Props Supervisor

DEPARTMENT: Production - Props

CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, exempt (salary) position

PAY: $85,000-$92,500 annually

LOCATION: La Jolla, CA on the beautiful UC San Diego campus

SCHEDULE: Regular weekday work with occasional weeknight, weekend and/or holiday work

REPORTS TO: Director of Production

SUPERVISES: Lead Props, Props Carpenters, Props Artisans, Technicians, Apprentices and Pre-Apprentices

WORKS WITH: Production Supervisor Team, Production Management, LJP Staff, Visiting Artists and Designers, IATSE Labor, UCSD Theatre and Dance Supervisors, UCSD Residents and Students

POSTING DATE: January 2025

INTERVIEWS: February 2026

START DATE: March 30, 2026 (flexible)

Required Application Materials

Cover letter, resume, and references

About The Position

The Props Supervisor has the primary responsibility of managing the Props Department and overseeing execution of the props design from design development through completion. They oversee the construction, installation, maintenance and transfer of props (built, purchased, rented, or otherwise) for all productions produced and presented by La Jolla Playhouse including festivals and special events while maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

This position works directly with the design and creative teams for each production, interprets technical plans, pictures, and verbal ideas, presents efficient technical and artistic solutions to the design and production teams, estimates labor and material budgets, and tracks budgets throughout the production process. The Props Supervisor, in collaboration with the other Production Department Supervisors, will take an active role in communication with Designers, IATSE Stagehands and La Jolla Playhouse Management to ensure all departments are informed about Prop designs, changes, planning, and scheduling for each production.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruitment and management of Props department direct reports including leadership and coaching, skill development and regular feedback communication.
• Oversee seasonwide planning for Props department including space use, maintenance, capital acquisitions and labor calendars.
• Manage the scheduling, accounting, purchasing and planning for the Props department for all productions, festivals, and shop operations.
• Maintain and organize La Jolla Playhouse Props Shop, props stock, venue inventory, materials and other resources including management, development, and tracking of LJP resources.
• Conduct regular meetings to communicate information within the Props department such as project handoff meetings and weekly team meetings. Regularly meet individually with team members to provide personalized guidance and support.
• Create a props list, lead the props design development process with the project creative teams on track with project benchmarks.
• Advise designers on time period and cultural research and offer suggestions as appropriate.
• Coordinate and support props for developmental workshops in New York City and elsewhere
• Estimate and track labor and material costs for productions, adjust and present options to designs to assist in the budget process, and advise Production Management of the potential financial consequences of any proposed changes or other alterations to designs.
• Direct the Props Department Staff in the Construction, Installation, Strike and Transfer process for all productions beginning with early design consultations through completion of projects.
• Coordinate rehearsal props, purchase props as needed, advise on construction techniques and assist in problem solving to facilitate the completion.
• Communicate as needed with Creative teams, Stage Management, and across other production departments to evaluate use and function of props.
• Attend production meetings, run throughs, tech rehearsal, previews, and note sessions as requested by Production Management.
• In conference with the Designer and assistant, coordinate notes from dress rehearsals and previews and establish priorities.
• In conjunction with Production Management, coordinate with UCSD Theatre and Dance Department technical personnel to ensure mutual success for all projects utilizing the Theatre District’s fabrication facilities and theaters.
• Perform other duties as assigned in collaboration with theatre personnel, professional creative teams, staff, management, and other visiting artists.
  
  

INCLUSIVE AND SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Coordinate training for all Props Department employees on the proper and safe usage of facility, large equipment, stationary tools, hand tools and other production resources.
• Represent the Props Department during donor tours, observerships, and safety inspections as needed.
• In collaboration with Production Management and other department supervisors, contribute to production risk assessments to achieve workable and safe productions at all levels.
• Monitor and enforce safety in the Props Department.
• Communicate in a professional and collegial manner when collaborating with all theatre personnel, professional creative teams, staff, management, and other visiting artists.
• Be an active participant in LJP’s work towards being a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
• Commitment to a culture of learning, community, inclusion, belonging, and respect among employees and visiting artists.
• Commitment to a culture of safety, both psychological and physical, ensuring a safe work environment.
• Maintain current knowledge of safety best practices and standards.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in theatrical props management, preferably in a LORT theatre environment, with material budgets ranging from $5,000 to $60,000.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams and fostering a collaborative and creative environment and knowledge of current leadership practices.
• Experience in management, including project coordination, resource management, staff recruitment and training, meeting facilitation, budgeting, and safety compliance.
• Fundamental knowledge in a variety of areas including props shopping, casting, paper props, props carpentry, sewing, upholstery, crafts, woodworking, welding/metalworking, electronics and special effects and advanced skills in two or more of those areas.
• Knowledge of art history, period styles, theatrical terms and practices to develop accurate and precise props and set dressing.
• Ability to read designer and construction drawings.
• Computer skills: Familiarity with and ability to direct work in Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and Photoshop and willingness to learn expense tracking software.
• Demonstrated success in time and personnel management (Calendars, Schedules, Production Process).
• Deep knowledge of and dedication to safe working practices.
• Demonstrated skill and success in the development, forecasting, management, and tracking of complex production budgets.
• Strong attention to detail and proactive monitoring of processes with excellent communication skills and a collaborative demeanor.
• Possess strong critical thinking, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Works well under pressure and time constraints, maintaining a calm demeanor in the face of new and unexpected challenges.
• Commitment to uphold and meaningfully engage with the mission and values of La Jolla Playhouse.
• Ability to reliably commute to the worksite.
  
  

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Cultural Competency: An understanding of inclusive principles and practices, and the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures and backgrounds.
• Communication Competency: The ability to communicate respectfully and transparently.
• Relationship Management: Excellent social and collaborative skills with an emphasis on building and maintaining meaningful and reciprocal relationships.
• Project Execution: Strong attention to detail. Ability to manage competing priorities and follow through. Ability to productively question the status quo and engage in solutionoriented thinking.
• Time Management: The ability to efficiently manage time, effort and decisionmaking skills.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This role involves various physical tasks; accommodations are available to support individuals with disabilities.

• Ability to work extended hours.
• Occasionally ascends/descends and moves about on ladders, catwalks, and grids.
• Occasionally moves items weighing up to 30lbs and maneuvers heavy items with assistance.
  
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently works in an office environment at a computer workstation or in meeting rooms.
• Interior scene shop exposure to dust/fumes and loud noise PPE provided.
• Environment varies from dark/quiet backstage to bright/loud on stage.