Director of Production

Director of Production

Full-time, exempt. 

A collaborative and solutions-oriented leader operating at the intersection of artistic vision and institutional resources, the Director of Production is responsible for overseeing the production budgets, resources, staffing, and schedules for The Public Theater’s productions and theatrical season in close partnership with the Director of Producing and the General Manager. This role works closely with Directors, Designers, production staff, and crews to ensure productions are realized at the highest artistic standard while remaining on schedule and within budget.

The Director of Production fosters clear communication, strong cross-departmental collaboration, and a culture of accountability and support across all areas of production. This position reports jointly to the Executive Director and Artistic Director of The Public Theater.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee Production function to ensure that all productions support the artistic vision within budgetary guidelines. 
• Supply focus and prioritization in a landscape of multiple and concurrent commitments.
• Provide organization and leadership. In association with senior leadership, ensure The Public Theater thrives artistically and financially.
• Partner with Director of Producing and General Manager to ensure productions are delivered on time and on budget while maintaining artistic standards.
• Partner with the Operations and Facilities teams to ensure that there is a safe, stable, and functional physical work environment for six theater spaces, multiple rehearsal spaces and off-site shops and storage.
• Oversee adherence to safety and legal guidelines for all institutional and production related activities.
• Support and facilitate an environment that supports the work of artists and staff at the Public.
• Oversee Production department budgets, including show and departmental budgets.
• Directly manage the Production Management Team and Technical Director.
• Act as Production Department lead in managing the daily implementation of the various IATSE production collective bargaining agreements.
• Maintain key external relationships, including unions, vendors, Board of Directors, donors, agents, and designers.

Requirements: 

• Comprehensive knowledge of theater production strategies, disciplines, and processes
• Comprehensive understanding of Public Theater mission, strategies, and programming
• Comprehensive understanding of theater operations management strategies and processes
• Deep commitment and dedication to prioritize and develop The Public’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Transformation Plan.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing and dynamic schedules
• Ability to manage the balance between supporting institutional priorities and staff capacity
• Sophisticated understanding of and direct experience with live entertainment collective bargaining principles.
• Excellent social skills and awareness of protocol
• Excellent negotiating skills.
• Communication skills: ability to keep staff informed and aligned with Public Theater initiatives 
• Fiscal management/comprehensive budgeting skills 
• Analytical thinking and creative problem solving 
• Performance management skills
• Ten or more years overseeing production activity in the performing arts or other similar fields.

This is an exempt full-time position, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act, with a minimum annual salary of $205k.

About The Public Theater

The Public is theater of, by, and for the people. Artist-driven, radically inclusive, and fundamentally democratic, The Public continues the work of its visionary founder Joe Papp as a civic institution engaging, both on-stage and off, with some of the most important ideas and social issues of today. Conceived over 60 years ago as one of the nation’s first nonprofit theaters, The Public has long operated on the principles that theater is an essential cultural force and that art and culture belong to everyone.

The Public’s wide breadth of programming includes an annual season of new work at its landmark home at Astor Place, Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, the Mobile Unit touring throughout New York City’s five boroughs, Under the Radar Festival, Public Works, Public Shakespeare Initiative, and Joe’s Pub. The Public Theater is home to over 200 full-time staff members and up to an additional 300 part-time or temporary hires at any given time.

 
The Public Theater is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from underrepresented populations in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.