Assistant Technical Director

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Assistant Technical Director supports the Technical Director in the planning, construction, implementation, and deconstruction of scenery for the stage, ensuring the process is completed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with and in service to Woolly’s artistic mission and commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access. The Assistant Technical Director reports to the Technical Director.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Production:

Collaboration and Preparedness on Projects

• Collaborate with the Technical Director, design team and other production departments to establish methods for the design and execution of the scenery and/or other elements of productions;

• In coordination with the Technical Director, prepare and organize the technical information pertaining to the scenery for specific productions so that the productions can be built, installed, and struck by shop employees in a timely, safe, and resource efficient manner;

• Execute technical drawings for scenic elements based on the designer drawings so they can be built by the shop staff, in coordination with the Technical Director;

• Think creatively with the Technical Director to engineer technical solutions to scenic designs, concepts and ideas. Maintain positive and collaborative attitude including when faced with challenges;

• In conjunction with Stage Management, building run sheets and responsibilities for run crews. Collaborate and execute departmental paperwork, inventory management, crew policy, etc.;

• Attend weekly Production Staff meetings, Production Meetings as directed, including representing the Technical Director in production meetings after technical rehearsals when necessary;

• Collaborate and contribute to departmental administrative responsibilities including hiring paperwork, tracking expenses, calendars and scheduling, and building systems for continued success;

• Actively support Woolly’s commitments to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access.

Scene Shop, Technical Maintenance and Safety

• Actively support Woolly’s commitment to safety in the workplace, working with the Technical Director in the curation and implementation of new and improved safety practices in the scene shop, theatre, and technical work spaces;

• Play an active role in leading the scene shop floor according to the schedules determined by the Production Manager and Technical Director;

• Proactively update staff on the conditions of the theatre space, especially when the theatre is a construction zone during changeover;

• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of resources, tools, and supplies, with special awareness and focus on upkeep and maintenance according to equipment guidelines;

• Ensure continued scene shop support and maintenance throughout a show’s run as well as proper archival upon closing.

Scene Shop Internal Communication and Daily Maintenance

• In collaboration with the Technical Director, support the personnel in the scene shop to promote a safe, healthy, and productive working environment, in line with Woolly’s mission;

• Lead daily clean-up of all working spaces to maintain safety and efficiency in our work environments;

• Participate in training and orientation of scenic overhire in collaboration with the Technical Director.

Facilities:

Safety and Code Compliance

• Prioritize maintaining the facility and using the technical production skill set in service of the well-being of the facility, in collaboration with the Technical Director;

• Maintain facility spaces and equipment according to city and state regulations, ensuring code compliance; 

• Actively monitor and consider fire safety and maintenance in all aspects of the facility and work.

Company-Wide Responsibilities:

• Commit to Woolly’s policy of anti-racism and radical inclusivity. This includes participating in anti-bias/anti-harassment training, familiarizing yourself with the policies in the employee handbook, using Woolly’s Liberation Library as an educational resource, engaging in EDI work at Woolly, and furthering your own independent journey with anti-racism.

• Cross-departmental collaboration, including participating in at least one Woolly working group, committee, and/or taskforce outside of your own department.

• Advocate for policies both internally and externally that further advance Woolly’s stated values on an organizational, local, and national scale.

• Contribute in meaningful ways to the culture. See “Our Culture at Woolly” section below for more information.

• Act as an ambassador for Woolly Mammoth in the local community and beyond.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience:

• Minimum of three years of experience in theatrical scenery production or equivalent experience

• Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to lead employees to get work done efficiently and safely with an appropriate level of quality and expectations;

• Ability to communicate and delegate tasks to others in order to keep the flow of work moving forward at an efficient rate;

• Ability to research an unknown process or material so it may be applied to a technical solution for a scenic element;

• Skills in carpentry, welding, rigging, and sewing to draw upon when engineering technical designs;

• Knowledge of construction drafting techniques to create drawings used by carpenters for scenic construction;

• Knowledge of a wide variety of construction materials and methods used in the theater to implement in technical designs;

• Knowledge of simple engineering and structures to use in technical designs;

• Knowledge of safe working practices to promote and maintain a safe working environment.
  

• Other Skills or Qualities:

• Active engagement and leadership development in your individual position is integral to the overall health of our organization. This will be reviewed and defined with your supervisor to set individual goals. Woolly encourages employees to take personal responsibility and pride in their work;

• See the larger picture and pull out the relevant details to diagnose problems. Think creatively about how to solve problems including new ways of working together. Woolly values innovative thinking, big ideas, and bigger passion;

• Collaborate with and adapt to a wide variety of people and personalities, working styles, and artistic visions;

• Skill in word processing, spreadsheet usage, and database preparation for information preparation, organization, and communication;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and CAD software, especially AutoCAD and Vectorworks to create plans and drawings for scenic construction.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Office and shop environment.

• Ladder- and stair-climbing is required to access the catwalks and rigging positions.

• Use of aerial lifts and work at height.

• Extending viewing of computer screens.

• Some evening and weekend work required.

• Some travel required.

• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is located in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter neighborhood. It is air-conditioned, located in a wheelchair accessible building, and in close proximity to public transportation.

COMPENSATION:

• Starting Salary: $60,000

• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company recognizes that conversations about salary can be difficult. In recognition of the necessity for top-tier talent, we strive to provide pay that meets the market by leveling with industry peers to determine the pay range for each position. Where the employee falls in that range is determined by experience and skill set. Woolly will work hard to administer the compensation program in a manner that is transparent, consistent, and equitable across the company.

OUR CULTURE AT WOOLLY:

At Woolly, our culture is driven by our stated core values of radical inclusivity, creative risk-taking, relentless inquiry & experimentation, world-class excellence, and innovation. We expect both personal and collective accountability in how these values are applied to the work of each employee of WMTC. We acknowledge that Woolly Mammoth has upheld and benefited from systems of oppression in our country and we aim to do better; using the principles of anti-racism to guide our actions and decision-making. How we do things is as important as what we do, and we expect our core values and anti-racist practices to influence the way we work together as a team. We strive to center openness, integrity, and care in our policies, processes, and how we interact with one another. We embrace a culture of transparency, accountability, and mutual respect as the foundation of all our collaborations, both inter-departmentally and externally. We take seriously our role as a civic leader, and strive to address local and national challenges using our knowledge, skills, commitment, and resources. As part of this work, all employees are expected to develop meaningful internal and external relationships that are mutually beneficial and impact-aware. We believe that everyone in the Woolly community is worth engaging in conversations about the art we make and how that art intersects with the world. We lean into the unconventional, especially if a nontraditional and inventive approach will help us reach new understandings of our art form, our industry, and our world.