Seattle Opera
Job Description
Job Description
Job Description
Location: Seattle, WA
FLSA Status: EXEMPT
Position Status: REGULAR, FULL TIME
Position Location: 10% REMOTE, 90% ONSITE
Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000 annual salary
Reports to: Director of Production
Supervision Exercised: Supervises (3) Direct and (3) In-Direct Reports and crew members of (3) I.A.T.S.E Locals.
Start Date: May/June 2025 is preferred
The successful candidate will possess demonstrated leadership skills and problem-solving capabilities in time-pressured situations, along with the capacity to collaborate with creative artists and technicians to identify solutions to complex production, design, budget and calendar challenges, ensuring the on time delivery of productions within time and budget guidelines.
The Technical Director will possess a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the arts, along with the interpersonal and management skills to foster an organizational culture of clear and open communication, mutual respect and high accountability. The Technical Director will also possess the communications skills to serve as an ambassador for Seattle Opera among colleagues and among Seattle Opera trustees and donors.
The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of effectiveness at recruiting talent, setting expectations and goals, coaching, planning, organizing, delegating, and evaluating work of employees and contractors, including the ability to shift priorities nimbly in response to changing circumstances in order to achieve all high value work. The Technical Director will work to foster trusting and productive relationships throughout the Seattle Opera, and with external stakeholders such as colleague opera companies and co-producers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully, an individual should be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, recognizing that other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Technical Operations:
Examples of Additional Responsibilities include the following
Education:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of budgeting, able to understand labor agreements, backstage operations of a fly house, understanding of health and safety as relates to performing arts.
technical Skills:
AutoCAD, Vectorworks, Microsoft Office Suite
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to lift and/or move up to forty of pounds. The employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; balance; bend and reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Occasionally required to climb ladders, sit, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is sitting for long periods, walking long paths through the building and up and down stairs, walking in areas of low light. May be exposed to movement of large pieces of scenery and heavy equipment, especially under low lighting levels. (i.e. wet/humid environment, non-weather conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor conditions, risk of electrical shock, and vibration). The noise level in the work environment is minor with increase during rehearsals and performances
Learn more about our commitment to Equity and our Racial Equity and Social Impact Plan: https://www.seattleopera.org/about/commitment-to-equity/
applicationApplications must be made using the online form.
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
When you submit your application, you will receive an automated message noting your materials have been received. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to individual applicants due to the high volume of resumes submitted. No phone calls, please.
Technical Director
Department: ProductionLocation: Seattle, WA
FLSA Status: EXEMPT
Position Status: REGULAR, FULL TIME
Position Location: 10% REMOTE, 90% ONSITE
Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000 annual salary
Reports to: Director of Production
Supervision Exercised: Supervises (3) Direct and (3) In-Direct Reports and crew members of (3) I.A.T.S.E Locals.
Start Date: May/June 2025 is preferred
ABOUT SEATTLE OPERA
Established in 1963, Seattle Opera is committed to serving the people of the Pacific Northwest through music, storytelling, and programs for people of all ages. Each year, more than 50,000 people attend the company’s performances, and more than 100,000 people are served through school performances, radio broadcasts, and more. The organization brings opera to life in a number of different ways, offering artistic excellence through national and international collaborations. Seattle Opera strives to create an environment where artists, staff, behind-the-scenes workers, and members of the community feel a strong connection to the company, and to the art of opera. Follow Seattle Opera on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, and on Classical KING.
In August of 2003, the company inaugurated its new state-of-the-art home, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, located on the Seattle Center campus, in the heart of the arts and cultural district of the city. At the end of 2018, the company moved its education, artistic, and administrative programs to a new civic home next to McCaw Hall. The new building is an accessible community resource and will allow the company to expand its education programs. The company's fifth General & Artistic Director, James Robinson, began his tenure October 1, 2025.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Technical Director is a technical and supervisory position responsible for planning and executing the physical elements and logistical operations of Seattle Opera across all venues. The Technical Director utilizes technical, organizational and leadership expertise for the purpose of producing all physical aspects of international-level opera productions. This individual will prepare and administer tech calendars, schedules and budgets in the range of $5 million annually, as well as supervise a staff and union technicians. This position requires collaborating with the general director, production director, artistic, and administrative departments to achieve the best artistic product in the most time- and cost-effective manner.Established in 1963, Seattle Opera is committed to serving the people of the Pacific Northwest through music, storytelling, and programs for people of all ages. Each year, more than 50,000 people attend the company’s performances, and more than 100,000 people are served through school performances, radio broadcasts, and more. The organization brings opera to life in a number of different ways, offering artistic excellence through national and international collaborations. Seattle Opera strives to create an environment where artists, staff, behind-the-scenes workers, and members of the community feel a strong connection to the company, and to the art of opera. Follow Seattle Opera on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, and on Classical KING.
In August of 2003, the company inaugurated its new state-of-the-art home, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, located on the Seattle Center campus, in the heart of the arts and cultural district of the city. At the end of 2018, the company moved its education, artistic, and administrative programs to a new civic home next to McCaw Hall. The new building is an accessible community resource and will allow the company to expand its education programs. The company's fifth General & Artistic Director, James Robinson, began his tenure October 1, 2025.
POSITION SUMMARY
The successful candidate will possess demonstrated leadership skills and problem-solving capabilities in time-pressured situations, along with the capacity to collaborate with creative artists and technicians to identify solutions to complex production, design, budget and calendar challenges, ensuring the on time delivery of productions within time and budget guidelines.
The Technical Director will possess a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the arts, along with the interpersonal and management skills to foster an organizational culture of clear and open communication, mutual respect and high accountability. The Technical Director will also possess the communications skills to serve as an ambassador for Seattle Opera among colleagues and among Seattle Opera trustees and donors.
The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of effectiveness at recruiting talent, setting expectations and goals, coaching, planning, organizing, delegating, and evaluating work of employees and contractors, including the ability to shift priorities nimbly in response to changing circumstances in order to achieve all high value work. The Technical Director will work to foster trusting and productive relationships throughout the Seattle Opera, and with external stakeholders such as colleague opera companies and co-producers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully, an individual should be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, recognizing that other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
- Supervise and coordinate all technical aspects of the staging process to a level of stage preparedness.
- Work within technical department budgets. Monitor and supervise the load-ins, performances, strike backs and restores.
- Organize or file all information needed for re-mounting of a production.
- Deliver all duties and assignments in a timely manner to ensure that critical deadlines are met, and that planning and producing of each production proceeds in a consistent and orderly manner.
- The position requires scheduling and implementation of tasks affecting Union Technicians, Technical Staff, Costumes, Hair and Make-Up and Production Staff, Warehousing, Shipping and Receiving, Trucking and Transportation as well as performing artists and guest artistic staff.
- Technical administrative duties include drafting of ground plans, sections, and elevations, developing schedules, hang charts, and all additional necessary information, equipment procurement, plus development, distribution and tracking of information requiring interaction with staff in all producing departments, as well as contracted designers and staff of other opera companies.
- Participate in season planning with the General Director and Directors Group by sourcing productions, procuring production and technical operation budget information, and providing choices that balance the artistic and financial goals of the company.
- In conjunction with Director of Production, develop and implement near and long-term technical/ production budgets, individual project budgets, and touring budgets.
- Research competitive pricing for all technical operations purchases and rentals including shipping and support personnel.
- Maintain expense budget within boundaries of project budgets.
- Track and review stage crew hours and approve payroll for submittal to the Finance Department.
- Manage all professional/production stage, warehouse, and shop labor contracts, maintaining ongoing relationships with the contract entities.
- Oversee compliance with all appropriate federal, state, and local safety and health practices.
- Oversees tech department budget preparation, revenue, and spent-to-date reports.
