The Chapin School

The Chapin School, an independent K-12 day school for girls located in New York City, seeks an individual with experience designing, coordinating, and implementing all technical elements of school productions and school-wide performing arts events to serve as Technical Director and Production Manager, a 75% FTE role beginning 2026-27. 

All candidates are encouraged to be familiar with Chapin’s website and mission.

Job Overview

The Technical Director and Production Manager is responsible for designing, coordinating, and implementing all technical elements of performing arts productions and events. This individual will have a strong foundation in technical theater – including lighting, scenic construction, sound, and production management – and will possess a passion for sharing these skills with students in a safe and structured environment. This individual is committed to working collaboratively and flexibly with the K-12 Arts team, production team members, and various departments to ensure that all technical elements of productions run smoothly. 

Responsibilities 

• Oversee and provide technical support for all K-12 performing arts productions

• Oversee all aspects of the technical theater process, including planning, build, load-in, tech rehearsals, performances, and strike

• Design set, lights, and/or sound for school productions (subject to change as needed):

• Class 2 Play – In-school performances in March

• Class 3 play – In-school performances in May

• Lower School Thanksgiving Assembly – In-school performances in November

• Middle School Musical/Play – After-school performances in November

• Class 6 or 7 Play – After-school performances in May

• Upper School Fall Play – After-school performances in November

• Upper School Winter Play – After-school performances in February

• Upper School Musical – After-school performances in May

• Middle School Dance Club – After-school performances in May

• Upper School Dance Club – After-school performances in March

• Lower, Middle, Upper School Winter Concerts – After-school performances in December 

• Upper School Spring Concert – In-school performance in May

• Mentor and train student Tech Crew members during after-school meetings and technical rehearsals 

• Coordinate with production team members, outside designers, and technicians to achieve the vision of the production with available resources

• Manage and track K-12 Production budget

• Collaborate with arts teachers to create and manage K-12 Production Calendar

• Attend all Tech Saturdays, Tech Weeks, and Performances (13-15 Saturdays per school year).

• Maintain and organize performance spaces (Black Box Theater and Assembly Room)

• Cultivate and maintain vendor relationships for the purchase and rental of production materials

• Recruit and hire outside designers when needed

• Manage box offices and ticketing for productions

• Communicate and collaborate with Facilities, IT, and other departments to execute technical elements of all productions 

• Collaborate with arts teachers and attend production meetings

• Support arts integration projects where appropriate

• Keep abreast of innovations in technical theater practices, tools, and technologies

Requirements

• BFA or BA, preferably in Technical Theater

• Demonstrated experience in set, lighting, sound and/or costume design for theater and dance

• Experience working in a school setting; experience in arts education preferred 

• Enthusiasm about working collaboratively in a learning environment

• Proficiency with ETC Eos lighting consoles 

• Proficiency with woodworking tools (such as miter saw, table saw, jigsaw, impact drivers, drills, etc)

• Ability to organize and maintain theatrical spaces

Compensation: Salary will be commensurate with experience, the range is $65,000- $75,000 annually.

How To Apply: Submit your cover letter and résumé. The committee will consider applications on a rolling basis.