Safety. The Technical Director is responsible for the safety of all persons onstage and backstage. This is the most important responsibility of this position. The TD ensures that all procedural policies are observed including safety guidelines, house policies, staff procedures, and dress code. If necessary, the TD will review improper or unsafe actions with appropriate individuals and take necessary action to alleviate any unsafe conditions or actions. The TD is responsible for the application of all OSHA requirements, as well as, IATSE guidelines, when applicable. The TD also ensures that the design elements are safe for audiences according to the standards of the Fire Marshall. The TD unlocks and locks the venue, ensures that there are no flammable materials on the stage or backstage and that there are no open flames onstage or backstage.

Planning. Works with students, faculty, staff, administration and community renters on a wide range of productions, events and meetings. The TD attends production meetings, collecting and providing detailed information on upcoming events and productions to users and staff. The TD works with the Production Manager to establish procedures to collect, review and maintain information and schedules. This position assists in the research, purchase and maintenance of specialized technical production equipment.

Managing. Works closely with UNCSA student and professional crews. The TD supervises all technical crews, including lead electricians, lead carpenters, sound crew, regular crew, backstage door attendant, and service providers. Technical Director is responsible for determining how many crew members and what skills are required to create the event. In the case of professional crews, The TD must arrange, well in advance, to hire crews through the IATSE local.

Training. Works closely with UNCSA student crews. Student crews are drawn primarily from the School of Design and Production, but may also be drawn from other schools. D & P students are aspiring to become trained professionals in technical theater. Faculty are often not present for load-in, set-up, focus of lights, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and performances. When called upon by students, the TD demonstrates, offers advice and direction concerning the proper and safe professional manner to work with and operate the various equipment systems (rigging, lights, audio, projection, etc.).

Maintaining Facilities. Works with a range of vendors and crews related to repair and maintenance of stage floor, rigging, lighting equipment, sound equipment and projection equipment. Works with Facilities to ensure that temperature and ventilation in the facility are correct, and also that any necessary plumbing or electrical repairs are made on a timely basis.
Production Support. This responsibility relates to the creation of productions rather than the safe operation of the theater. Ordinarily, productions are created by UNCSA D & P students in consultation with their faculty. A number of productions are no longer supported by D & P, and this responsibility has fallen to Performance Facilities. In the case of these productions, the TD identifies, hires, schedules, and manages production technical directors, production managers, stage managers, a team of designers (scenery, light, sound, costumes, projection and props), and secures and hires crews (for load-in, set-up, strike and running) for productions. This can be very time-consuming, and there is a significant budget related to this that needs to be managed. In addition, TD’s may be called upon at certain times to act as designers or be on the running crew. To that end, it is desirable that each TD have training and expertise in at least one of the following areas: lighting, audio, production management, stage management, production technical direction.
Budget Management, Recruitment and Hiring of Crew, Payroll Administration. As labor previously provided by student crews as part of their academic course of study is now replaced by paid labor, often by professionals, there is a significant budget to be managed. The TD’s must recruit, hire and train crews and ensure that their payroll submissions are overseen and approved.

5 – 7 years of a combination of professional performing arts experience as a technical director or production manager, as well as experience in performing arts programs in higher education, that provide the employee with the functional work experiences needed to perform the tasks described above. Prefer a college graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in technical theater.

Managers must remain current and up-to-date in a number of technical specialties: theatrical rigging, lighting equipment, audio equipment, video equipment, fire laws, OSHA regulations, and union stagehand (IATSE) work rules. Professional development and certifications are necessary.

TD’s must determine how many crew members, hours and dollars are required to accomplish the work that the designers have envisioned in order to complete by the deadline.

Safety policies must be communicated clearly and enforced. Schedules and crew calls must be communicated clearly and on a timely basis. Communication with renters is important, as well.

TD’s manage crews and demonstrate leadership in production planning meetings. They must ensure that students comply with safety policies.

Professional Knowledge. Knowledge of the inter-relationship of all program areas. Ability to focus management on more strategic programs. Ability to serve as the program/project expert.

Program/Project Administration. Ability to lead and facilitate teams, workgroups or assigned staff. Ability to develop, implement and evaluate program(s)/project(s). Ability to establish goals and objectives of program(s)/project(s). Ability to set appropriate deadlines. Ability to plan and assign work of others. Ability to identify organizational needs and relevant business improvement processes. Ability to ensure compliance with program standards. Ability to make final technical decisions.

Consultation. Ability to resolve complicated, sensitive, or unusual problems of an individual or systemic nature. Ability to guide and coach clients, co-workers, and/or subordinates in evaluating and resolving the most complex operational issues, often in overlapping program areas. Ability to coach and lead others in providing effective, responsive and timely consultation services. Ability to enhance collaboration among individuals and groups. Ability to build consensus when dealing with opposing points of view and resolving competing or complex issues.

Information Analysis and Decision-Making. Ability to prepare and analyze overall business operations and matters pertaining to the program area. Ability to develop long ranges objectives for the strategic planning process. Ability to analyze and resolve unprecedented issues and problems independently using input from and collaboration of external sources. Ability to serve as a resource for others in resolving issues and problems. Ability to anticipate problems, project probable outcomes and potential impact on policy or program. Ability to develop resolution strategies.

Communication and Marketing. Ability to cultivate professional relationships with all levels of the program/organization, internal and external. Ability to take the initiative in difficult situations. Ability to encourage others in complex and sensitive situations to reach a mutually agreeable resolution that achieves business goals and maintains positive work relationships across the organization. Ability to coordinate and manage communication efforts conveying difficult, crucial, and/or controversial decisions. Ability to coordinate staff development and training/education programs including core training, specialized one-time training events, continuing education, and related programs.

Leadership. Ability to provide program/project leadership in planning and organizing the work of others. Ability to work collaboratively to manage issues. Ability to evaluate and recommend resource needs. Ability to consult with senior level decisionmakers on an on-going basis.