Assistant Technical Director

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Assistant Technical Director (ATD) assists the Technical Director in the management of the scenic department. In conjunction with the TD, the ATD is responsible for the technical design, construction, installation, maintenance and planning processes for all scenic elements for Chicago Shakespeare Productions, which include a diverse array of produced and presented work. In addition to other responsibilities, The ATD’s portfolio includes the creation of working drawings for assigned projects, procurement of supplies and materials for assigned projects and the shop at large, and the day-to-day management of scene shop employees on assigned projects. Chicago Shakespeare Theater is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment. www.chicagoshakes.com/ideatoaction. The start date for the ATD will be July 1, 2024.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed.
• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.
• Manages IATSE technicians as well as a large workforce of over hire carpenters.
• Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace.
• Actively collaborates with scenic designers to best realize their concepts within the responsible bounds of budget, time, staffing resource, and infrastructure.
• Serves as technical designer for assigned projects.
• Creates construction drawings and technical designs for CST in-house builds.
• Provides day-to-day supervision of shop personnel on assigned projects.
• In conjunction with the TD, manages off-site build locations, in particular off-site scene shops.
• Coordinates the procurement of scene shop materials and supplies.
• Coordinates the implementation of safety programs within the scene shop.
• Monitors technical rehearsals.
• Represents CST in the communication with the technical departments of external collaborators in order to fully support their performances both on CST stages and in site specific work throughout Chicago.
• Coordinates the transfer of CST scenery to outside producers in venues around the world.
• Partners collaboratively with other departments in the organization to support and realize events related to fundraising, audience development, and educational initiatives.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Coordinates with Production Department heads to create and distribute the change-over schedules throughout the season for each venue.
• Helps maintain scene shop inventories.
• Creates project specific schedule and budget tracking documents as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMPENTENCIES

• Service, ingenuity, and collaboration
• Emotional intelligence
• Demonstrated exceptional human management skills in a fast paced environment.
• Mission-driven
• Decision making
• Planning
• Project management
• AutoCAD literacy and drafting abilities; 3D drafting capabilities, welcomed.
• Working knowledge of all aspects of scenic technical design and production.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of rigging, stage engineering, scenic construction techniques, carpentry, welding, and safe working practices in the theater.
• Knowledge of theatrical lighting and sound rigging practices and equipment.
• Knowledge of scenic automation theory, system design, installation, and troubleshooting.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work hours are generally 7am-3pm, Monday through Friday, but may be scheduled earlier or later depending on need.
• Overtime hours will be necessary.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday hours will be necessary.
• Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL but will at times work in other locations such as the CST Warehouse, City Parks or other off-site performance or construction venues.
• Works in a variety of environments including but not limited to construction shops, stages, trap rooms, catwalks and grids, warehouses, exposed loading docks, and outdoors.
• Work environment may be dirty, noisy, in low-light, or in a tight and cramped space.
• Will be exposed, at times, to potentially hazardous materials and equipment.
• Will regularly be required to wear PPE during work activities.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

• Perform a variety of physical tasks including but not limited to climbing, stooping, pushing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling.
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work at a computer for hours at a time.
• Work at height in locations including but not limited to catwalks, grids, ladders, and genies.
• Perform a variety of physical tasks while wearing safety equipment including body harness, hardhat, and safety glasses.
• Push, pull, lift, and move up to 50 lbs. at times on a repetitive basis.
• Use of manual dexterity in the operation of tools.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of five years of experience in technical direction, scene shop management, prop shop management or stage operations supervision at a large regional theater or equivalent.
• Navigator automation control software experience welcomed.