THE POSITION: Otterbein University Theatre & Dance seeks a Staff Production Manager to join our team of collaborative theatre artist/educators. The primary goals of the Production Manager are achieving an effective production process appropriate for an educational theatre environment, being the nexus of communication and information within the department, and being a strong, consistent collaborator. The Production Manager is responsible for the successful production of all theatrical events along with academic duties including teaching in stage management and administering practicum.

THE THEATRE DEPARTMENT: Otterbein is a NAST-accredited professional training program with 110 majors (averaging 30 BFAs in Design/Technology, 25 BFAs in Acting, 30 BFAs in Musical Theatre, and 25 BAs in Theatre). The Theatre Department traditionally mounts two musicals, two plays and a dance concert in the academic year using two theatres: a 1047-seat proscenium and a 240-seat arena/thrust, and plays to 25,000 people annually. Otterbein also produces Otterbein Summer Theatre (OST), a professional non-Equity summer theatre production company. The Department provides select undergraduate students with the training, education and experiences necessary for the successful pursuit of careers in the American professional theatre. Our program is a unique blend of professional training and the liberal arts and is centered around robust productions with a reputation for excellence in performance and production values. Our department has made a strong commitment to diversity. We welcome candidates who share these values and who will help move us forward towards a more inclusive future. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

 Goal:
The primary goal of the Production Manager position is an efficient production process in which:

• expectations, schedules, and deadlines are clear and adhered to
• production values are successfully balanced with resources
• communication is clear, open, respectful, and timely
• productions demonstrate the high production values and artistic merit established by this institution
• the educational needs of the students are the top priority. 

To achieve this, the Production Manager is expected to be a nexus of communication and information within the department and must collaborate with the faculty, staff, and students to balance the needs of the various areas with the time, resources, and labor available; while maintaining a safe and student-centered environment.

 Production:

• Facilitate communication between directors, designers (resident faculty/staff, students, or guests), stage managers, shops, faculty and staff members, and the Department Chair.  
• With Department Chair, create, maintain, and manage all departmental calendars. 
• Establish deadlines and monitor progress of production processes.
• Run design and production meetings.
• Manage use of theatre and rehearsal spaces by productions, classes, University, and outside events.
• Working closely with Department Chair, hire and contract guest designers and other technical personnel as needed.
• In collaboration with Faculty and Staff, manage the Production Grid, which details the assignment of students to production roles.  
• With Student Auditions Coordinator, schedule and oversee audition processes for productions.

 Teaching/Mentorship:

• Mentor students assigned to Stage Management-related production roles from pre-production process through strike. 
• Teach Stage Management classes, currently scheduled as THR 2850, Stage Management and THR 3220, Stage Management Seminar.
• Administer and grade the Theatre Practicum sequence, currently scheduled as THR 1010/1020, THR 2010/2020, THR 3010/3020, THR 4010/4020. 

Budgets/Business Functions:

• Serve on the Departmental and Production Budget Committees.
• Establish and monitor production budgets in collaboration with the Managing Director and Chair. 
• Process and track expenditures for all technical aspects of productions (scenery, lights, sound, costumes, etc.)
• Collaborate with the Managing Director to oversee work study hours, hiring, and payroll.
• Supervise and train work study students, including office assistants and Student Auditions Coordinator. 

 General Departmental Duties: 

• Serve as a member of the Design Tech and BA areas, including assessment and adjustment of curriculum and assisting with recruitment.
• Serve as Building Captain for Cowan Hall 

 Chair Support: 
Provide support for the Chair as needed, including:

• Working closely with the Department Chair, Associate Chair, and Administrative Assistant manage the distribution of information relating to the academic aspects of the Department of Theatre & Dance.  
• Assist Chair with creation and maintenance of curriculum grids/class schedules.  

• Assist the Administrative Assistant with creation and distribution of advising materials.

• Assist Chair with University assessment procedures and manage documentation of such within the University’s ePortfolio system.
• Create and maintain Department Deadlines calendar to track academic deadlines
  
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Work study and non-work study students.