Media Maintenance Technician Lead, Meany Center: Tech

Meany Center for the Performing Arts has an outstanding opportunity for a Media Maintenance Technician Lead/Theater Stage Manager to join their team. 

About this Opportunity 

Reporting to the Technical Director, the Media Maintenance Technician Lean/Theater Stage Manager is responsible for supporting the productions and events held in the Katharine Alvard Gerlich Mainstage Theater at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts. The position is the primary point-person for clients on stage, and is the lead for the carpentry, props, and rigging departments. The scope of the work that the Theater Stage Manager performs is broad and ranges from system maintenance, season advance, performance prep, load-in / focus, rehearsals, performances, and general administration. The position requires general knowledge of proscenium theater systems, theatrical practices and techniques, and expertise in some or all areas of theatrical rigging, logistics, stage carpentry, and stage management. 

Almost all work is performed at the Katherine Alvard Gerlich Mainstage at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts, with limited opportunities for remote administrative work. Significant night and weekend work . Shifts can be scheduled for early morning and late nights, often with multiple consecutive days. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Rehearsal/Performances: Act as the liaison between touring companies or faculty and Meany Center as a venue. Communicate effectively with clients and lead the over-hire crew. Work with other department heads to facilitate show related needs and ensure smooth and safe operation of all technical systems. Prepare show specific paperwork and systems to track expectations, changes, scene shifts, rail and prop moves, cueing, and pre- and post-performance operations. (35%) 

• Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance, make repairs, specify upgrades, plan replacements, and make purchases of theatrical supplies and shop systems, specializing in stage (platforms, risers, orchestra shell, chairs, stands, tables, scenery, etc.) and rigging systems (single purchase t-bar counterweight system, winch driven motorized stage hoists, chain motors, softgoods). Assist other dept heads in the maintenance of lighting, sound, video, and building specific systems. Acquire expert knowledge and stay current with the latest technologies for these systems. (20%)  

• Load/In Focus: Work with touring companies, renters, and academic partners during on stage preparations. Lead over-hire / student crews in unloading trucks, unpacking goods, constructing and rigging scenic elements, making fly rail calculations and adjustments, overseeing logistical organization. Work with other dept heads to establish day of timelines, goals and expectations to allocate resources and labor for success. Evaluate progress and make adjustments to stay on track. (20%) 

• Season Advance: Work with the Technical Director, other Dept Leads, touring staff, and academic partners in advancing touring performances in the MCVA season as well as upcoming academic productions. Advance technical riders and work with vendors for quotes, rentals, and purchases. (10%) 

• Admin: Track purchases and reconcile spending as per dept policies. Perform other administrative duties as needed. (10%)   

• Prep: Work with the stage operations dept to plan and prepare for upcoming shows. Generate lineset schedules, build cue sheets, evaluate lighting plots and theatrical drawings, ensure current consumable inventories are adequate, order supplies, and manage rental orders. (5%) 

Required Qualifications 

To be considered for this opportunity, your application must demonstrate that you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• One year of experience working as a department head (Media Technician-Senior) in a performing arts facility, or four years of experience as a stage technician (media maintenance technician), or equivalent education/experience.

• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department. 

Additional Qualifications 

• Current certification in First Aid, CPR, and AED required once hired. 

• Experience must include advance, run of show experience, and leading stage crews. 

• Ability to read and follow technical drawings. Facility with CAD drafting software, Microsoft Office. 

• Experience operating, maintaining and repairing stage and shop equipment, and systems. 

• Ability to work regularly on evenings and weekends and with changing weekly schedules based on event timings. 

• Must have expert knowledge in some or all areas of theatrical stage management, rigging, and stage carpentry. 

• Must have some knowledge of other typical theatrical systems: lighting, sound, wardrobe and video. 

Preferred Qualifications 

•  Effective communication skills – both written and verbal – and strong organizational skills. ​

• Experience within academic and bureaucratic institutions and working with a diverse range of clients, performers, and production personnel. 

• High attention to detail and the ability to work independently. 

• A record of good judgement and calm level thinking in a performance environment, and the ability to be agile in response to change. 

• Proven ability to think creatively to solve problems, and a successful history of managing crews. 

• Experience working as a technician on a touring performance, working with student performers and/or working with outside client/community programs.  

• Experience supervising and working with student interns and apprentices as crew members. 

Working Conditions 

• Ability to regularly lift 50 pounds 

• Comfortable working at heights and climbing ladders 

• Comfortable working around loud noise/music, bright lights (including strobe lights), theatrical elements including fog and haze 

About the Team 

Meany Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Washington, Seattle, is one of the region’s premier performing arts presenting organizations and, together with its university and community partners, Meany Center fosters innovative performances that advance public engagement, cultural exchange, creative research and learning through the arts. Meany Center provides opportunities for diverse artists, community, students and faculty to connect in the discovery and exploration of the boundless power of the arts to create positive change in the world. Located in the heart of the UW Campus, Meany Hall serves as the primary performance space for the University’s academic programs in Dance, Music, Digital Arts and Experimental Media, Drama and for the Meany Center Visiting Artist Program. 

Meany Center operates 2 theaters in Meany Hall. The Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater is a busy 1200 seat proscenium theater that annually hosts more than one hundred performances, with performing artists from many parts of the world, the UW and Seattle communities. (3) full-time, permanent staff operate the stage as leads in Stage, Lighting, and Audio departments.