Salary: $45,000 - $50,000 

Work Schedule: Schedule varies during the performance season, the ATD regularly works weekends and nighttime events. 

How to Apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to [email protected]    

 

Position Summary: 

The Assistant Technical Director (ATD) is a crucial member of a three-person technical direction team responsible for the planning, supervision and management of productions and events at the Detroit Opera House (DOH), Assistant Technical directorranging from opera and dance performances produced by Detroit Opera (DO) to various Broadway touring musicals and professional networking events hosted in the DOH. The position reports to the Technical Director (TD) and aids the TD in drafting plans for upcoming DO opera and dance productions and is often responsible for supervising stage crews and managing various show paperwork. The ATD will assume responsibility for stage operations on assigned events and productions and may act as TD for Detroit Opera Tour productions. The ATD is an excellent, clear communicator, who corresponds with stage crew, vendors, and the public appropriately and timely. The ATD is a team-orientated multitasker and collaborator who can shift roles seamlessly in this dynamic technical group. 

   

Responsibilities: 

• For DO Opera and Dance productions (approx. 10-12 per year), the ATD is responsible for: 
• Share in supervising the DOH IATSE crew during work calls  
• Maintaining show paperwork such as line schedules, work calls  
• Assist with show planning (materials ordering, scheduling, etc.)  
• Assist in drafting plans/sections and elevations as necessary  
• Assist in arranging transportation logistics for all productions  
• For DOH hosted events throughout the year, including wedding, lectures, and Broadway touring shows, the ATD is responsible for:  
• Advancing and supervising stage operations of events and scheduling union crews  
• Assisting in setup and execution of in-house productions and events  
• Setup and take-down of audio equipment for non-stage events  
• Maintain Stage Equipment (maintain records, schedule repair & maintenance by union crew/ outside vendors as necessary) 
• Assist in managing warehouse spaces  

 

   

Required Qualifications: 

• Two or more years of technical theatre experience in a professional venue 
• Proficient in CAD Drafting (Vectorworks preferred)  
• Proficient in MS Office software; highly proficient in Excel 
• Proficient in setting up basic AV systems (projectors/ portable audio system)  
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills. This position communicates with clients, vendors, and the public.  
• Ability to understand diverse perspectives and acknowledge the significance of differences and complexities in background, cultures, values and viewpoints as the foundation for an inclusive environment. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Chauffeur’s license & DOT Medical Certificate eligible (not necessary to start, but must be able to attain)  
• Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Design/Technology, Technical Direction, or similar degree from an accredited theatre program or college. 
• Hands-on experience in stage operations, carpentry or related technical theater roles. 
• Experience supervising stage operations teams. 
•    

Essential functions/physical demands: 

• The person in this position routinely moves materials weighing up to 50 pounds. 
• The person in this position remains in a stationary position for periods of time. 
• The person in this position occasionally ascends/descends ladders. 
• The person in this position occasionally moves throughout the building to access equipment. 

Application Deadline: 

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled. 

Additional Information: 

Detroit Opera is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the MOT mission. 

About Detroit Opera: 

Founded in 1971, Detroit Opera (DO) is the premier multi-disciplined producer and presenter for opera, musical theatre, and dance in the Great Lakes Region. Based in the city of Detroit, the organization engages artists of national and international stature for stellar main stage and outreach performances, and provides compelling cultural enrichment programs for the diverse audiences and communities that it serves, making it one of Detroit’s pillars of arts and culture. DO is among a select few opera companies nationwide to own its theatre, the historic 2,700-seat Detroit Opera House, which is located in the heart of downtown Detroit. 

DO is seen as the most innovative opera company in America. DO garnered great critical and popular acclaim during the pandemic for its socially distanced, drive-thru production of Twilight : Gods, an adaptation of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung. Brainchild of new Artistic Director Yuval Sharon, Twilight : Gods was performed across multiple levels in DO’s own parking structure and provided performance opportunities for local cast and orchestra members, in addition to international opera stars.  Lauded for past projects such as his reverse chronological staging of Puccini’s La Bohème, Sharon in July premiered a high-tech reimagining of a Wagner opera. 

For more information, please visit https://detroitopera.org