Technical Director

Job Description

As a technical director, you will work under the guidance of the production manager and the chair of production design to ensure the safe, accurate, and effective execution of scenic designs created for projects within the SCAD School of Film and Acting (SFLM). Productions include live theater and events, as well as film and television recordings. You will oversee the scene, costume, prop, paint, and lighting shops, and lead staff, including an assistant technical director, scenic charge, costume shop manager, painters, carpenters, and scene technicians. Your responsibilities will encompass staff management for set builds, load-ins, notes calls, and strikes to ensure the highest quality completion, while also promoting interdepartmental collaboration to realize production visions. You will facilitate effective communication with designers, develop technical solutions for the safety, function, and structure of scenic elements, and provide on-set construction support for various teams. Additionally, you will prepare detailed scenic materials and labor estimates for each production and produce construction drawings based on the design plans.

In this role, you will recruit and hire carpenters to supplement crews and act as the primary on-call emergency technician to ensure prompt resolution of show-related incidents. Production-related responsibilities also include the organization of weekly meetings in collaboration with the production coordinator during rehearsals, load-ins, technical rehearsals, and strikes. You will support design needs, such as scenic, costume, and other artifacts for admission events. Responsibilities encompass collaborating with department leaders on seasonal budgets, building schedules, and scenic design deadlines; managing scenic budgets; and purchasing materials and equipment.

Additionally, you will collaborate with the shop manager to ensure the safe operation of shop tools and equipment, office storage areas, and vehicles. You will also work together to verify that all SFLM projects comply with OSHA and SCAD safety policies and procedures to maintain a safe environment in all shops, studios, and theaters for students, faculty, and staff. Responsibilities include oversight of lighting, sound, and communications equipment, building maintenance, and the development of tool and equipment maintenance schedules. Management of all inventories and showing package information is also part of this role. Other duties may be assigned at any time.

The ideal candidate is passionate about supporting student learning, committed to SCAD’s mission of excellence, and eager to collaborate. This individual pays close attention to detail and is accountable, possessing excellent communication, adaptability, and multitasking skills. They demonstrate a strong understanding of shop and theater safety, PPE usage, and how the various elements of design and production intersect to influence the entire production process. They also maintain a tone of respect and optimism in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Minimum qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in technical theater, production, or a related field
• At least five years of relevant industry experience or training in a scene shop
• Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite
• Knowledge of stage machinery (e.g., automation, motorized scenery, and pneumatics) tools, techniques, materials, and safe working procedures in scenic construction, theatrical rigging, and scenic art
• Ability to understand and create informative, well-organized working drawings using CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, or Vectorworks), lighting software (e.g., Qlab), and digital rendering software (e.g., VRay or KeyShot)

Preferred qualifications :

Certificates, licenses, and registrations :

Travel required :

Work hours : The university work week is Sunday through Saturday. Most offices are open Monday through Friday 8 : 30 a.m. to 5 : 30 p.m. To accommodate business needs, employees may be assigned to other workdays and / or hours, including weekends and evenings.

ADA tag : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and minimum qualifications listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and / or meet the minimum qualifications.