Operations Director

The Laguna Playhouse is a non-profit L.O.R.T. theatre with a five production season, educational programming including productions, and ancillary programming throughout the year (produced, presented, rentals…). The position of Operations Director is new to the organization and is being created to facilitate this diversity of programming with outsourced resources to build scenic and prop elements as needed. It is an at will, full-time exempt position at the senior staff level, reporting to the Artistic and Managing Directors. The Operations Director will work closely in all areas of production with the Artistic Director and is a key part of the Managing Director’s Leadership Team. A positive “can do” attitude, energy, broad and deep scope of production, management and budgeting experience, and creative problem solving skills are essential to the successful implementation of this new position. As this is a period of transition for the organization and this position, refinement may occur throughout the year. Below is the scope of responsibilities for the position, including, but not limited to, an outline of key duties.

The Operations Director functions as the supervisor for all areas of Production/Operations at The Laguna Playhouse.  He/she is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the following areas: Scenery, Scenic Art, Props, Electric’s, Audio, Costumes, Stage Management, and all ancillary programming.   This position provides and supports the technical and physical elements of all Playhouse productions.  He/she is responsible for preparing and maintaining all scheduling and budgets related to the above.

PARTIAL SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Directly supervise Production Department personnel and Stage Management, and ancillary programming where he/she serves a production manager.

Monitor all Production Staff hours, coordinate seasonal employee adjustments, and approve all over time or time off requests.

Hire all Production Department personnel including casual labor. 

Set all casual labor pay rates with business manager.

Work with the Resident Stage Manager to contact and schedule Stage Managers/Assistant Stage          Managers for all productions.

To provide the Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Business Manager with fiscal                     information to use in the preparation of budgets.

Establish, monitor and maintain all Production equipment, supplies, labor and material budgets: on     time, at or below budget.

Conduct ongoing evaluations of Production Department systems, organization, policies and                    procedures, and ancillary programming processes.

Conduct annual personnel evaluations of Key Production Staff (including input from the Artistic Director and Managing director, as they feel appropriate).                                                                                         

Prepare periodic reports regarding the current and projected status of all Production Budgets.

With the Artistic Director, communicate individual production parameters and specific                            assumptions to the artistic staff of each production and special event and provide guidance to Artistic Director regarding challenges when his participation is required to solve.

Develop and supervise communication between directors and each events production staff.

Provide designers with copies of the current floor plan, section view and pipe grid plan of the theatre along with budgets, schedules and production assumptions to perform their duties and advise them as to the physical limitations of the theatre and related equipment.

Subsequent to design approval by the show’s director and the Artistic Director, request working drawings from the Set Designer and prepare a preliminary cost analysis of all scenic elements to ensure that budgetary limits are maintained.  

Ensure copies of the scenic drawings are made available to the various scene shops so the bidding              process may take place in a timely fashion. This information should include all necessary                            information to construct and paint all scenic elements, including set and/or hand props, necessitated           by the production. Provide expert opinion on scene shop selection with Artistic Director and Managing Director, and oversee the build, installation, maintenance and strike of the scenic (and other) elements.

To provide directors and stage management with copies of the floor plan of their set and assist them by answering any questions they may have.

Provide Artistic Director with feedback on each productions progress and productivity.

Coordinate the scheduling of production meetings with each productions Director and Stage Manager and with the Business Manager and the producer for a special event.

 Attend production meetings for all adult and youth theater productions and provide the director, designers and stage management with advice as needed.

Coordinate the scheduling of rehearsal and classroom space for all productions and events.

Ensure that all technical rehearsals are monitored by at least one member of the production staff.

Schedule and coordinate all technical stage work and technical rehearsals with the Stage Manager and          Department Heads.

Ensure communication of general Playhouse information to the Production Staff.

To work closely with the Director, Stage Manager, Set Designer, Wardrobe and other production staff members to ascertain the needs of the production during the rehearsal process.

To monitor the notes received from the Stage Manager’s Report and supervise the production staff in taking action where needed.

Together with members of the Production Staff purchase all necessary tools and equipment as needed and in line with budgetary constraints.

To provide technical support to the education program, touring shows or special events conducted by The Playhouse.

To provide technical support to outside organizations renting The Playhouse for a specific event.

Ensure that vehicles used for the educational touring shows are in a safe state of repair at all times.

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Attend full staff and Leadership meetings. Work with the Executive Staff in developing, maintaining, reviewing and improving Playhouse Operating Policy and Procedures as requested.

Evaluate, propose and maintain a Long Range Plan for production.

Participate in providing insight to achieving the overall vision and mission.

With input from the various departments, develop, process, maintain and review with the Artistic                      Director, the capital equipment needs of The Playhouse.

QUALIFCATIONS

Ideal qualifications will include 5 years of broad scoped senior level experience in production management with a professional theatre and/or performing arts venue; college/university trained (appropriate degree a plus) with strong computer skills a must and experience with computerized assisted design systems (The Playhouse has Vectorworks) and computerized audion/video and lighting systems preferred. Candidate must exhibit strong leadership, organizational, supervisory, people and budgeting skills and enjoy “getting to yes” with artists, managers, staff and community members. Creative problem solving, “can do “ attitude, flexibility and comfort in multi-tasking, energy and broad scope of production, technical, management and budgeting skills are sought. Ideal candidate witll be able to work autonomously while building and maintaining a team spirit with other staff, have no problem with heights, be able to lift and carry 50 lbs. Qualified candidate should submit cover letter and resume to Kat Hicklin, khicklin@lagunaplayhouse.com. No phone calls please. Indicate in the subject: Operations Director submission.

COMPENSATION

Compensation for this at will full-time exempt position is competitive with other L.O.R.T. theatres of like budgetary scope. A full list of benefits will be provided by the Human Resource Manager, are subject to periodic adjustment by management and currently include:

Paid holidays: seven

Accrued vacation: 10 days accrued over 12 months

Health benefits: benefits are offered with 50% employee co-pay

Retirement fund: 401k is offered with a discretionary match decided annually by Board of Trustees

 

Positions: UNPAID INTERNSHIPSWould you like to learn while assisting with the daily operations of an award winning, regional theatre? Our internship opportunities may be just right for you.