Technical Director, Scenic and Lighting Designer

We seek a colleague who is committed to developing well-rounded artists, critical thinkers, and engaged citizens.

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

The Lenoir-Rhyne University College of Fine Arts and Communication (Hickory Campus) invites applications for a full-time staff appointment in Theatre as Technical Director/Scenic and Lighting Designer. Appointment begins August 2023.

Essential Accountabilities

We seek a colleague who is committed to developing well-rounded artists, critical thinkers, and engaged citizens. The ideal colleague will have a passion for working with a small liberal arts program that explores the ways in which what we do onstage relates to what is happening in the world around us.

The successful candidate will design and implement technical elements for our production season; maintain working spaces, shop areas, and execute construction alongside our Assistant Technical Director; mentor student designers; train and supervise student production crews; and teach courses in scenic and lighting design and technology. The position requires hands-on work with students and participation in student recruitment.

Education and Experience

The ideal colleague will have a broad knowledge of technical theatre and design; knowledge of industry safety regulations and best practices; proficiency in industry-specific software, such as Vectorworks, CAD, and QLab; strong leadership, work ethic, and organizational skills; the ability to track budgets effectively/efficiently; and excellent communication and creative problem-solving.

MFA in Theatre Technology, Design, Production or a related field preferred; candidates with five years or more of professional experience considered. Qualified applicants will demonstrate a commitment and capacity for teaching excellence, student mentorship, professional engagement and campus citizenship.

Work Conditions

• Ability to work with a flexible schedule.
• Ability to grasp, lift and move objects up to 50 lbs. and climb stairs and ladders.
• Possess a valid Driver’s license (if out of state, apply for North Carolina Driver’s License within 30 days of appointment).
• Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusiveness are integral to the university’s commitment to excellence in research, engagement, and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience engaging with diversity through activities such as fostering an inclusive environment, working with people from diverse backgrounds and/or incorporating diverse perspectives in their work.

Application Process

Apply at: www.lr.edu/work-at-lr/technical-director-scenic-an…↗↗

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:

• Letter of Application specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position
• Curriculum Vitae or resume including the names and addresses of three references
• Link to website and / or portfolio of design work

The position will remain open until filled. Any questions regarding the position or the search process should be submitted electronically to the search committee chair, Lindsay Weitkamp, Ph.D., at lindsay.weitkamp@lr.edu

About the College of Fine Arts and Communication

Members of the College of Fine Arts and Communication are committed to developing well-rounded graduates who are perceptive readers and listeners, persuasive writers and speakers, and skilled artists and educators. Our curricula strive to express, enrich, and elevate the human condition by providing students with interdisciplinary experiences that strengthen their abilities to create, collaborate, and contribute to the public good. Programs in the College include Communication Studies, English, an MFA in Creative Writing, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art.

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a town of more than 40,000 and additional campuses in Asheville and Columbia, South Carolina. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is about an hour drive from Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and/or Asheville. By combining the liberal arts with professional studies, the university joins a rich foundation in the arts, humanities, social sciences, languages, religion and natural sciences with 55 undergraduate majors and more than 20 master’s degree programs. With record enrollments each of the last eight years, the institution now enrolls over 2,500 students at its three locales, and it anticipates continued managed enrollment growth over the coming years as it expands upon its mission. In pursuit of the development of the whole person, Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build a sense of community, and promote responsible leadership for service in the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne promotes a diverse campus open to people from all religious backgrounds. It is an EOE/AA employer under all applicable civil rights laws. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.