Production Manager

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nProduction Manager\nPosition Title: Production Manager\n FLSA Status: Full-Time, Salary, Exempt\n Reports To: Managing Director / Producing Artistic Director\n Date Revised: September 2026POSITION SUMMARY\nAn active member of American Stage’s senior staff, the Production Manager is responsible for the successful coordination and execution of American Stage’s theatrical production operations while serving as the primary liaison for guest artists throughout their engagement with the organization.\nThis position provides leadership and oversight across production management, production budgets, scheduling, technical operations, artist logistics, company management, union compliance, facilities coordination, and production-related purchasing and contracts.\nThe Production Manager works closely with the Managing Director, Producing Artistic Director/Artistic Director, and department heads to ensure that productions are delivered safely, creatively, on schedule, and within established budgets. The position also serves as a primary point of contact for all guest artists, helping ensure a professional, welcoming, and well-organized experience from onboarding through the completion of their engagement.\nThe successful candidate will foster a production culture that is positive, efficient, inclusive, collaborative, and aligned with American Stage’s mission, vision, and values.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Production Management & Operations\n\n \n Oversee and lead the planning, coordination, and execution of all production elements for American Stage productions, ensuring that work is completed safely, on time, and within budget.\n \n Create and maintain the master production calendar, including design deadlines, build schedules, rehearsals, technical rehearsals, performances, strikes, and other production milestones.\n \n In collaboration with the Artistic Director, Managing Director, Director of Marketing, and other departments, develop season calendars, rehearsal schedules, performance schedules, and production timelines.\n \n Work closely with the Artistic Department on the selection and engagement of designers, and other guest artists as requested. Participate in the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, and supervision of production employees and seasonal staff.\n \n Manage and supervise full-time production staff, including designers, seasonal employees, overhire employees, production fellows, and other production personnel as applicable.\n \n Allocate production management responsibilities among the Technical Director, Costume Shop Manager, and other production staff as appropriate.\n \n Oversee Scenic, Lighting, Sound, Costume, and other production departments as applicable, working with department heads to ensure that work meets artistic and technical expectations while remaining on schedule and within budget.\n \n Oversee and lead the production process from pre-production and initial design meetings, through opening and performance, maintaining clear communication among creative teams, production staff, and organizational leadership.\n \n Ensure that creative teams understand available resources, production deadlines, technical limitations, and the requirements of American Stage’s performance spaces.\n \n Track production progress and identify potential scheduling, staffing, budget, or technical challenges early enough to develop effective solutions.\n \n Oversee production facilities, equipment, and technical assets, including maintenance, rentals, purchases, inventory, and appropriate use.\n \n Serve as a primary liaison for facility needs related to rehearsal spaces, performance spaces, production areas, and artist housing.\n \n Ensure that production operations comply with applicable health and safety regulations and accepted theatrical best practices.\n \n Promote a safe, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative working environment throughout the production process.\nBudget & Financial Management\n\n \n In collaboration with the Artistic Director and Managing Director, develop and manage production budgets for individual productions and the overall production department.\n \n Track production expenses against approved line-item budgets and maintain accurate financial records and reconciliations.\n \n Monitor production spending and provide timely communication regarding variances, projected overages, or potential savings.\n \n Work closely with the Managing Director and accounting staff to ensure production expenses are properly coded to the General Ledger and processed in a timely manner.\n \n Manage production-related purchasing, rentals, materials, equipment, and technical service contracts.\n \n Negotiate with vendors and service providers when appropriate to secure cost-effective goods and services while maintaining required quality and safety standards.\n \n Participate in long-range financial and operational planning as a member of the senior leadership team.\nArtist Logistics\n\n \n Serve as the primary organizational point of contact for directors, designers, and other guest artists through their time at American Stage.\n \n Coordinate and streamline artist onboarding, including contracts, housing, travel, transportation, per diems, schedules, and other logistical needs.\n \n Develop and maintain efficient digital systems for artist onboarding, contracts, expense tracking, scheduling, and other company management functions.\n \n Coordinate housing for guest artists, prioritizing the efficient and cost-effective use of American Stage-owned or otherwise available artist housing.\n \n Coordinate travel and local transportation arrangements for guest artists as needed.\n \n Ensure artists receive timely and accurate information regarding schedules, housing, transportation, rehearsal and performance expectations, and organizational procedures.\n \n Serve as primary liaison for any guest artists while staying in Artist Housing; work alongside Managing Director & Artistic Director to develop solutions for any issues that arise.\n \n Foster a welcoming and professional experience for guest artists while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and adherence to organizational policies and budget limitations.\n \n Help integrate visiting artists into American Stage’s organizational culture and community.\n \n Identify and resolve artist logistical concerns in a timely, professional, and solutions-oriented manner.\nUnion & Contract Administration\n\n \n Serve as a primary liaison with applicable theatrical unions, including Actors' Equity Association (AEA), Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), and United Scenic Artists (USA), as applicable.\n \n Ensure that union-related contracts, reports, payroll documentation, pension and health payments, and other required paperwork are accurate and submitted in a timely manner.\n \n Work collaboratively with the Managing Director and accounting/payroll staff to ensure compliance with union agreements and organizational requirements.\n \n Maintain organized records of artist contracts, union documentation, and production-related agreements.\n \n Assist with the interpretation and implementation of applicable union agreements and requirements.\nLeadership, Communication & Collaboration\n\n \n Meet regularly with direct reports to ensure they have the information, resources, support, and training necessary to perform their duties effectively.\n \n Conduct annual performance reviews for direct reports.\n \n Communicate regularly with the Managing Director and Artistic Director regarding production milestones, budgets, staffing, artist logistics, and emerging issues.\n \n Provide regular status updates on production progress, budget performance, scheduling, and company management matters.\n \n Collaborate effectively with Artistic, Marketing, Development, Education, Front of House, Finance, and other departments to support successful productions and organizational operations.\n \n Participate in senior leadership discussions, long-range planning, policy development, and organizational problem-solving.\n \n Advance American Stage’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in production staffing, artist engagement, workplace culture, and organizational practices.\n \n Perform all duties in a manner consistent with American Stage’s mission, vision, and values.\n \n Other duties as assigned.\nQUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE\n\n \n Bachelor’s degree in Theatre, Performing Arts, Theatre Management, or a related field preferred.\n \n Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in production management, company management, theatre management, or a related role in a professional or regional theatre environment.\n \n Demonstrated experience managing production budgets, schedules, personnel, vendors, and multiple concurrent priorities.\n \n Thorough knowledge of theatrical production processes, backstage operations, and production best practices.\n \n Experience working with theatrical unions and union agreements, particularly AEA; familiarity with SDC and USA is preferred.\n \n Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities.\n \n Strong financial management skills and demonstrated ability to monitor budgets, track expenses, and identify cost-saving opportunities.\n \n Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.\n \n Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, particularly in fast-paced or high-pressure production environments.\n \n Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with artists, technicians, administrators, vendors, and organizational leadership.\n \n Experience with digital project management, scheduling, and administrative tools, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office/Excel.\n \n Familiarity with theatrical design and technical software such as Vectorworks, AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar applications is preferred.\n \n Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, production paperwork, schedules, contracts, and budgets.\n \n Knowledge of theatrical health and safety standards and safe working procedures.\n \n Demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative workplace.\n \n Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive personnel and artist matters professionally.\n \n Ability to work independently while maintaining strong communication and accountability across departments.\nPHYSICAL & SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS\n\n \n Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended technical rehearsal hours as required by production schedules.\n \n Ability to respond to production needs outside of standard business hours when necessary.\n \n Ability to navigate production spaces, backstage areas, shops, rehearsal spaces, and performance venues safely.\n \n Ability to remain stationary or active for extended periods during rehearsals, technical processes, performances, meetings, and other production activities.\n \n Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move production-related materials or equipment as reasonably required by the position.\nCOMPENSATION & BENEFITS\nSalary: $45,000 - 55,000 annually; full-time, 40 hours per week.\nEligible employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as paid vacation, holidays, sick time, and personal days in accordance with American Stage policies.ABOUT AMERICAN STAGE\nFounded in 1977, American Stage is Tampa Bay’s longest-running, critically acclaimed professional theatre, committed to its role as a vital arts leader and contributor to the cultural landscape of the region. American Stage pursues innovative programming and deeper connections with our community through high-quality mainstage productions, the annual American Stage at Demens Landing, and robust education and outreach programs.\nWith powerful stories, boldly told, American Stage aspires to make the experience of dynamic, relevant, world-class theatre accessible for all.\nAt American Stage, we see the empty space as an opportunity for social change and civilized discourse to occur — one of the few sacred places left in a far too noisy, often divided world where human beings can still sit together in the quiet dark, think for a while, and be awakened. We seek a richer connection to the fragility of beauty and pain that exists in all art and life.\nAmerican Stage is a theatre of, by, and for all people — artist-driven, radically inclusive, and fundamentally democratic. Through artistic excellence and the craft of storytelling, American Stage is committed to creating a safe space for multicultural artists to share their full humanity. We are building an American Stage that enriches and embodies the rich diversity and cultural tapestry of America and truly reflects the American experience.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER\nAmerican Stage is an Equal Opportunity Employer. American Stage does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability,