Staff Technical Director/Shop Manager
Full Time/On-Ground
The USC School of Dramatic Arts seeks an experienced, full-time Technical Director/Shop Manager to join its Production team in the Technical Theatre Lab (TTL). We are looking for an energetic and collaborative colleague who brings a professional, rigorous approach to technical theatre production within a dynamic educational environment that presents multiple productions annually.
Reporting primarily to the Production Manager, the Technical Director/Shop Manager will demonstrate a proven ability to set priorities, manage complex projects, and work with a high degree of independence while exercising sound judgment. The successful candidate must thrive in a fast-paced environment, effectively balancing multiple projects and deadlines while supervising and mentoring staff and student workers, particularly during peak production periods.
The Technical Director/Shop Manager plays a critical role in supporting the realization of theatrical productions in a multi-stage, multi-use environment and in bringing academically driven student scenic designs to life. This position oversees the operation and maintenance of technical theatre facilities, supervises staff and student employees, enforces safety policies, and collaborates closely with faculty, guest artists, and student designers throughout the production process.
The Technical Director/Shop Manager leads the planning, construction, installation, maintenance, and strike of scenic elements for departmental productions, ensuring that all work is structurally sound, code-compliant, and completed within established schedules and budgets. Serving as the department’s primary technical liaison for scenic production, the position provides expertise in engineering solutions, construction methods, materials selection, scheduling, and resource allocation, translating artistic concepts into practical and safe technical execution.
Equally important, this role is responsible for maintaining a safe learning and working environment within the Technical Theatre Lab and performance spaces. The Technical Director/Shop Manager oversees equipment maintenance and inspections, administers safety training programs, and ensures compliance with OSHA regulations, fire codes, university policies, and industry best practices.
While academic credentials are desirable, professional experience is also important. Applications should include a cover letter describing the candidate's qualifications for the position, curriculum vitae including 5-10 images of past work, and the contact information for three references.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Additional Information:
This position is required to work evenings and weekends depending upon the production schedule. Regular work hours during the production season are Monday through
Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm, though subject to change as necessary.
The compensation range for this position is $86,000.00 to $100,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
The University reserves the right to add or change responsibilities at any time.
The USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA), founded in 1945, is recognized internationally as a leader in theatre education and its application to stage, screen, and other industries. The School offers innovative programs and curricula in acting, musical theatre, directing, playwriting, critical studies, costume design, scenic design, lighting design, sound design, stage management and creator arts. With a faculty of dramatic artists working at the highest level of their profession, the School offers BA, BFA and MFA degrees and has an active production program of more than 20 shows with a population of more than 600 undergraduate and graduate students combined. SDA’s headquarters are located in the heart of USC’s beautiful University Park Campus, housed in the Dick Wolf Drama Center, which anchor’s the University’s performing arts corridor (Thornton School of Music, Kaufman School of Dance, and the School of Cinematic Arts).
The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which comprises the faculty, students and staff that make the university what it is. USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
The university is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, employees, volunteers, and visitors on our campuses and those entrusted to our care, including patients, students, and minors. To that end, the university conducts background screening, including screening for criminal convictions, on all applicants after a conditional offer of employment and as a condition of employment. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix C for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative
USC and SDA are committed to fostering an environment that embraces our USC’s Unifying Core Values and seeks candidates that demonstrate, through ideas, words, and actions, a strong commitment to these objectives.
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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