Director of Production

Position: Director of Production Reports to: General Manager Department: Production FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt Location: New York, NY Compensation: $150-$170k On-site About The Apollo In December 2024, The Apollo Theater became the first organization honored by the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo’s impact on the past, present, and future of American culture and the performing arts. From the longest-running talent show in America with Amateur Night at The Apollo, which launched the careers of icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill, to performances from beloved legends like Smokey Robinson and Lil’ Kim and today’s biggest stars like Drake, The Apollo has always been a home for artists to create and a home for audiences to see incredible music and art from legendary artists. The Apollo is an American cultural treasure. It is a vibrant non-profit organization rooted in the Harlem community that engages people from around New York, the nation, and the world. Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. It has also been a catalyst for social and civic advocacy. Today, The Apollo is the largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and creativity. Position Summary The Director of Production (DoP) is the Senior-level organizational advocate and strategy leader for all Production activities associated with The Apollo. The DoP oversees the planning and execution of a diverse range of live performances, including music, dance, theater, multimedia, and interdisciplinary events, across the six performance spaces at The Apollo as well as for Apollo branded activities in non-Apollo locations. The DoP is a strong leader with comprehensive experience in live performance and event production. As the front-line point of contact for production inquiries, the DoP collaborates as the primary Production liaison for artists, renters, professional technical personnel, and various departments within The Apollo. The DoP ensures seamless coordination of technical and stage labor requirements for all events, maintains high safety standards, upholds production quality, and delivers exceptional artist and audience experiences. The DoP oversees both internal and external programs and events, managing two distinct business units. DoP supports internal events (Programming, Community, Education, Development, Growth, and Special Events) by providing comprehensive Production planning and execution of technical, staging, staffing and budget elements. DoP additionally supports external events (Renters, Producers, Co-Pro partners) by acting as frontline contact on all production elements associated with work in all Apollo performance spaces. The DoP is responsive, proactive, and deeply adept at managing large-scale production activities and client relationships, while ensuring budget and schedule are safely delivered. The DoP has extensive labor management and planning experience, having worked extensively with IATSE, Equity, USA, and AFofM partners in delivering presented and produced experiences. Key Responsibilities include: Production Planning and Management Determine event technical requirements based on an understanding of artist technical specs and contracts Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to determine production budget on a per-event and annualized basis Develop and implement short/mid/long-term production calendars and schedules, integrate same into contract documents as required Collaborate on Apollo organizational planning on a seasonal basis, balancing optimal use of Apollo stages with departmental maintenance and training requirements Oversee preparation and execution of lighting, AV, rigging, and staging configurations for all Apollo stage activities. Hire and oversee Overhire designers as required Partner with the Director of Facilities to originate and support production-adjacent capital projects and develop capital equipment and facility investment programs, encompassing long-range capital planning, project execution, asset maintenance and lifecycle management. Implementation and Labor Supervise and manage daily operations of the Apollo Production Department, to include all budgeting, scheduling, and management of departmental direct reports, IATSE Local 1 Stagehands, Overhire designers and stage managers, and non-union operational staff Develop and maintain SOPs for labor practices, equipment use, safety standards and protocols, performance routines, and program support Work with department heads to create, maintain, and improve SOPs for use of technical equipment and continued safety training. Fiscal Responsibility Develop and administer production department budgets, both on a per-show and annualized basis. Forecast and contribute to organizational cash-flow and resource allocation processes Develop and maintain all production finance SOPs, including the daily/event close-out documentation and budget templating Ensure regular contact with Finance concerning insurance requirements, and equipment depreciation schedules Collaborate with Development Department to create scope and budget for Production-related capital projects. Qualifications 7+ years of technical theater experience in a senior production management role Comprehensive knowledge of non-profit theater operations, management strategies, and processes Comprehensive knowledge of local, stage, and national labor and safety regulations Prior experience managing theatrical union staff, their agreements, and their relationships Extensive knowledge of technical processes in all departments, with an understanding on how technical processes are best managed and budgeted Ability to think analytically and communicate diplomatically Possess the strong interpersonal management and conflict resolution skills required to deliver complex projects in complex environments Experience and facility with Autocad/Vectorworks, and other production planning platforms Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance with generous employer contribute Life insurance Multiple additional optional insurances 401k HSA and FSA Show discounts Gift Shop discounts Employee assistance program Local restaurant discounts Comp tickets to events at other cultural institutions The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, disability, age, military or veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, New York State, or New York City law. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request for applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs.