Head of Technical Direction and Theater Department Production Manager

The Theater Department at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, seeks a dynamic and collaborative colleague to fill the positions of Head of Technical Direction and Theater Department Production Manager.

The Head of Technical Direction position entails teaching courses within the theater program's Technical Direction concentration at all undergraduate levels; advise undergraduate students on their artistic progression through this concentration; and maintain professional activity and/or scholarly research in the field. A typical teaching load in the department is three to four courses per semester, but this may vary in accordance with the needs of the department as determined by the Chair. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of 5 years professional experience in the field as well as demonstrated teaching success. The successful candidate should bring to the role a substantial knowledge of technical direction and current industry practices and trends. The candidate must be able to work creatively and collaboratively with faculty in multiple disciplines across the school as well as with students, staff, and school leadership. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: holding regular office hours; attending department and program meetings; actively participating in recruiting efforts; contributing to shared governance by serving on department, school, and university committees; maintaining and developing curricula; participating in undergraduate review cycles; supporting collaboration initiatives within Mason Gross and across the University; and other duties as assigned. A more detailed list of faculty responsibilities is outlined in the Theater Department by-laws and faculty handbook. The Head of Technical Direction position is an academic-year, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant professor with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2025.

The Head of Technical Direction responsibilities also includes the role of Production Manager, which is a calendar-year staff position, rather than an academic-year faculty appointment. The Production Manager is responsible for the supervision of production budgets, calendars, meetings, labor, construction/load-in and crew calls. The Production Manager oversees a technical staff of 7 to 10 people and coordinates for the timely completion of sets, costumes, lights, sound, props and any other technical elements for 6 to 8 productions each academic year. They are also responsible for coordinating the maintenance of all theater department performance spaces and equipment. The Production Manager ensures compliance of all public assembly safety and fire regulations and contributes to production policy and handbooks.

Housed in one of the leading public research universities on the East Coast, the Department of Theater at Mason Gross School of the Arts includes approximately 175 students, 30 full-time faculty and staff, and 30 part-time faculty, offering the Bachelor of Arts degree as well as the Bachelor of Fine Arts with concentrations in Acting, Costume Design, Costume Technology, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, Stage Management, and Technical Direction, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Playwriting. The Theater Department provides students with a well-rounded, rigorous, and inspiring program for those serious about pursuing a career as a theater professional. The training consists of intensive studio classes, innovative academic curricula, and a diverse season of productions in a wide range of styles and approaches. The Theater Department is committed to developing theater artists of the highest caliber who are prepared to join the profession and be part of the next generation of practitioners and innovators.

Mason Gross School of the Arts, a vibrant community of artists and scholars with academic programs in music, theater, dance, filmmaking, and art & design, is committed to pursuing excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Its 1200 students reflect the diversity of New Jersey, the fourth most diverse state in the nation. In addition to its professional arts training programs, Mason Gross provides the larger community an opportunity to embrace the creative arts through Rutgers Arts Online. The school is housed within Rutgers-New Brunswick, a premier Big Ten research university that serves some 35,000 students and is the flagship campus of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The nation's eighth oldest institution of higher learning, Rutgers is less than an hour by train or car to New York City and the beautiful beaches of the Jersey Shore and just over an hour to Philadelphia. Additional information is available at the school website: https://www.masongross.rutgers.edu.

Mason Gross School of the Arts is deeply committed to the pursuit of equity, diversity, inclusion, and access and especially encourages applications from women, underrepresented minorities, and other individuals who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented or marginalized within higher education and the arts.

Candidates should provide: