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Williamstown Theatre Festival

Williamstown Theatre Festival is hiring: Production Supervisor in Williamstown

Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, United States, 01267


Job Type

Full-time

Description

POSITION: Production Supervisor

CLASSIFICATION: Seasonal - Full Time

STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Production Director

SUPERVISES: Production Management Team and Technical Staff

LOCATION: Williamstown, MA

COMPENSATION: $1250-$1500 Weekly

HIRING TIMELINE: Applications to be accepted until filled with a priority application deadline of 1/12/2025. Application review and interviews to be conducted starting 1/15/2025 with an anticipated start date on or about 02/10/2025 for part-time work and full-time work beginning on 06/09/25.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Williamstown Theatre Festival, renowned for its dedication to artistic excellence, seeks an experienced and dynamic professional to join our team as the Production Manager for the 2025 season. This pivotal role oversees all technical and logistical aspects of theater productions, ensuring seamless execution from pre-production through final performances. It offers an exciting opportunity to lead the production process, coordinate design and production teams, manage budgets, and uphold the festival's high artistic standards.

Reporting to the Production Director, the Production Manager plays a critical role in shaping the operational success of our productions while mentoring a team of emerging technicians. The position begins remotely on a part-time basis on February 10, 2025, and transitions to full-time, in-person work on June 9, 2025.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Production Management and Execution:
  • Coordinate Production Activities: Oversee the design, planning, and execution of all production elements by collaborating with various festival departments. Ensure smooth day-to-day management of the production process through on-site supervision in performance venues.
  • Support Design Frameworks: Guide department heads in developing repertory plots, ground plans, and design frameworks tailored for multiple performance spaces. Ensure these frameworks align with and enhance the artistic vision of each production across all venues.
  • Manage Technical Operations: Supervise production departments in the creation, installation, programming, and operation of technical elements during load-in, technical rehearsals, and performances.
  • Oversee Load-In and Load-Out: Facilitate the efficient load-in and load-out of equipment and materials across on-campus and off-campus spaces, including offices and workspaces. Ensure accurate inventory counts and proper storage of items for the off-season.

Team Leadership:
  • Lead the hiring process for all Production Management support staff and seasonal technicians serving in various technical roles throughout the summer. This includes positions such as Associate Production Managers, Assistant Production Managers, Production Assistants, and general technical support staff.
  • Supervise and manage the technical staff team, fostering a collaborative and efficient working environment by providing clear guidance and consistent support.
  • Host production meetings and disseminate information via email to ensure all production team members and Williams College stakeholders are informed and aligned on priorities and updates.
  • Provide training and mentorship to technical staff team members by reviewing and refining their paperwork, offering guidance on best practices, and sharing professional insights to encourage continuous learning and skill development.
  • Supervise general technical staff, assign individual projects as needed, and oversee their integration into various production departments to ensure smooth coordination and execution of tasks.

Management:
  • Set weekly schedules for technical staff, coordinate overtime requirements, review time-off requests, and manage the approval of weekly staff hours.
  • Monitor production budgets, organize rentals, oversee material purchases, and coordinate equipment maintenance in collaboration with production department heads.
  • Ensure safe working practices are consistently upheld in all production facilities. Adhere to and enforce all festival safety protocols.
  • Embrace the Festival's commitment to EDIA and Anti-Racism by actively participating in and encouraging behaviors among staff members that exemplify respect; interrupting microaggressions and other behaviors that hinder our EDIA and Anti-Racism efforts; engaging in the diversification of the workforce; demonstrating a degree of cultural competency that encourages healthy relationships with all company members
  • Participate in end-of-season debrief meetings and document insights to improve the position's processes and enhance the production management department's effectiveness for the following season.
  • Regularly supervise the work of two or more employees and provide input on their advancement, promotion, or other status changes, with your recommendations carrying significant weight.

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • The Williamstown Theatre Festival requires no specific number of years of experience or minimum educational credentials are required.
  • Proven experience in a management role within professional theater, with a successful track record of handling a variety of productions simultaneously, while maintaining attention to detail and a commitment to artistic quality.
  • Technical drafting skills are preferred.
  • Knowledge of a wide range of theatrical equipment and technologies is essential.
  • Strong leadership, interpersonal, and management skills, with the ability to lead diverse teams using a supportive and collaborative approach.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic production environment and adapt to changing priorities and timelines.
  • Must be capable of working long hours while standing.
  • This job requires in-person work in Williamstown, MA.

About Williamstown Theatre Festival

After seven decades of helping to shape the American theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival is bringing emerging and professional artists together in the Berkshires to create a thrilling summer festival that expands the expression of theater and its essential role in society. The Festival will continue to produce the world premiere plays and musicals and bold new revivals that it's come to be known for, while expanding into other forms of theatrical expression that brings many art forms together in exciting and innovative ways.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has always been, and continues to be, a creative hothouse for established and emerging artists and their work. More than 75 productions have transferred from the Festival to other regional theaters, Off-Broadway, and Broadway, with many productions being adapted for television and film. Thousands of actors, writers, designers, directors, and aspiring theater professionals from all fields that have come through the Festival to challenge themselves and their craft have gone on to prominence and recognition on Broadway, in Hollywood and beyond. Learn more at wtfestival.org .

Working and Living in Williamstown

Williamstown Theatre Festival's season takes place on the beautiful campus of Williams College in Williamstown, MA with backdrops of the Berkshire, Green, and Taconic mountain ranges. Williamstown, MA (estimated pop. 7,813) is located in Berkshire County (estimated pop. 128,657) in Western Massachusetts and is an hour's drive from Albany, NY and 30 minutes from Pittsfield, MA.

The Williams College campus and the 62' Center for Theatre and Dance are within walking distance of Spring Street, which has several restaurants with dine-in and takeout options, a coffee shop, an ice cream shop, an independent movie theater, and several stores. The nearest grocery store is a 10-minute drive from campus and not within walking distance. Having a personal vehicle does provide more flexibility in grocery-shopping and expands dining and activities options. For those who bring vehicles, parking is free at designated locations on Williams campus with a parking pass. For a list of all the things to do and see in Williamstown and the Northern Berkshires, visit DestinationWilliamstown.org .

All seasonal staff are provided housing free of charge on campus at Williams College. Housing is dorm-style with private bedrooms and shared common areas, including bathroom and kitchen. Williams College housing is not air-conditioned. Weather ranges from evenings on the cooler side but can also be quite warm with temperatures in the 90s with high humidity.

We acknowledge that Williamstown Theatre Festival is a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) located in a county that is 91% white, according to the US Census Bureau. We are actively engaged in the work of becoming a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, accessible, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive institution that not only welcomes BIPOC artists and staff but nurtures an environment that allows everyone to thrive. More specific actions on these efforts can be found in our Progress Report on our website: https://wtfestival.org/work-learn/ .

Williamstown Theatre Festival is committed to telling diverse stories and to fostering an inclusive environment both onstage and off. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. We believe that opportunity, access, resources, and rewards should be available to and for the benefit of all. Therefore, WTF is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants shall be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, sex/gender (including pregnancy and gender identity), disability, military status, veteran status, marital status, familial status, ancestry, genetics, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Candidates from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$1,250-$1,500/week