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AURORA THEATRE COMPANY SEEKS FULL-TIME PRODUCTION MANAGER

Who we are:​ As the storyteller for our community, Aurora Theatre Company inspires new audiences and longtime theatre lovers alike with the visceral power of live theatre. Our venues, the most intimate professional stages in the Bay Area, highlight great acting, nuanced language, and an immediacy that makes for exhilarating theatre. By telling profoundly relevant stories, we’re building a new culture of theatregoing in the Bay Area and contributing to a revitalization of theatre nationwide, challenging all of us to think deeper, laugh louder, and engage more purposefully and profoundly with our neighbors and our world.

Values: We commit ourselves to championing racial justice, to better embodying anti-racist practices, and to confronting and dismantling oppression (including but not limited to racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, xenophobia, and religious intolerance) in everything we do.
● We recognize that Aurora Theatre Company is located on land that was stolen from the Chochenyo Ohlone people. Our community has benefited from this land, and we owe the Ohlone people a collective debt.
● We earn our reputation for integrity by treating people fairly, paying equal rates, and being honest and transparent in our dealings.
● We value Bay Area theatre artists for their excellence, for their engagement, and for the local authenticity, they bring to our productions.
● We value the great plays of the past for the way their lessons resonate with today’s issues, and new plays for the way they move today’s conversations forward.

Aurora Theatre Company has been declared “one of the best regional theaters around” by 7x7 magazine, has been called “one of the most important regional theaters in the area” and “a must-see midsize company” by the San Francisco Chronicle. Voted Best Theater Company in 2012 by SF Weekly, and each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theatre, Aurora is located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District. Perhaps even more importantly, Aurora enjoys a very loyal following. Our subscription renewal rate is significantly higher than average and our patrons and donors are kind and passionate followers of the organization. Aurora employs a small, but mighty staff of talented individuals who have a great time bringing excellent, local, intimate theatre to the Bay Area.

The Opportunity:​ The Production Manager is a member of the senior staff team, reporting directly to the Managing and Artistic Directors in support of the mission and artistic values of the theatre.The PM is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Production Department, ensuring that all productions are executed within budget in a safe, efficient, and timely manner while maintaining artistic excellence and integrity. The Production Manager will have additional responsibilities related to the business, administrative, and operational management of the organization.

Job Summary:​ The Production Manager oversees full and part time production staff members as they plan for, build, rehearse, run, and support every production. Responsibilities include budget creation in collaboration with the Managing Director, and oversight of the production budget, executing contracts, departmental recruitment and hiring, and supervision of the production calendar. Direct reports include the Technical Director, Costume Coordinator, Props Designer, Master Electrician, and Stage Management staff. The Production Manager works closely with the theatre’s leadership to ensure the balance of artistic quality, personnel, budget, and schedule.

The ideal candidate will be highly collaborative, have a deep understanding of the artistic process, and have excellent leadership skills and strong emotional intelligence. Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrable experience advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities:
Planning/Budgeting/Administration:
● Work with Senior Staff on season planning, scheduling, and budgeting.
● Create and oversee the annual production department budget as well as individual show budgets; maintain expenses within the production budgets of all productions.
● Develop and maintain fiscally sound production departmental budgets based on departmental goals and organizational needs.
● Be an active voice in the Senior Staff leadership of the organization.
● Help to achieve the artistic goals of the theatre.
● Responsible for all company scheduling including but not limited to: auditions, rehearsals, performances, company meetings, and additional company events. Maintain overall company calendar.
● Serve on the Confronting and Dismantling Oppression Task Force, helping the committee to make decisions and plans on how to work through issues of white supremacy and work toward being a better, anti-racist, more diverse company.
Production:
● Oversee each production from conceptual production meetings to closing performance. Monitor and communicate closely with all members of the production department during all phases of the design and build process. Read all rehearsal and performance reports and ensure that all notes are addressed in a timely manner.
● Serve as the main point of contact for designers, communicating and collaborating to ensure that their designs can be achieved given the available resources.
● Attend production meetings, tech note sessions, run-throughs, tech and dress rehearsals, and preview performances, as necessary.
● Serve as liaison between the Aurora and guest artists during rehearsals and previews, to maintain high quality and make decisions regarding labor and budget constraints.
● Collaborate with theatre leadership on rentals and other events.
Personnel:
● Recruit, hire, and supervise production staff. Direct reports include the Technical Director, Costume Coordinator, Props Designer, Master Electrician, and Stage Management staff.
● Execute designer contracts for USA, SDC, and AEA, as well as non-union designers, directors, and actors. Ensure adherence to union regulations.
● Serve as liaison between production department and other theatre staff, as well as external partners, including other theaters, rental clients, and Board members.
Facilities:
● Oversee general safety and ensure compliance with safety regulations, including serving as trained Covid safety officer.
● Provide production input and support for in-house functions and special events.
● Assist Facilities Manager with simple building management.

We recognize that no candidate will have all of these qualifications, but the most successful candidates will possess many of the following:
● 2-3 years of experience in production management or related field of work.
●Experience supervising all areas of technical production (scenery, stage operations, properties, costumes, lighting & projections, sound, and stage management). 
● Theatre experience of a similar size and scale is strongly preferred. 
● Experience building collaborative relationships with people across diverse backgrounds and personalities. Strong emotional intelligence. 
● Comprehensive knowledge of theatre production processes. Ability to determine and maintain production quality standards for all shows. ▪ A thorough understanding of the design and rehearsal process.
● Ability to drive strong time management and work flow methods.
● Fluency in technical language and working knowledge of technical software 
● Strong leadership skills in setting direction and bringing people on board. 
● Ability to foster a safe, humane, collaborative, organized, respectful, and energized work environment with a positive attitude.
● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing priorities and deadlines. 
● Attentive to detail, accountable and deadline oriented

This is a permanent position with benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time, pre-tax transit savings, and 401(k) eligibility. The ideal start date is May 1. The position is expected to be ¾ time (with full benefits) from May-July, transitioning to full time in August. Some flexibility is possible relative to that schedule. Evening and weekend hours are required.

Salary is $55K for full-time work, plus employer paid health/dental/vision insurance premium (for the employee only), generous paid time off, flexible schedule and some remote work (around production schedules), and 401k eligibility after one year.
Aurora is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to the diversity of its staff and strongly encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

To apply, please email resume and short cover letter to jobs@auroratheatre.org. Please include PRODUCTION MANAGER SEARCH in the subject line. The search will remain open until the position is filled and be conducted on a rolling basis.