Technical Theater Director

Job Description

Job Description

This position will start when we come back to school in January. If selected, the interview process will take place late October/early November.

Position Summary

Regents School of Austin seeks a full-time Technical Director to lead and manage the technical operations of the Fine Arts Department, including theatre productions, concerts, assemblies, special events, and other campus performances. This role is responsible for the safe, efficient, and professional execution of technical production elements, including scenic construction, lighting, sound, projections, rigging coordination, equipment maintenance, production budgeting, technical scheduling, and facility readiness.

The Technical Director serves as the primary technical leader for Fine Arts spaces and productions, working closely with the Director of Fine Arts, Theater Director, production faculty, music faculty, dance faculty, students, contractors, and campus operations staff. This position requires strong technical theatre experience, excellent project management, clear communication, and the ability to build systems that support both artistic excellence and student learning.

The Technical Director must be a committed Christian who supports the mission of classical Christian education and contributes to a culture marked by excellence, stewardship, humility, professionalism, and care for students.

This position reports to the Director of Fine Arts.

Essential Responsibilities

Production Management and Technical Execution

* Lead the planning and execution of technical elements for Fine Arts productions and events, including scenery, lighting, sound, projections, backstage operations, load-in, strike, and space reset.

* Collaborate closely with directors and faculty to clarify design goals, determine technical feasibility, and create practical production plans that safely bring artistic designs to life.

* Develop and maintain production schedules for builds, lighting hangs, focus sessions, sound setup, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, performances, strikes, and facility turnover.

* Create or oversee technical drawings, ground plans, scenic plans, lighting paperwork, sound paperwork, equipment layouts, and other production documentation as needed to implement approved designs.

* Estimate materials, labor, equipment, rental, transportation, and contractor needs for productions and events.

* Coordinate scenic construction, painting, installation, rigging-related needs, backstage organization, and strike.

* Implement or supervise lighting, sound, projection, scenic, and backstage solutions appropriate to the scale and purpose of each production or event.

* Ensure that all technical elements are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in alignment with the artistic and educational goals of the production.

* Provide clear technical leadership during rehearsals, performances, concerts, assemblies, chapels, and special events.

Facilities, Equipment, and Safety

* Oversee the daily readiness, organization, maintenance, and safe use of Fine Arts technical spaces, including theatre, backstage areas, scene shop, storage areas, control booth, lighting/sound positions, and related support spaces.

* Develop, maintain, and regularly update the venue’s Technical Package documentation, including relevant specifications for lighting, sound, rigging, staging, power, soft goods, storage, and other technical/production resources.

* Maintain current knowledge of the venue’s rigging systems and coordinate the procurement of required inspections, servicing, documentation, and repairs to ensure safe and responsible use of all overhead, flown, or suspended equipment.

* Establish and maintain systems for equipment inventory, storage, repair, replacement, checkout, and security.

* Schedule regular maintenance and inspection of technical systems, tools, lighting equipment, audio equipment, projection systems, scenic materials, shop equipment, and backstage areas.

* Coordinate repairs, rentals, purchases, and service calls with approved vendors and contractors.

* Confirm technical system functionality prior to performances and events.

* Develop, enforce, and train staff, students, and contractors on safe working practices, tool/equipment operation, and scene shop safety protocols

* Partner with campus operations and outside professionals as needed to ensure compliance with appropriate safety expectations, building use standards, and event needs.

* Identify facility or equipment concerns early and communicate practical solutions to the Director of Fine Arts and appropriate school personnel.

Budgeting, Procurement, and Resource Stewardship

* Create and manage technical budgets for productions and events in collaboration with the Director of Fine Arts.

* Track expenses related to materials, rentals, labor, equipment, repairs, transportation, and production needs.

* Source, order, and manage materials and equipment in a timely and cost-conscious manner.

* Coordinate rental procurement, pickup, delivery, return, and documentation for technical equipment, scenic pieces, and production materials.

* Recommend long-term investments in tools, systems, equipment, storage, and facility improvements.

* Practice responsible stewardship of school resources by maintaining equipment well, reducing waste, and planning proactively.

