GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE SEEKS CO-TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Gulfshore Playhouse, a mission-driven, professional theatre company located in Naples, Florida, is seeking a dynamic, detail-oriented and organized individual to serve as a second Technical Director.

Gulfshore Playhouse offers a diverse season of straight plays and musicals ranging from venerated classics and Broadway hits to contemporary works and world premieres. The Playhouse is passionately committed to producing high-quality, professional theatre which exceeds the expectations of the cultured residents and visitors of Naples, FL, many of whom are regular theatre patrons in New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Gulfshore Playhouse will be opening the Baker Theatre and Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility, featuring a 350-seat mainstage with a Broadway-sized stage, a 125-seat flexible space, rehearsal studios, classrooms, and rental space in October of 2024. In 2022, Gulfshore Playhouse became nationally recognized as the 77th member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). This is an extraordinarily exciting time for the Gulfshore Playhouse, which is experiencing unprecedented growth in a collaborative and creative community.

Status: Full-time, year-round position, Overtime Exempt

Start Date: July 1, 2024

Gulfshore Playhouse is instituting a Co-Technical Director oversight of the scenery department. The Technical Directors will be responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the scenery shop and productions. This includes but is not limited to overseeing the day to day operations of the scenery shop, analyze and organize design paperwork, maintain the budget for the scenery department, and fulfill the needs of each department in the production shop. Additionally, the Technical Directors will create schedules in collaboration with each department, supervise the training of seasonal staff, and maintain a safe and healthy working environment in the production shop. The Technical Director works in collaboration with other production staff, designers and guest artists to ensure the safe and successful engineering, construction, installation and removal of scenery, rigging, automation, and other technical elements.

The ideal individual will have a strong drive to provide high-quality work, the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and the ability to work as part of the team. Gulfshore Playhouse values hard work, kindness, generosity, passion, and grace-under-pressure. Employee will be expected to work extended hours on occasion when necessary to meet goals. Some weekend and evening hours are required including attendance at performances, special events, and/or meetings that may happen outside normal scheduled hours.

Skills:

Proficiency in woodworking and advanced stage carpentry techniques

Proficiency in drafting software such as AutoCAD or Vectorworks

Ability to read technical drawings and create work lists

Understanding working drawings/elevations, cut lists, construction methods; pneumatics, hand tools, power tools, adhesives, foams, etc.

Proficiency in advanced techniques of rigging, automation, pneumatics, and hydraulics.

Strong organizational and time management skills

Creative problem-solving

Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing

Ability to manage time and productivity effectively

Ability to multitask and achieve tight deadlines

Basic understanding of scenic painting techniques, lighting equipment, and sound equipment

Duties:

Create estimates for the construction and load-in of scenic elements from designer drawings. Identify ways to reduce costs to stay within budget and present options to the Designer as needed.

Bid shows, participate in the technical design process, review and provide input on construction drawings, and ensure scenery is correctly fabricated to the scenic designer’s specification.

Work collaboratively with the Stage Supervisor on the design of scenery, rigging and automation to ensure that it can be loaded safely and efficiently.

Draft ground plans, sections, rigging, installation, and deck drawings based on the scenic design as needed for load-in crews, Stage Management, Designers, and other Production Staff.

Work with visiting design teams and Production Staff to achieve workable and safe productions throughout all stages of the production process.

Work with the Co -Technical Director, Designers, and other Production team members to find solutions to technical problems and challenges.

Estimate and track labor and material costs for productions and advise Production Management of the potential consequences of any proposed adds or changes.

Purchase, rent, borrow, and pull equipment and hardware as needed. Track and report department and show expenses to allow informed decisions to be made about purchasing.

Establish and maintain good relationships with vendors. Make purchases with a company credit card, track receipts and mileage, and code these expenditures in a prompt fashion.

Supervise and staff load-in and strike. Identify areas where crew members need additional training or support and provide as needed.

