What are the responsibilities and job description for the Technical Director position at Theatre Aspen?
DESCRIPTION
About Theatre Aspen
Theatre Aspen, the award-winning professional Equity theatre company located in the shadow of Aspen Mountain in the heart of the Colorado mountains, is accepting applications for a full-time, year-round Technical Director to join our staff. Producing an acclaimed summer repertory season, year-round education programming, and special events in our iconic tent theatre, Theatre Aspen has earned a national reputation for Broadway-caliber work in one of America's most distinctive theatrical settings.
Theatre Aspen is now in active planning for a transformative $55 million permanent theatre campus. This is a pivotal moment to join the organization, with a rare opportunity to help shape the technical and physical future of the company for decades to come.
Position Summary
The Technical Director is a full-time, year-round member of Theatre Aspen's leadership team, responsible for the technical execution, maintenance, and long-term stewardship of Theatre Aspen's production facilities, scenic operations, and performance venues.
This role combines production leadership, facility management, artistic collaboration, and institutional planning. You will oversee the technical realization of our professional MainStage productions, maintain and improve our iconic tent theatre, lead scenic construction for our year-round education programming, and serve as a key technical voice in the planning of Theatre Aspen's future permanent home.
During Theatre Aspen's bustling summer season, you'll be supported by a team of apprentices and professional production staff to help bring our MainStage productions to life. In the fall, winter, and spring, you'll take the lead independently on scenic builds for our education programming, a chance to shape each production's look from concept to completion with full creative ownership.
We're looking for someone energized by solving complex challenges, improving systems, mentoring artists and technicians, and creating exceptional theatre in an unconventional performance environment.
A Career-Defining Opportunity
This position offers a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact on one of America's most distinctive professional theatres. You'll steward Theatre Aspen's iconic tent theatre and help produce nationally recognized work each summer, while playing an integral role in imagining, planning, and bringing to life Theatre Aspen's future $55 million permanent theatre campus.
Key Responsibilities:
• MainStage Production Leadership: Collaborate with the Producing Artistic Director, Production Manager, designers, and production staff to review scenic designs for feasibility, installation, budget, safety, and venue compatibility; coordinate with professional scene shops; oversee load-ins, technical rehearsals, changeovers, and strikes; supervise seasonal carpenters, overhire crews, interns, and volunteers; and maintain Theatre Aspen's technical specifications packet for designers and rental inquiries.
• Education Production & Scenic Construction: Serve as lead scenic builder for Theatre Aspen's year-round education programming, constructing scenery and technical elements, and managing materials, budgets, schedules, and shop operations.
• Tent Theatre Stewardship: Maintain all stage, rigging, scenic support systems, and technical infrastructure; lead improvements to backstage operations and production workflows; and develop creative engineering solutions unique to our performance environment.
• Year-Round Site & Facilities Management: Maintain the theatre site, production facilities, rehearsal spaces, and technical infrastructure; coordinate preventative maintenance and outside vendor and contractor relationships, including invoice review and coding; manage AV, video, and networking equipment; oversee production storage, equipment inventory, and end-of-season inventory assessments; and manage seasonal installation, maintenance, and winterization of the tent theatre and site.
• Future Campus Planning: Collaborate with senior leadership, architects, engineers, and theatre consultants on Theatre Aspen's $55 million permanent theatre campus, providing technical expertise and helping envision future backstage, shop, rehearsal, storage, and performance spaces.
• Leadership & Safety: Champion a culture of safety and OSHA compliance; develop safe rigging, construction, and shop procedures; participate in the rotating Site Supervisor duty during performances; and mentor seasonal technicians, apprentices, interns, and early-career theatre professionals.
Qualifications:
• Five or more years of professional Technical Direction or equivalent production leadership experience
• Extensive knowledge of scenic construction, rigging, and theatrical systems
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Experience supervising crews and managing production schedules
• Ability to read technical drawings and collaborate with designers and scenic fabricators
• Excellent communication and collaborative leadership skills
• Experience working in outdoor, temporary, or non-traditional performance venues
• Professional regional theatre experience
• CAD proficiency, welding experience, or ETCP certification
• Experience working under Equity agreements
Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to lift up to 75 pounds, climb ladders, work at heights, operate power tools and shop equipment, and work outdoors in changing mountain weather conditions.
Location Requirement: This position requires residency in or relocation to the Roaring Fork Valley. Recognizing the unique housing market in our community, Theatre Aspen provides a housing subsidy to help eligible employees establish and maintain full-time residency in the Aspen Valley.
If you are an experienced technical leader with a passion for solving complex challenges and creating exceptional theatre in an unconventional performance environment, we invite you to apply and become a pivotal part of our Theatre Aspen family.
Job Type: Full-Time, Year-Round
Pay: $71,000–$80,000 per year, depending on experience, plus an extensive benefits package including health, vision, dental, and life insurance, a 401(k), and a housing subsidy.
To apply please send resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Technical Director.”
Theatre Aspen is an equal opportunity employer and understands that the work to create equitable theatre on and offstage is never done. We pledge to continually pursue equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our hiring, casting, education, and performance practices.
DURATION
Oct 1, 2026 -
SALARY
$71,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year
- NON-UNION