Production Team Lead/TD Supervisor

Job Summary / Essential Functions

The Technical Director (TD) Supervisor oversees the daily operations of the production and fabrication shop. They oversee and develop staff assigned to the shop and coordinate/execute pulling and prepping rentals and materials for jobs. The TD Supervisor plans, organizes, manages/oversees, and participates in the custom fabrication process for traditional theatre, special events, and commercial/experiential installations such as escape rooms, haunted houses, theme parks, etc. Projects include long term installations that the general public interacts directly with, in addition to more transitory projects such as traditional theatre and events.

The TD Supervisor balances time, budgets, and complexity. They serve as a cost estimator, including materials, time, and labor. They work closely with the Sales Project Managers and subject matter experts (SMEs) to create a realistic schedule for each project. The TD Supervisor attends production meetings, sales meetings, site visits, planning meetings, and post-mortems as needed to understand and coordinate shop and staff needs.

The TD Supervisor reads and interprets blueprints, drawings, and plots to ensure that elements are fabricated and/or prepped according to specifications. They assist in installations and strikes at client sites. The TD Supervisor ensures a safe working environment, proper care and maintenance of equipment, rigging systems, and stage elements, and upkeep of all shop and warehouse spaces to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently.

The TD Supervisor works with a great deal of independence and exercises good judgment in performing a wide variety of duties. They are called upon to deal with a range of technical issues and must possess a working knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures of theatre, events, dance, music productions, and presentations including stage, set, sound, and lighting design implementation. The TD Supervisor performs a variety of routine as well as complex and highly technical functions requiring creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness.

The TD Supervisor also interacts and works collaboratively with a wide variety of personalities and situations requiring diplomacy, tact, friendliness, poise, and firmness while fostering a collaborative and positive work environment and ensuring tools and equipment are used in a safe manner and that safety precautions are followed.

The TD Supervisor is responsible for directing and overseeing the successful completion of all aspects of work in the shop and on job sites. Must have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and current vehicle insurance meeting state requirements. Work schedule will include evenings and weekends as necessary based upon client needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of full time work experience in a supervisory role in technical theatre/events as it relates to scenery/prop construction or shop management.
• Previous TD and shop management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with creative personnel, supervising or teaching crews, and communicating effectively with diverse personalities.
• Demonstrated strong leadership, collaborative, organizational, and communication skills and the ability to supervise teams of employees.
• Must effectively train and instruct others in event/theatrical fabrication, equipment maintenance and prep, and communicate safety standards.
• Mandatory OSHA 10 Construction certification or ability to acquire certification within the first 90 days of employment.
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, methods, and equipment used in technical aspects of theatrical production, including set construction, prop construction, lighting, sound, rigging, scenic painting, and special effects related to theatrical productions and live events.
• Strong time management skills with adaptability to changing priorities, deadlines, and the ability to manage numerous concurrent projects.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to be clear and concise.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work enthusiastically with a wide range of individuals to foster productive partnerships and relationships, both internally and externally.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the job summary above and meeting the physical requirements below.