Theater Production Manager

Overview

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our Strategic Plan. These values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

About Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values
Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:
1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

This is a pivotal opportunity for the right candidate to help shape the future of production operations at the Ferst Center, advancing technology, raising production quality, and establishing the venue as the production standard for Atlanta.

The Theater Production Manager is responsible for the operational and technical oversight of all productions presented at the Ferst Center for the Arts, a 885-seat professional performing arts venue. This position manages the full production lifecycle across all event types including professional touring productions, campus presentations, student showcases, institute events, rental engagements, and corporate events. Responsibilities include production scheduling, technical advancing, budget management, equipment and systems oversight, safety compliance, and supervision of production staff. This position will interact on a regular basis with: guest artists and their production teams, rental clients, campus partners, institute leadership, vendors, and GT Arts staff. This position typically will advise and counsel: rental clients, campus partners, students, and GT Arts leadership. This position is expected to actively mentor student organizations navigating the production planning process and to create opportunities for students to engage with and learn from the professional production team. This position will supervise: Theater Production Specialists (Stage Manager, Lighting) and Technical Support Associate (Audio/Visual/Network).

Job Duty 1 -
Manage the production schedule for all Ferst Center events, coordinating across GT Arts programming, rental bookings, institute events, and campus partner activities; ensure resources, crews, and equipment are allocated effectively across the full event calendar.

Job Duty 2 -
Advance technical and production requirements for all events; serve as the primary production contact for institute events, touring companies, visiting artists, and rental clients; communicate venue capabilities, policies, and operational requirements, and ensure all production protocols are established prior to each event.

Job Duty 3 -
Provide direct supervisory oversight of production staff including the Stage Manager, Lighting Specialist, and Audio/Visual/Network Technician; establish performance expectations, support professional development, and ensure each position is operating effectively within their area of responsibility.

Job Duty 4 -
Oversee the condition, maintenance, repair, and capital planning for all production systems and equipment including lighting, audio, rigging, staging, projection, and show control systems; coordinate vendor relationships and service contracts to ensure systems are reliable and current.

Job Duty 5 -
Identify, implement, and monitor health and safety practices within all stage and production operations; ensure compliance with campus safety regulations and risk management protocols; maintain safety documentation and provide ongoing safety training to production staff and overhire crew.

Job Duty 6 -
Manage the production department budget, including labor forecasting, equipment expenses, overhire costs, and vendor contracts; develop and maintain production documentation including event reports, equipment logs, maintenance schedules, and post-event summaries to support operational continuity and ongoing improvement.

Job Duty 7 -
Mentor student organizations through the technical planning and production process for events in the Ferst Center; create and support opportunities for students to engage alongside the professional production team through shadowing, crew participation, and hands-on learning; foster a production environment that treats student engagement as a core part of the Ferst Center's educational mission.

Job Duty 8 -
Perform other duties as assigned.

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in Theater, Technical Theater, Production Management, or a related field.

Required Experience
Five or more years of job-related experience in production management within a professional events venue or performing arts organization.

Additional Preferred Qualifications
Experience managing production operations across multiple event types in a high-volume venue setting.

Preferred Educational Qualifications
Master's Degree or equivalent advanced professional experience in performing arts production or venue management.

ABILITIES
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical requirements for non-technical clients, campus partners, and institute leadership.
- Proficiency with venue management, production scheduling, and documentation tools.
- Ability to make independent decisions under pressure during live productions.
- An aptitude for exploring emerging production technologies and innovative technical approaches; ability to think beyond current systems and workflows toward expanded creative and audience experience possibilities.
- Ability to provide quality client service and maintain composure under stress.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

This is a supervisory position.
This position does have financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

This position has the potential of working nights and weekends.

Location: Atlanta, GA

Pay Grade: A8

Salary Range: $56,679.00 - $77,086.00

Successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening