Production Manager

• Start Date:    4 November 2024
• Employment Type:    Full Time
• Closing Date for Applications:    19 September 2024

Scope of the Job

• Responsible to:   Programme Leader – Production Arts
• Responsible for:   All matters associated with the successful delivery of in house and touring public productions in all theatrical spaces at SPAA.
• Works Closely with:   The Production Department

Job Purpose

The Production Manager is a key member of staff. Reporting to the Programme Leader – Production Arts, and working alongside Production teaching staff, the post holder will be responsible for fulfilling the production and technical requirements of SPAA’s public student productions and visiting companies, whilst undertaking lead teaching in Production Management aspects.

Duties and Responsibilities

Productions

• Act as deputy to the Programme Leader – Production Arts in relation to productions in their absence.
• Liaise and oversee the work of all freelance technical staff on allocated productions.
• Oversee the build, fit up, on-stage rehearsals, first night, show running and get out of allocated productions.
• Ensure that the highest standards of professional behaviour, cooperation, health and safety, and good housekeeping are maintained in the department.
• Plan and schedule the day-to-day running of allocated productions.
• Manage the production schedule and technical resources for in-house performance spaces.
• Create budgets and schedules for all productions, ensuring that these are adhered to and communicate any changes to all involved.
• Work with designers and students in producing accurate or amended technical drawings as required.
• Ensure that all productions can be managed within agreed resources, communicating this to creative and production staff.
• Decide on appropriate workloads for productions and staff with regard to the educational needs of the department, scheduling, supervising and ensuring the completion of such work.
• Ensure that all work on stage is supervised and attend technical and dress rehearsals as necessary.
• Assist the Programme Leader – Production Arts in scheduling evening performance cover as required.
• Ensure that all fit ups and get outs are fully planned and that clear communications are made regarding the safe dismantling of all scenery and equipment.
• Manage and store appropriate stock items in line with running performance, with necessary catalogues etc.
• Monitor the hours of work of students allocated to the department and ensure that they take sufficient breaks.
• Maintain good relationships with outside suppliers, organisations and contractors.
• Create and maintain good links with professional theatre contacts.
• Be aware of modern industry practice, equipment and techniques, and develop and use this in the teaching of Production Management appropriate to degree level education.
• Maintain membership of relevant professional bodies, carrying out research and showing commitment to continuous professional development, undertaking training when necessary.
• Represent Production Management at staff meetings, production meetings, and attend other meetings as required by the Programme Leader – Production Arts.

Training and Tuition

• Monitor, assess, and provide recorded feedback on the work of students on Productions at all levels of the programme.
• Deliver some of the Production Management elements of the course syllabus referring to CAD, Health and Safety, rigging and working at heights.
• Help develop, deliver and review live performance trainings that meet the overall syllabus and learning strategies of the programme.

Finance

• Be responsible for and manage the stock control of the Production Department and oversee the purchase of stock materials.
• Oversee the costing of materials and resources for productions and advise on the safety and feasibility of designs.
• Manage the handling of SPAA’s purchase systems in line with financial regulations and keep appropriate records.
• Supervise students handling production petty cash, receipts and order forms within agreed budgets.

Health and Safety

• Ensure the implementation of the Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post.
• Create a positive attitude towards Health and Safety amongst staff and students.
• Ensure that all scenic elements are installed, rigged and dismantled in a safe, suitable and appropriate manner.
• Ensure that proper calculations and assessment has been carried out on any items of scenic elements in regards to LOLER, COSHH, WAH, PPE, fit for purpose equipment, safe use of electricity at work and any other industry regulations.
• Implement, review and keep records of risk assessments for specific productions and day-to-day activities.
• Compile and update a Health and Safety File for productions in line with CDM, consisting of risk assessments, all plans for construction, certificates for safe working loads, COSHH regulations, contacts, suppliers, and any other additional health and safety information that the venue may require.
• Be the appointed person on site for SPAA.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• BA (Hons) Degree or appropriate level qualification.
• Five or more years’ experience working in a leadership capacity such as Technical Manager, Stage Manager or Production Manager, either in professional theatre or a similar environment.
• Experience budgeting small to mid-scale productions.
• Flying, rigging and dismantling of scenery.
• Relevant and up-to-date knowledge of Production Management.
• Ability to plan, manage and deliver the Production Management element of productions to a high standard.
• Ability to plan and manage budgets effectively.
• Ability to problem solve to the highest level.
• Computer literate, inc. CAD.
• Clean driving licence.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage, inspire and motivate staff, students and creative personnel.
• Ability to work creatively and imaginatively but also with close attention to detail.
• Self-motivated and able to take initiative and work within clear delegated levels of authority.

Desirable:

• H&S qualifications – e.g. IOSH/NEBOSH, WAH, etc.
• Teaching qualifications
• Some teaching experience or experience of working with students in FE or HE level.
• Some knowledge of scenic carpentry, prop making and scenic art.
• Some knowledge of Audio Visual, Lighting & Sound

Core Competencies

Delivery through:

• Decision making and solving problems
• Building teams and communication with students
• Facilitating change

Development through:

• Resilience
• Driving results
• Managing stakeholders

Context

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is an independent Academy established by His Highness, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to address a growing demand in the UAE and MENA region for formal quality education and professional training in the performing arts sector. SPAA is the only performing arts conservatoire in the MENA region, offering quality undergraduate and graduate degree programmes taught in English.  The purpose-built Academy comprises one 432 seat theatre, two fully equipped studio performance spaces, TV/recording studios, twelve sprung rehearsal studios, 12 singing tutorial spaces, resource library, gymnasium and cafe.

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy specialises in training graduates for work in the international professional performing arts industry. The faculty working at SPAA are highly experienced practitioners within their respective fields. The focus of the Academy is practical rather than academic. The central value for a SPAA graduate is arming them with the highest levels of practical skills for their field and giving them the tools to be able to successfully generate their own work or practice.

Complexity

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy is a complex performing arts institution. Effective coordination between departments and courses is a high priority to ensure that resources are appropriately shared and quality in teaching and learning is maintained throughout the Academy.

Additional Information

The Staff Handbook is an important resource for all employees. It sets out the expectations and important conditions of your employment.

• The post holder must accept responsibility for ensuring that SPAA policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times.
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data.
• This is a full-time post based at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, University City, Sharjah, UAE.
• This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Production Manager. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the post holder and line manager as required and in line with the growth of the Academy.
• The Staff Handbook will be sent to you via email.
• Sharjah Performing Arts Academy offers a highly competitive salary, residency visa, full medical Insurance cover, living/schooling allowances and annual flight to country of residence.
• Note:due to licensing requirements and safeguarding policies, any individual offered a position will be required to submit a background check/DBS/Police check.

This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that
an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.

To apply:

Please send a maximum one (1) page cover letter with your most current CV to careers@spaa.ae