Experience Design and Production Special Instructor

Furnished in Special Faculty contract, this role serves in a Technical Director capacity to bridge teaching and practice, combining curricular development, coursework, and student mentorship with oversight of student-centered production work for a multi-show performance season.

About the role

The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) School of Theater seeks a forward-thinking, collaborative, and highly skilled Special Faculty member. This position is central to fostering an environment where student artists can safely push the boundaries of contemporary performance by overseeing the technical execution, structural engineering, safety, and physical realization of all School of Theater productions across a diverse ecosystem of experimental spaces.

Responsibilities

Instruction & Mentorship

• Teach specialized courses in technical direction, structural design, and other related special topics (e.g., technical management, electronics, rigging, drafting).
• Serve as a mentor and advisor to BFA and MFA students in the Experience Design and Production program.
• Act as the primary faculty mentor for student technical directors assigned to school productions, guiding them through the engineering, budgeting, and build processes.

Technical Production

• Provide overarching technical leadership for a rigorous production season, ensuring artistic visions are realized safely and efficiently. Productions include 8-10 curricular productions, informal oversight of 10-12 Coffee House productions, and miscellaneous Institute special events.
• Review and approve all structural, rigging, and mechanical drawings for productions.
• Coordinate production schedules with faculty and staff.

Budgeting & Administration

• Develop, track, and reconcile technical production budgets, including material expenses and student labor costs.
• Oversee the procurement, maintenance, and inventory of shop tools, hardware, and specialized theatrical equipment in partnership with the Scene Shop Manager and Production Manager.
• Monitor the condition of theatrical spaces and recommend maintenance, replacement, and safety-related upgrades.

Venue Management & Oversight

• Oversee the technical infrastructure and operational safety of the following primary performance spaces:
  • The Modular Theater: A highly flexible performance space featuring reconfigurable floor and wall sections, advanced knowledge of variable acoustics, unique rigging grids, and modular architecture.
  • Two Black Box Theaters: Versatile spaces dedicated to student-driven, experimental, and variable-scape workshops and full productions.
  • The Coffeehouse: A non-traditional venue used for experimental work, student showcases, and interdisciplinary projects.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain and enforce strict health and safety protocols (including OSHA and Cal/OSHA compliance) across all shops and venues.
• Oversee student safety training, equipment certifications, rigging inspections, and safe operation of powered equipment.

Service & Collaboration

• Participate in faculty governance matters, admissions reviews, student reviews, and curriculum development.
• Work closely with faculty and guest artists across directing, design, and performance disciplines.

Requirements

• Degree: MFA in Technical Direction or Theatre Technology, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Technical Director in regional theater, commercial entertainment, or experimental performance environments.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD/Vectorworks, structural engineering calculations for the stage, advanced rigging techniques, and automation systems.
• Pedagogical Drive: A demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring diverse student populations in a progressive, student-centered environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with non-traditional, immersive, or modular theater spaces.
• Strong background in managing safety programs and hazardous materials protocols.
• Teaching and classroom experience, preferably at the university level.
• Active engagement with contemporary, experimental performance practices.
• Commitment to sustainability in production, including material sourcing, reuse, creative problem-solving, circularity, and consciousness of the broader impact of theatrical work.

About CalArts

CalArts is a multidisciplinary community of artists whose ongoing educational endeavor is grounded in openness, experimentation, critical engagement, and creative freedom. The School of Theater offers students an educational experience that is experimental, interdisciplinary, international, and diverse. Each unique program gives students the flexibility, skills, and critical thinking tools to navigate a rapidly changing field and to pursue their professional goals with maximum agency. Our educational mission is to forge a community of citizen artists who are rigorously trained in their respective metiers and who are able to work effectively and innovatively across a broad spectrum of artistic settings, media, and technologies.

Pay

Appointment salary range: $75,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

This is a 9-month special faculty position, with potential for renewal.