Technical Director

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Hours: full-time; hours vary depending on production schedule, and may exceed 40 hours weekly during heavy tech periods
Reports to: Production Manager
Classification: Exempt
Salary: $60,000 – $64,000 DOE, exempt

About the Aurora:

As the storyteller for our community, Aurora Theatre Company inspires new audiences and longtime theatre lovers alike with the visceral power of live theatre. Our venues, the most intimate professional stages in the Bay Area, highlight great acting, nuanced language, and an immediacy that makes for exhilarating theatre. By telling deeply relevant stories, we’re building a new culture of theatre-going in the Bay Area and contributing to a revitalization of theatre nationwide, challenging all of us to think deeper, laugh louder, and engage more purposefully and profoundly with our neighbors and our world.

At Aurora, we believe that theatre belongs to everyone. We ask that our staff, our artists, and our audience work together to make all people feel welcome here. Our values include championing racial justice, better embodying anti-racist practices, and confronting and dismantling oppression.

Aurora Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, country of origin, political belief, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information/characteristics, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/registered domestic partner status, military or veteran status, or any basis protected by law. Members of underrepresented groups, including but not limited to BIPOC, non-binary and transgender candidates are encouraged to apply.

Job Summary and Purpose

The Technical Director oversees all technical aspects of production, and oversees and coordinates support for all technology for the Theatre and Theatre staff. In addition, they manage and oversee the facility and coordinate with contractors and others for general maintenance and upkeep.

Essential Functions:

Administrative 25%

• Attend staff meetings and other meetings as needed
• Participate in Aurora’s work on Confronting and Dismantling Oppression
• Coordination and supervision of equipment and spaces for non-production events, including rentals and staff use
• In collaboration with the Production Manager, create seasonal and individual production budgets, including but not limited to materials, labor estimates for build and run, rentals, etc.
• Maintain records of expenses on each project and general season scenic supplies
• Maintain petty cash system
• Perform all duties in accordance with Aurora Policies and Procedures and comply with all federal, state, and local regulations

Technical Direction 75%

• The Technical Director is responsible for all scenic construction, and managing over-hire carpenters as needed.
• Enforce safety, OSHA, and ADA compliance in all aspects of production
• Responsible for ensuring the safe, accurate, and effective execution of all scenic designs
• With Production Manager, act as liaison with designers, stage managers, overhire, and technical crew
• Attend all production meetings and coordinate the planning of all physical aspects of production, ensuring show builds are on time, within budget, and human-centered.
• Work with Scenic designers to engineer safe designs, and draft sets and infrastructure
• Plan, direct, and participate in all technical aspects of the production process for departments:
  • Implement load-in and strike
  • Maintain shop, theater, rehearsal space, green room, and dressing rooms
  • Maintain shop tools, inventory, all theatrical equipment, and set throughout the run. This includes lighting instrument and sound system repairs
  • Oversee and coordinate work for any Scenic, Lighting, and Sound overhire
  • Setup and maintenance of sound equipment, comms systems, projection equipment, lighting control systems, and other technical elements in the house and booth per production. Work with and train theatre technicians to set up and operate technical equipment.
  • Work with the Lead Electrician to implement lighting designs, including; equipment repairs, maintenance, rentals, and purchasing. Assist with rigging and setup of lighting position fixtures as needed.
  • Coordinate and implement Scenic Paint schedule, purchase supplies, assist in setup, and supervise over-hire painters
  • Coordinate and implement hand props, furniture, props load-in, prop construction, and maintain the props stock
  • Facilitate Costumes on-site and additional needs
  • Maintain the Assistive Listening Device system
• Develop and enforce safety guidelines for all technical spaces, shops, equipment, and technical staff.
• Respond and organize the response to emergency situations onstage and in the shop
• Implement basic space and equipment set-up for rentals and staff events; ie general lighting, projector, sound system, and tables & chairs
• Purchase and transportation of all scenic carpentry supplies. Aurora Theatre Company does not possess a vehicle for transportation of goods
• The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list, and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time, or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment
The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Performance spaces, most offices, and restrooms are accessible to wheelchair users.
• Moderate noise level in building.
• Offices are shared with others.
• Ability to climb and descend stairs and ladders and work at heights.
• Ability to work in low-light environments.
• Ability to lift and carry objects of at least 50lbs.
• The Technical Director role is predominantly on-site, except for acquiring materials and picking up/returning borrowed items.

Knowledge, Skill, Experience, Certification(s):

• At least 3 years of professional technical theater experience, preferably in a supervisory role or commensurate experience.
• Fluency in technical language and working knowledge of technical systems and software (Google Suite, Microsoft Office, AutoCad, Vectorworks)
• Experience with creating and transposing technical drafting
• Experience with scenic construction
• Experience with operation of theatrical lighting and sound consoles.
• Basic welding skills
• Familiarity with basic building maintenance
• Experience building collaborative relationships with people across diverse backgrounds and personalities.
• Ability to work independently
• Demonstrated experience advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to: jobs@auroratheatre.org