- Oversees and approves purchases for the technical departments in accordance with budget parameters.
Technical Operations:
- Determine and manage all technical production needs for all productions including analysis of incoming rentals and co-productions and analysis of proposed new build production/projects. Develop all necessary documents used in assembling, operating and performing of productions.
- Provide support to guest Directors, Designers and Director of Production including timely correspondence, drawings, inventories, updates, etc. Facilitate communication between directors, designers, production and technical departments along with distributing production materials to appropriate departments.
- Give final approval on all scenic floor plans, rigging points, line schedules.
- Direct and assist scenic, properties, lighting, video, and sound designers, on the technical specifications, costs and usage of technical equipment required for the individual show and supervises the implementations of approved technical designs.
- Direct and assist all tech crew departments in the theatre, warehouse and shops, paying strict attention to IATSE rules and practices. Direct and supervise the technical department managers and staff.
- Serve as a supervisor during load ins and out, technical rehearsals and performances.
- Coordinate and schedule all truck and shipping logistics for production equipment and transportation of scenery, props, costumes and other technical items/ equipment.
- Maintain and archive organized files and records of information relating to technical department projects, productions and events being produced to serve as a resource for the Technical Group and related departments. This includes all existing tech schedules, calendars, notes and drawings relating to technical department
- Responsible for assigned technical equipment procurement, maintenance and inventory.
- Collaborate with all Seattle Opera departments and oversee the technical support of other departments’ functions as required.
- Attend and participate in all rehearsals on stage and schedule performance coverage.
Examples of Additional Responsibilities include the following
- Provide additional project management and consultation as requested.
- Collaborate with all Seattle Opera departments and oversee the technical support of other departments’ functions as needed.
- Manage all aspects of rentals of equipment and assets to outside organizations.
- Coordinate with other Opera House user groups on the daily production and tech schedules as necessary.
- Participate in McCaw Hall governing and operation boards and meetings.
- Attend and participate in assigned meetings
Position requirements
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience.
- Minimum five year’s experience in technical production in opera or related performing arts/production field demonstrating strong leadership responsibilities.
- Experience supervising union crews.
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of budgeting, able to understand labor agreements, backstage operations of a fly house, understanding of health and safety as relates to performing arts.
technical Skills:
AutoCAD, Vectorworks, Microsoft Office Suite
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to lift and/or move up to forty of pounds. The employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; balance; bend and reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Occasionally required to climb ladders, sit, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is sitting for long periods, walking long paths through the building and up and down stairs, walking in areas of low light. May be exposed to movement of large pieces of scenery and heavy equipment, especially under low lighting levels. (i.e. wet/humid environment, non-weather conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor conditions, risk of electrical shock, and vibration). The noise level in the work environment is minor with increase during rehearsals and performances
benefits
Seattle Opera provides a generous benefits package which currently includes:- Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance
- Life, Long Term and Short Term Disability Insurance
- Employee-funded 403(b) Savings Plan
- 80 hours (2 weeks) of vacation time (1st Year Accrual Rate with increases in years 3 and 5)
- 10 paid holidays plus 3 personal days per year
- 12 days of sick time per year
- Choice of fully funded transit pass, or 50% funded, special rate parking pass
- Staff ticket comps and class discounts
equal employment opportunity
Seattle Opera is committed to racial equity and to dismantling historic barriers of oppression by creating an inclusive and equitable workplace. We believe that having staff, interns, and volunteers with diverse backgrounds enables us to better meet our mission. Seattle Opera is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal access and opportunity to anyone who qualifies, regardless of sex, race, age, color, religion, mental or physical disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and/or military status. Learn more about our commitment to Equity and our Racial Equity and Social Impact Plan: https://www.seattleopera.org/about/commitment-to-equity/
application
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
When you submit your application, you will receive an automated message noting your materials have been received. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to individual applicants due to the high volume of resumes submitted. No phone calls, please.
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