Technical Director and Senior Lecturer in Stagecraft, Department of Theater

Colgate University’s Department of Theater is seeking a full time Technical Director and Senior Lecturer in Stagecraft beginning no later than August 15, 2024, to join a dynamic team of professional artists and educators. Completion of an M.F.A. in Technical Theater is required prior to or shortly after the date of hire. Candidates with a B.F.A., B.A., or B.S. degree and at least three years of professional experience in technical direction will also be considered.

The Technical Director (TD) coordinates and manages all aspects of production for the Department of Theater, which produces up to four theater and dance main stage productions each year, along with student and visiting artist events. Together with the Assistant Technical Director (ATD), the TD oversees all scenic, electrics, and sound/video equipment; manages the Department’s facilities and production builds; works with visiting designers; supervises an assistant technical director and occasional over hire labor; and recruits and trains work-study staff. The TD acts as a principal carpenter, props supervisor and scenic artist on all builds, and instructs student labor of varied skill level in these builds. As a Senior Lecturer, the TD teaches one Stagecraft course per semester and mentors students with an interest in technical theater, including student stage managers. Additional teaching responsibilities in a related field may be possible pending institutional need.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Theater Production and Operations Manager and the Chair of the Department of Theater on scheduling the production season and planning production budgets. In addition, the TD will prepare all necessary production paperwork, including production calendars, construction drawings, schedule work calls, and oversee purchasing of all materials. Together with the ATD, the TD will provide additional support for other University events sponsored by the Department of Theater, and any other events that take place in Brehmer Theater as necessary. The TD is responsible for safety oversight and guidance for all technical areas of the Department’s operation, and for planning and budgeting annual facilities upgrades.

The successful candidate should be knowledgeable in more than one area of production; have experience working with students and staff of varying skill sets; and be an engaged, dynamic collaborator with faculty and students. Candidates should describe in their cover letter how their teaching experience and mentorship might support the university’s  commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Review of applications will begin July 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Please provide a cover letter, resume, and names of three references. Applications may be submitted to  

Colgate is a vibrant liberal arts university of 3,200 students situated in central New York state. Colgate faculty are committed to excellence in both teaching and scholarship. Further information about the Theater department can be found at  here .

Applicants with dual-career considerations can find postings of other employment opportunities at Colgate and at other institutions of higher education in upstate New York at this  website .

Campus Crime Reporting and Statistics

The Department of Campus Safety at Colgate University will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page  here . Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at  .

Department Statement

Employing multiple global and cultural perspectives, the  Colgate University Department of Theater inspires and transforms students through immersion in the challenging and exhilarating reversals of the creative process. Our curriculum prepares students to thrive in a wide range of future endeavors. As a close-knit group of artists and scholars, we ignite collaborative engagement and experimentation in the classroom through a far-reaching sense of wonder, curiosity, and play. The department serves Colgate and the surrounding communities by creating theater and dance performances that awaken feeling, interrogate assumptions, and sharpen perceptions of an ever-changing world.

Students in the Department of Theater learn by doing in the intellectually and physically rigorous environment of studio courses, rehearsals, and public performances. Majoring or minoring in theater fosters students’ ability to read closely, think critically, and communicate clearly. Students of theater are trained to integrate analytical, physical, emotional, and interpersonal intelligence in a way that few other courses of study demand. By making and studying theater at a liberal arts university, Colgate students act out a variety of perspectives on the world, learning to problem solve and self-start through immersion in the challenges of the creative process. Graduates regularly pursue successful careers not only in theater but also in communications, media, business, law, and technology.

The Department of Theater produces up to four theater and dance main stage productions each year. All students are welcomed to audition, regardless of concentration or experience. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester and participation in a department main stage production carries a full course credit.

Salary Range or Pay Grade

$72,900 - $75,900

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Colgate University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, protected Veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, being or having been victims of domestic violence or stalking, familial status, or any other categories covered by law. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.