Take an active role as carpenter, rigger, or otherwise as needed during load-in, build, and strike calls as needed.

Maintain tech specs and theatre drawings in collaboration with the Co Technical Director.

Attend production meetings, pre-tech run-thrus, load-ins, technical rehearsals and performances as needed. Keep the Production Staff informed of important developments.

Create and refine paperwork and processes including drafting templates, checklists, budget spreadsheets, etc., to ensure work is being done as efficiently as possible.

Advise Production Management on equipment and facility upgrades and maintenance. Oversee the Spec, bid, schedule, and supervise maintenance, repairs, and upgrades of equipment and support spaces with the Co Technical Director.

Maintain and promote a safe work environment by following and enforcing all safety regulations, providing safety equipment, training employees on safe practices, reporting incidents, managing record keeping, staying up to date on safety issues, and advising on safety-related policy and decisions.

Support the Education and Community Partnerships, Institutional Advancement, and Marketing departments in furthering their work. This could include teaching workshops, leading tours, discussing behind-the-scenes activities, or taking on interns or apprentices.

Working with Co Technical Director, will lead on assigned projects

Discussing and understanding the show concepts and drawings.

Proofing all working design drawings.

Communicating with Designers, and/or Directors, and other departments.

Communicating scenic engineering and construction to the Construction Charge.

Work with department heads to build and maintain build/load-in schedule for each production

Oversee the budgeting of material and labor costs for each production while staying within budget laid out by Production Management

Assist in planning load-ins, strikes, and load-outs of each production

Oversee any specialty scenic rigging or automation required by each production

Supervise and train seasonal production staff

Maintain MSDS sheets on all necessary products purchased for scene shop.

Maintain a safe, healthy, and clean work/shop environment.

Perform other related work as required.

Read all reports and act on any notes

Provide assistance in other departments as needed.

Adhere to all safety protocols at all times

Provide support for special events

Qualifications:

Experience in equivalent position with professional theatre for at least 5 years.

Demonstrable understanding of the production process from both a creative and technical viewpoint and ability to negotiate a clear path to success for any given production. Ability to read and evaluate designer plans and technical drawings.

Experience creating and overseeing budgets including estimating labor requirements.

Proficiency in drafting with either AutoCAD or Vectorworks and the ability to clearly lay out drawings for others to read and understand.

Knowledge of and hands-on experience with theatrical scenic construction including metal work, rigging, and automation, and the willingness to seek advice and help from others as needed to fill in gaps in knowledge.

Experience leading crews, delegating tasks, and ensuring that everyone is working together toward a common goal.

Ability to work independently, exercising judgment and discretion, while demonstrating initiative in the performance of all job duties.

Demonstrable creative judgment, excellent problem-solving skills, the ability to work effectively while managing multiple deadlines and priorities, and an aptitude and eagerness to learn new skills and processes necessary to manage varying projects.

Working knowledge of and willingness to promote current health and safety practices in the theater industry.

Proficient in using computers and knowledge of basic computer programs used for email, word processing, spreadsheets, etc.

Ability to remain centered and respectful during sensitive situations, guiding teams to consensus in a holistic manner.

With advanced notice, ability to work a flexible schedule including morning, evening, weekend hours.

Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds of equipment

Ability to climb, ladders, mobile lifts, catwalks and work at heights

Ability to work overhead with heavy equipment

Ability to work in tight, enclosed spaces including ones in the air

Ability to work in dark spaces

Ability to stand for long periods of time depending on assignment

Ability to work in and with proper personal protective equipment

Ability to safely operate shop equipment and tools

Our Charter: https://www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org/charter/

Salary range: Minimum $60,000 DOE

Benefits: Gulfshore Playhouse offers benefits that increase along with tenure, including health, dental, and vision insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan and paid vacation and sick leave.

Gulfshore Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse staff; we strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.

Please send a cover letter, resume, and references attached as one pdf to [email protected].