Technical Director

The Wilma Theater seeks a Technical Director.

The Wilma Theater creates living, adventurous art, presenting bold, original, well-crafted, thought-provoking productions that represent a range of voices, viewpoints, and styles. The Wilma’s organizational values were developed through conversations with Wilma staff, board, and HotHouse Company members. Our organizational values are curiosity, courage, care, rigor, joy, collaboration, and liberation.

The Technical Director will contribute meaningfully to the organizational culture of the Wilma and will advocate to advance our values on an organizational, local, and national scale. This person will take part in cross-departmental work, company-wide EDI work and anti-bias training as we further our commitment to being an inclusive, anti-racist organization.

Position Summary
Under the supervision of the Production Manager, the Technical Director is responsible for building/fabricating and installing the physical elements of each of The Wilma’s productions. They will interact with designers to problem-solve, partner on material choices, and oversee all the physical elements of our theatrical work according to the needs of the designs and the resources available. They are charged to create a safe, professional and joyful environment for designers, IATSE crew members and co-workers.

Responsibilities
Overseeing shop-builds and production. Engineering, construction of and loading-in of scenic needs for all Wilma theater production projects. This will include building new items as well as the acquisition and transport of shop built/found/borrowed objects.

Production planning, including attending production meetings to discuss load in/out, functionality and integration of all scenic elements, coordinated across multiple departments.

Attendance at technical rehearsals, previews, and post-mortems as needed to support the production team, complete scenic notes, and develop and hone best practices for an effective, efficient and safe work environment.

Planning and supervision of all scenic labor, including IATSE crew members and other professional artisans both in the theater, and in any or all ancillary spaces. Ideal candidates will familiarize themselves with and work within the IATSE Collective Bargaining Agreement. TD will also aid in the management of payroll for all pertinent crew members.

Purchasing of all shop and production related supplies and maintaining relationships with relevant vendors.

Adherence to predetermined budgets. Regular reconciliation of production budgets and monthly purchasing reconciliation based on The Wilma’s policies.

Work in conjunction with the facilities and operations manager on maintenance of Wilma spaces, the theater and Wilma storage.

Ensuring drawings of spaces are accurate and sent out in a timely manner.
Working in collaboration with the Production Manager assuring design deadlines are met, pricing out design elements for execution, and making sure projects stay within the given budget parameters.

Prioritizing audience and workplace safety and meeting all safety codes (including but not limited to rights of occupancy, fire code, building regulations, Wilma safety policies, and all the aspects suggested herein).

The ideal candidate will work diligently to maintain the Wilma’s commitment to accessibility for all. Including but not limited to, installation of closed captioning equipment, wheelchair access and working in conjunction with the Wilma’s portable studio program.

Other related duties as assigned by the Production Manager

Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt role with compensation in the mid $40,000s

Benefits include 85% payment of healthcare, dental insurance, employer-sponsored life insurance, generous paid time off, tax-free employee contributions to a retirement plan, and access to the employee assistance program, complimentary tickets to Wilma productions, parking discount, and paid holidays.

COVID-19 Update and Work Environment
Due to Covid-19, the Wilma administrative staff is currently remote. Beginning April 1, 2022, every employee of The Wilma Theater, whose work requires their physical presence on-site at spaces managed and operated by The Wilma Theater must be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19.

Some night and weekend work will be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The Wilma Theater is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or public assistance status in the recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, transfer, layoff, recall and termination of employees. The Wilma is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment. Those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other members of underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Physical Demands of the Role
The Technical Director is required to engage in physical activity commensurate with construction and assembly including frequent lifting of heavy objects, working with an array of tools and working at height; A full range of body motion and physical agility is required to meet the needs of the Wilma’s production schedule.

Location Requirements
Limited travel between the Wilma Theater on 265 S. Broad Street and the rehearsal studio space and the Wilma’s storage space, both within the Philadelphia city limits.