Assistant Technical Director

At Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Assistant Technical Director (ATD) partners with the Technical Director (TD) in the technical planning and management of scenic production for the Theater’s produced and presented works.

The ATD takes ownership of assigned projects and day-to-day shop and stage operations, translating scenic designs and approved technical drawings into clear work plans and leading crews through safe construction, installation, changeovers, maintenance, and strikes.

Responsibilities include interpreting and developing working drawings, answering shop staff’s technical questions, coordinating materials and staffing, tracking progress and labor against schedules and budgets, and communicating issues and proposed changes to the TD and other departments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Manage IATSE technicians as well as a large workforce of over hire carpenters
• Create construction drawings and technical designs for CST in-house builds
• Interpret scenic drawings in the context of the full production
• Answer shop staff’s technical questions
• Independently plan and lead crews in the safe execution of assigned shop and stage operations
• In conjunction with the TD, manage off-site build locations, in particular off-site scene shops
• Coordinate the procurement of scene shop materials and supplies
• Coordinate the implementation of safety programs within the scene shop
• Monitor technical rehearsals. Takes down notes from the scenic designer
• Represent CST in the communication with the technical departments of external collaborators to fully support their performances, on CST stages and in site-specific work throughout Chicago
• Coordinate the hiring of over hire labor for load ins and load outs
• Coordinate the management and hiring of scenic charge artists
• Track assigned work against schedules and alert the Technical Director to delays, staffing needs, or technical issues early enough to adjust the plan
• Help maintain scene shop inventories
• Engage in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed
• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos
• Other duties as assigned