Technical Director Position Overview
The Technical Director (TD) is the senior staff position overseeing other scenic and property staff and is responsible for implementing all aspects of scenic and property construction for each production. The TD oversees and is actively involved in the build process from design through budgeting, construction and painting.
Full Time position, 12 months annually
Start Dates: Between July -August 2025 (negotiable later or earlier start date)
Salary Range: $55,000-58,000 (Based on experience level)
Reports to: The Production Manager and the Artistic Director
Qualifications
● MFA or similar degree in technical theatre.
● Multiyear and extensive management and supervisory experience in a professional theatre setting. ● Training in all major carpentry and construction tools.
● Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
● Ability to be proactive, self-motivated and highly organized in time management, and scheduling.
● Ability to set and meet production deadlines while keeping builds within manageable work hours
● Understanding of scenic elements, practices and terminology.
● Knowledge of other stagecraft disciplines including rigging, lighting, scene painting and fine carpentry.
● Full working knowledge of Vectorworks the CAD program used at Charleston Sage.
● Strong computer skills including Google drive, docs, slides, sheets
● Experience with InDesign and Photoshop are helpful
● Experience with atmospherics (Foggers, hazers, dry ice fog)
● Experience in stage lighting
● Possession of a valid driver’s license and your own vehicle.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
● Take full responsibility for managing and coordinating all elements of each design, construction and painting (Sets, props, atmospherics, projections, scenic painting, etc.)
● Read and fully analyze each script and research the show’s technical requirements
● Actively participate in the shop with hands on scenic construction including work on the floor of the shop with carpenters and other workers.
● Ensure that tech staff maintain props, scenic, electric and other elements are organized, catalogued and store in an organized manner. Provide analysis of each script, production challenges. and provide manageable solutions to these challenges.
● Ensure a clean and safe workspace at all times with cleanups at the end of each call.
● Maintain clear and timely communication with stage management and directors, responding promptly to all emails, rehearsal and performance reports, etc.
● Provide work drawings and other drafting as needed
● Attend acting and tech rehearsals as needed.
● Become an active member of the company, attending opening nights, company events and being involved and aware of the work of other departments.
● Oversee maintenance of shop trucks and vans when needed.
● Establish, maintain and oversee detailed build schedules and ensure these are shared with all department members.
● Work with designers ensure design deadlines are met.
● With directors, identify scenic elements and props that will be needed in rehearsals and set deadlines for these to be provided.
● Work with Management in coordinating Union work calls at the theatre as needed.
● Actively recruit, schedule and manage scenic overhire staffing.
● Establish parameters (budget, build time, skill sets needed, etc.) available for each show and communicate this to design.
● Coordinate with directors and designers, early in the design process to provide support and advice on evolving designs to fully ensure designs can be built with current manpower and time and time constraints for each build.
● Ensure deadlines for designs, drafting are reasonable, manageable and meticulously maintained throughout the build process.
● Work with Electrics to implement electrified scenery and audio elements
● Work with designers, the Production Manager and others to coordinate special tech requirements (Foy Flying, projectors and other equipment rentals, etc.) to identify key and challenging scenic elements and props and there is a timeline for procuring and testing these items before tech.
● Follow company production budget tracking and management guidelines in a timely manner.
● Maintain tech budgets on the tech budget spreadsheet.
● Participate in annual seasonal budgeting.
● Creating a positive and supportive work environment working to resolve conflicts in an understanding and professional manner
● Assist with orientation and training of new employees, volunteers and TheatreWings apprentices.
● Maintain over hire employee and volunteer contact information to include emergency contact information. This includes managing a database of all over hire and volunteers.
● Work with TheatreWINGS Coordinators to schedule and manage TheatreWINGS students, their shop classes and work calls.
● Review, understand and support current IATSE union rules and agreements.
● Attend production and design meetings.
● Maintain regular communication with designers and directors.
● Attend all designer runthrus and tech rehearsals as needed.
● Provide assistance to the Education & Development Department for end of year class performances , annual gala events or similar functions when needed Safety The TD is responsible for ensuring workspaces and procedures are safe and to ensure safety supplies and first aid kits are maintained. . Long Term Planning
● Participate in season planning for future seasons, by reading scripts and creating budgets for future shows and seasons ensuring that the scale of each show is carefully reviewed for each production and how that scale fits into the overall season build.
● Responsible for long term planning for the department, including research and pricing of future projects, tools, equipment and other needs.
Support Work with the TheatreWings Coordinators to plan, schedule and manage
TheatreWings High School Apprentice master classes and work calls in the shop.
Load ins/Strikes Organize and supervise load ins and strikes working to efficiency engage and utilize IATSEUnion labor
Charleston Stage values excellence and professionalism in all aspects of its company and public life. Integral to this position is the demonstration of practical initiative; respectful, courteous and cooperative relationships and affirmative, efficient and ethical working practices. Successful Charleston Stage employees derive deep personal fulfillment from the exemplary completion of their duties and exude the flexibility required to respond to emergent challenges and opportunities. Employees thrive in accomplishment of the evolving work of the theatre and its training programs. Charleston Stage expects a strong commitment to the mission of the theatre in service to task, colleague, company and community.