Supervision and Collaboration

* Hire, schedule, supervise, and evaluate contract labor (technicians, builders, installers, and other technical support) as needed.

* Supervise adjunct staff, volunteers, and student crews during builds, rehearsals, performances, strikes, and events.

* Communicate clearly with directors, faculty, students, parents, contractors, vendors, and administrators regarding technical needs, schedules, deadlines, and expectations.

* Serve as a collaborative member of the Fine Arts team, helping create systems that support the broader department rather than only individual productions.

* Provide calm, professional leadership during high-pressure production periods.

* Help build a production culture that is orderly, safe, collaborative, student-forming, and artistically excellent.

Student Training and Instruction

* Mentor students in technical theatre skills, including safety, backstage etiquette, scenic construction, lighting, sound, projections, stage management support, and production crew responsibilities.

* Train student technicians and operators for rehearsals, performances, concerts, chapels, assemblies, and special events.

* Teach one technical theatre class per semester as needed.

* Support the development of a student technical theatre program that values craftsmanship, responsibility, collaboration, humility, and excellence.

* Model professional standards of preparation, punctuality, communication, problem-solving, and care for the work.

Required Qualifications

* Bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre, Theatre Production, Design/Technology, Production Management, or a related field required; equivalent professional experience may be considered.

* Minimum of three years of relevant technical theatre, production, educational theatre, or performing arts facility experience.

* Demonstrated experience in several of the following areas: scenic construction, lighting, sound, projections, stage operations, production management, technical drafting, shop safety, equipment maintenance, and event support.

* Experience supervising student crews, adult staff, contractors, volunteers, or overhire labor.

* Strong organizational, scheduling, budgeting, and project-management skills.

* Ability to manage multiple productions, events, deadlines, and facility needs simultaneously.

* Working knowledge of theatrical tools, materials, safety practices, and production processes.

* Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with students, faculty, administrators, parents, vendors, and contractors.

* Physical ability to participate in production work, including lifting, carrying, climbing ladders, working at heights when properly trained, and working in shop, stage, and backstage environments.

* Committed Christian who supports the mission and values of Regents School of Austin.

Preferred Qualifications

* Experience working in a school, college, church, or multi-use performing arts facility.

* Experience opening, managing, or developing systems for a new or growing theatre facility.

* Familiarity with ETC and/or Vari-Lite lighting systems, digital audio consoles, wireless microphone systems, projection systems, theatrical rigging concepts, and scenic shop operations.

* Experience teaching or mentoring students in technical theatre.

* Master’s degree in Technical Theatre, Theatre Production, Design/Technology, Theatre Education, or a related field.

* Experience in classical Christian education or a demonstrated appreciation for the mission of Christian education.

Professional and Mission Alignment

The Technical Director should support the mission of Regents School of Austin and contribute positively to the life of the school community. This includes demonstrating integrity, humility, professionalism, dependability, teachability, respect for students and colleagues, and a commitment to stewarding resources well.

The ideal candidate will understand that technical theatre is both a professional discipline and a formative educational environment. At Regents, the work of production should cultivate excellence, creativity, discipline, collaboration, service, and care for what is true, good, and beautiful.

The Technical Director should be able to lead technical work with maturity and professionalism while also helping students grow in responsibility, craftsmanship, safety, teamwork, and respect for the production process.

Information on our Purpose, Mission, Philosophy, Objectives and Doctrinal Statement

Board members, administration, faculty, coaches and other instructional personnel of Regents School, whether full-time, part-time or volunteer, must believe and abide by the Purpose, Mission, Philosophy, Objectives and Doctrinal Statement, evidenced by their signing a statement of agreement with Article II annually. This document can be found by clicking: Philosophy and Doctrinal Statement. As a supplement, the Regents Board of Directors has adopted two additional statements as clarifying language under Article II. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy - This was adopted in 2017 by the Board to be clear on our view of the inerrancy of Scripture. Nashville Statement: A Coalition for Biblical Sexuality - This was adopted by the Board in 2019 as clarifying language on our view of biblical sexuality.

Links to documents below:

Article II

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

Nashville Statement: A Coalition for Biblical Sexuality