under the AVP’s guidance, formulate and implement plans to maintain and improve quality of production standards for related operations
• Plan and make recommendations to the AVP for the allotment of resources required to fulfill the production requirements of assigned events using the theaters, including equipment, dressing rooms, wardrobe, catering; communicate directly with artists and/or their representatives, regarding technical riders and any other performance needs
• Communicate directly with artists and/or their representatives, regarding technical riders and any other performance needs. Manage the approved plan.
• Manage the approved plans for the allotment of resources required to fulfill the production requirements of assigned events; communicate directly with artists and/or their representatives, regarding technical riders and any other performance needs
• Assist in scheduling and supervising all performance related stage labor
• Facilitate the hiring, scheduling, and with the AVP, supervise casual production staff including Temporary Production Managers, Stage Managers and Lighting Designers as required by the productions
• Create and maintain daily load-in, load-out, rehearsal, performance and maintenance schedules
• Recommend budgets for performance, and control expenditures within approved budgets
• Production manage events at outside venues from NJPAC as assigned
• Assist in the supervision of the maintenance and repair of all theatrical systems, rigging, electric, sound, and machinery, throughout the facility
• Under the AVP’s guidance, formulate and implement plans to maintain and improve quality of standards for production operations
• Evaluate and recommend capital improvements to theatrical equipment and/or to the interior of the theaters
• Perform related duties as assigned

Qualifications and Special Requirements:

• Experience touring and managing presentation of pop, rock and comedy, along with rentals of nonprofit and for profit live events and broadcasts required
• College degree or equivalent experience suggested
• Seven (7) years experience touring experience managing stagehands in a collective bargaining environment; preferably in a multi-theater environment
• Seven (7) years experience touring interpreting the production needs of artists and other users
• Management of broadcast events in a theatrical environment a plus
• Knowledge of stage related activities such as carpentry, rigging, electrics, sound, props, costumes/wardrobe, stage design, touring, special effects, mechanization, drafting, structural engineering and theater design
• Successful budgeting and control experience
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills. Able to represent NJPAC to artists, clients, renters and vendors
• Ability to work comfortably in a negotiating setting with artists’ managers and production managers in all art forms (concerts, symphonies, dance, etc) and with varying renters (benefits, corporate, school, etc.)
• Ability to specify and secure outside services and materials to support NJPAC productions as needed
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, strong emphasis in Google Sheets, Google Docs, Excel, and Word
• General knowledge of CAD, Lightwright preferred. Working knowledge of Vectorworks required
• Ability to set own priorities, take initiative, and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Must have extremely strong organizational skills and work habits
• Must have the ability to assess a situation and independently take action to address it
• Strong problem-solving and logistics management skills are absolutely necessary
• Must be able to commit to long days and irregular hours
• Proven ability to lead and manage team of production managers, assistant production managers, stage managers, contract staff, artist assistants and union crew
• Commitment to leading with Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility principles.
• NJPAC offers benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, 401k, and long-term disability coverage. NJPAC also provides generous PTO policy including 10 company holidays; sick and parental leave; as well as complimentary and discount tickets. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location, qualifications, skills and experience.
• .NJPAC values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. NJPAC is actively seeking applications from qualified individuals from the broadest possible community.

How to Apply

Please e-mail résumé, cover letter, and salary requirements to jobopportunities@njpac.org with the subject line “Production Manager”. The Cover Letter is a requirement for this position 

If your application meets our needs, we’ll reach out to continue the process. Thanks for your interest! We look forward to hearing from you

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces DEIA as part of our culture. We offer an excellent benefits package in a hybrid workplace.