Director of Production

About the role

The Director of Production plays a critical role in driving institutional excellence in production delivery, advancing revenue growth through rentals and partnerships, leading capital planning and lifecycle management of technical systems, and ensuring HPAC remains a competitive, innovative, and nationally recognized performing arts venue.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership, Fiscal Administration & Organizational Management:
  • Directs, develops, and mentors a complex, multidisciplinary production team (lighting, audio, carpentry, stage management, video) supervising 6 FTE, 4 indirect reports, and a 20+ wage workforce;
  • Establishes, evaluates, and optimizes organizational structures, staffing models, and workflows aligned with institutional strategy;
  • Develops, tracks, and manages comprehensive production budgets, including permanent labor, operating expenses, equipment rentals, and capital improvements;
  • Ensures full fiscal accountability and return on investment;
  • Oversees overhire workforce strategy, contract execution, and payroll administration in compliance with institutional and labor standards;
  • Serves as the senior production leader, aligning facility capabilities with university, artistic, and community priorities;
  • Fosters a collaborative, inclusive, service-driven, and safety-focused culture.
• Production Excellence & Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Provides executive-level oversight for all technical production activity across multiple venues and event types;
  • Led all production advancement strategy, including interpretation and execution of complex technical riders;
  • Translates artistic and technical requirements into fully executable, resource-efficient production plans;
  • Ensures seamless delivery in venues with advanced production systems, including large-scale rigging and theatrical infrastructure;
  • Maintains proactive communication and alignment across production staff, administrative leadership, academic departments, and external clients and partners;
  • Serves as the final escalation point for high-risk or complex production and personnel issues;
  • Conducts contract and rider review ("redlining") to ensure compliance with university and Commonwealth requirements.
• Facilities, Equipment & Safety Management:
  • Leads long-term capital planning and lifecycle management of technical systems and production infrastructure;
  • Partners with facilities and campus leadership on preventative maintenance strategy and execution;
  • Ensures compliance with OSHA, ESTA/ANSI, and industry safety standards;
  • Mitigates institutional risk through rigorous safety oversight and compliance practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Generally, ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in technical production or live event management within a major performing arts center, academic presenting organization, or comparable multi-venue environment;
• Demonstrated experience operating within a multi-venue facility, including spaces exceeding 1,000+ seats and concurrent event management;
• Proven experience managing large-scale productions across multiple technical disciplines (lighting, audio, video, rigging, carpentry, and stage operations);
• Generally, a minimum of five (5) years of experience managing full-time staff, indirect reports, and part-time/hourly workforce;
• Direct responsibility for departmental budgets, including labor, overhire payroll, and operational expenditures;
• Demonstrated expertise in production advancement, contract interpretation, and execution of complex technical riders and negotiation;
• Knowledge of advanced theatrical production systems across multiple disciplines;
• Advanced operational knowledge of counterweight and motorized fly systems (75+ line sets), digital audio networks (Dante/AVB), and advanced theatrical lighting systems and protocols;
• Skill in leading large, multidisciplinary production teams in complex environments;
• Skill in financial management, budgeting, and resource planning;
• Exceptional interpersonal and diplomatic communication skills with ability to work effectively across diverse stakeholder groups;
• Ability to align production operations with strategic, financial, and institutional goals;
• Ability to manage high-pressure, multi-event environments, and resolve complex issues;
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders;
• Proven ability to serve as the final escalation authority in high-risk, time-sensitive environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in related field;
• Experience with large-scale counterweight rigging systems and fly systems in proscenium theaters;
• Experience integrating production with academic programs, including student engagement and experiential learning;
• Experience with venue management software, scheduling systems, and production databases;
• Knowledge of university policies and procedures, including HR, procurement, and compliance requirements;
• Advanced knowledge of concert hall acoustics, orchestral production, and touring production standards;
• Advanced knowledge of strategic planning and operational alignment within complex performing arts or multi-unit environments;
• Knowledge of cost recovery, procurement practices, and revenue-generating venue operations;
• Knowledge of multi-venue operations and varied event types across presenting, academic, and rental activity;
• Advanced knowledge of safety standards and regulatory practices (e.g., OSHA, rigging, electrical systems);
• Knowledge of production management systems, scheduling tools, and technical databases;
• Skill in long-range planning, including capital planning, equipment lifecycle management, and long-term infrastructure strategy;
• Skill in leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, including full-time and part-time workforce models;
• Skill in supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and integration with academic programs;
• Skill in communicating complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences;
• Ability to evaluate and implement emerging production technologies, including hybrid and streaming systems;
• Ability to make data-informed decisions regarding resource allocation and investment priorities;
• Ability to represent the organization as a senior production authority in high-level artist and client engagements;
• Ability to develop staffing strategies and foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performance culture;
• Ability to implement and maintain comprehensive safety and risk mitigation programs;
• Ability to lead adoption of technology-driven workflows and operational innovation;
• Ability to build consensus, resolve conflict, and influence decision-making at senior levels;
• And demonstrated ability working with a diverse population of artists, students, faculty, staff, and community members.