Head of Production
The head of production (HP) is a collaborative team member with a passion for production excellence, as well as mentoring and training aspiring student artists. The successful candidate will demonstrate proficiency in project management, technical direction, time management, personnel management, financial management, facility management and conflict resolution skills. The duties may also include creative assignments, such as design, depending on the qualifications and skill of the candidate.
This position is a member of the office of advancement team, but by agreement, Ambrose Arts oversees and evaluates the work involved with its various productions. Splitting time between the two departments, the Head of Production is responsible for encouraging the highest level of creation in various university events and facilitating the flow of information amongst artistic, administrative, academic and production staff.
The HP ensures that all technical aspects of campus-wide events and the Ambrose Arts production season are carried out in a timely fashion, including set design, set construction, lighting, costume, sound and media. In addition, the HP maintains the technical equipment and inventory, while liaising with other departments such as facilities, IT, advancement, etc., to provide technical solutions, budgeting and long-term planning.
Regular Responsibilities:
- Attend weekly office of advancement meetings.
- Attend Ambrose Arts Season Planning Committee meetings.
- Under the direction of the chair of Ambrose Arts,
- Develop and monitor budgets for personnel, casual labour, seasonal supplies and production expenses related to the production season.
- Schedule Ambrose Arts productions, including rehearsals and performances, design and construction deadlines, production meetings, tech weeks, strike and load-outs, and venue maintenance.
- Identify and spec off-campus performance sites as needed.
- Manage personnel and contractors, including selection and hiring of designers, stage management, carpenters, set crew and all technicians and contractors in consultation with the appropriate department.
- Schedule and attend production meetings for individual season events.
- Liaise between directors and designers.
- Make technical information available to designers (i.e., available paints, light plot specs, etc.)
- Ensure that design is created according to the designer’s specifications in keeping with elevations and models they have provided.
- Manage communication with stage management, and delegate tasks within the department.
- Schedule and supervise crew calls (including build times, if necessary), meetings, set-building days, and load-in/strike at on-campus or off-campus spaces.
- Facilitate any needed carpentry or builds.
- Work with administrative and creative staff to facilitate service hour opportunities for student volunteers.
- Solve technical problems that may arise during an event or run of a show.
- Rent and transport all gear.
- Ensure compliance with all government policies, collective agreements and engagement contracts (e.g., Canadian Theatre Agreement and Associated Designers of Canada Agreement), as well as university and department policies.
- Fulfill other responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned by the Advancement Office or Chair of Ambrose Arts.
The Office of Advancement works with various departments to produce annual campus events (orientation, graduation, Deeper Life Conference, Ambrose Research Conference, etc.) Ambrose Arts produces between 10 and 15 productions per season (September – April) and performs in various locations on site and off.
This is an 11-month salaried position with full benefits. Interviews will begin in mid-August.
Skills and Requirements:
- Project Management experience in a supervisory role.
- Experience in personnel management.
- Experience in creating and managing budgets.
- Experience working with the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA) and with Associated Designers of Canada (ADC).
- Experience with music performance—opera, orchestra, musical theatre, jazz (Ability to read a musical score is helpful.).
- Proven attention to detail, consistency, and accuracy.
- Familiarity with production techniques and cost estimation.
- Experience leading and supervising a crew.
- Experience working with designers and directors.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Ability to maintain a high quality of workmanship, achieving the attention to detail that the production requires.
Qualifications:
- Degree in technical theatre OR equivalent combination of professional training and experience.
- Experience working in Excel spreadsheets using formulas.
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License (or equivalent) and clean Driver’s Abstract.
- Ability to use drafting and other design software an asset.
- Experience with QLab.
Certifications are an asset, including:
- Standard First Aid
- Possession and Acquisition License
- Fall Arrest Certification
- Pyrotechnics License
Hours
40 hours per week on average, with time off to compensate for more intense periods, which are likely to include some evenings and weekends.
Compensation: $55,000 – $60,000 annual salary based on experience. Pro-rated to 11 months. July is the preferred off-duty month, but alternative timing can be negotiated.
As this is a salaried position, overtime is not applicable. Ambrose will encourage the Head of Production to organize schedules that balance out heavier work periods with lighter, in order to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
Deadline: August 15, 2022
To apply
Send a letter of application, complete curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, and the names and contact information of three referees to Ambrose University c/o ssylvester@ambrose.edu, indicating Head of Production in the subject line.
Review of applications begins on August 15, 2022, however, the position will remain open until the position is filled.
For more information visit ambrose.edu.
