Director of Production

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DEPARTMENT: Production

POSITION: Director of Production

REPORTS TO: Artistic Director/Managing Director

JOB TYPE: Full Time, Exempt

START DATE: July 1st, 2022

SALARY RANGE: $130,000 - $150,000

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Negotiable

BENEFITS:  

Goodman Theatre offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Health insurance

• Dental insurance 

• Paid vacation

• Sick leave

• 401k

• Staff members receive complimentary tickets to previews and opening nights for all productions and receive half-price tickets after opening

• All staff are also invited to join opening night parties!

• In August 2020, the Goodman introduced the following Affinity Groups for all staff to participate: - BIPOC - Black Affinity Group/Space - Disability Affinity Group - Femme/Women Affinity Group - Jewish Affinity Group - Latinx Affinity Group - LGBTQIA Affinity Group - Parent Affinity Group

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DIRECT REPORTS

Production Managers, Production Office Manager, Technical Director, Properties Supervisor, Costume Shop Manager, Lighting Supervisor, House Audio Supervisor, House Crew, Stage Management, Scenic Art
*Please note: As we seek to immediately fill the Director of Production position, we will shift the timeline for currently posted Production Manager position to likely start in fall 2022. In the meantime, we will continue to accept and review applications for the production manager position. 

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Position Summary

The Director of Production leads the Production Department and, in collaboration with directors, designers and Goodman staff, is responsible for the technical execution of all Goodman Theatre productions and events.  As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director of Production provides institutional leadership in support of Goodman Theatre’s mission, values and strategic goals. 

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Essential Duties

• Lead production department by working closely with department heads (scenic, props, costumes, electrics, sound, stage management, etc) to plan and execute all technical aspects of Goodman productions and events. Sets a tone of open communication, trust and respect in all aspects of management. 

• Develop and foster successful working relationships between Goodman production staff and visiting designers and creative team members

• Collaborate with creative teams throughout design process, establishing budgets and work schedules for all aspects of Goodman productions; and work closely with production department heads to manage established budgets and timelines.  

• Develop and maintain season and organizational calendars to include all major programming, season dates, production dates and deadlines

• Work closely with Managing Director to manage collaborations with producing partners, including commercial producers and non-profit theatres

• Lead by example, modeling behavior and values consistent with Goodman’s Community Agreement and furthering Goodman’s IDEAA (inclusion, diversity, equity, anti-racism and access) goals

• Develop and execute master/capital planning for all production assets and theatrical equipment

• In collaboration with director and artistic producing team, identify, hire and contract designers for Goodman productions. Contract additional production personnel as necessary

• Oversee and participate in full production process for all shows in the Albert and Owen Theatre, including load-in, tech and preview periods.  

• Support Development Department with large scale events as needed (Education Event, Annual Gala)

• Maintain a productive relationship with union leadership for both IATSE and USA scenic artists contracts. Serve on management team in union negotiations and collaborate with Goodman leadership in administering and interpreting agreements. 

• Serve as member of the Goodman Health and Safety Committee, working closely with Director of Operations to maintain a safe work environment

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Experience and Qualifications

• Extensive background and demonstrated knowledge in technical theatre and industry best practices related to production management and theatrical design

• Experience leading a large, multi-faceted staff  

• Experience administering IATSE, USA (scenic artist) agreement preferred

• Demonstrated success in project management – delivering outcomes on-time and on-budget

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Working knowledge of AutoCAD

• Creative thinker, flexible, easily adaptable to change

 

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About Goodman Theatre

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Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Chicago Loop since 1925, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. The theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. As a cultural and community organization, Goodman Theatre is committed to using the art of theater for a better Chicago. Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices.

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Values

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By dedicating itself to three guiding principles—quality, diversity and community—Goodman Theatre seeks to be the premier cultural organization in Chicago, providing productions and programs that make an essential contribution to the quality of life in our city. Goodman is committed to producing both classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions. https://www.goodmantheatre.org/About/

 

 

Anti-Racism Statement and Action Steps

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We at Goodman Theatre are storytellers who believe that a diversity of people, ideas and cultures in our organization enriches both the art on stage and our civic engagement. In our workplace, we strive to reflect the communities we serve, and make space in which each individual is empowered to bring their full, authentic self to work. The Goodman values equity, diversity and inclusion and is committed to approaching our work through the practice of anti-racism. We acknowledge that underrepresented identities have not always been welcomed by the theater industry, but recognize that our individual intersectional identities bring vibrancy to our work and must be championed. The inclusion of difference(s) such as ability, age, background, beliefs, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and all other identities represented across staff, board, artists and audiences help make us better equipped to live these values—on stage and off.

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As we at Goodman Theatre consider how we might contribute to the building of a more just, equitable and anti-racist American society, we must reckon with that which divides us. Systemic racism, societal prejudices and the entrenched inequalities of our legal system impact and affect everyone who enters our theater. To fully live our values, we must assess our own role in the lack of progress towards equity and justice; identify, disrupt and dismantle systems that no longer (or never served) us; and construct new processes and policies that advance our mission.

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We must also continue to unpack our history as a predominantly white institution situated on stolen lands, and actively work to dismantle systems that have kept us so. Greater representation of people of color in every aspect of our organization—from the artists on stage and behind the scenes, to our boards and among our staff—will help enact new systems that enable a better future for all. To do this work and promote social justice, we will work to examine our own institutional processes and root out any signs of systemic racism. We must speak up when we encounter all of racism’s expressions—from the visible acts of cruelty and injustice to the less visible micro-aggressions and manifestations of implicit bias—and confront our own prejudices. We are committed to justice not as a word, but as a value we practice through our actions. We will continue to learn through this process and we will make mistakes; but we endeavor to be proactive, listen and course correct.

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We at Goodman Theatre chart our future course through the following living document—our Action Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Access (IDEAA). As we move through this process, we invite, welcome and center Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and all marginalized and underrepresented voices in conversations in a way that does not ask them to educate their white colleagues. The IDEAA Action Plan is the result of a six-month collaborative effort involving individuals at every level of our organization—artists, staff, leadership and boards. Key to our process has been the Goodman Staff Committee, a body of representatives of departments theaterwide. The collective ideas, resources, diligence and dedication of the Goodman Staff coalesce as the foundation of our IDEAA Action Plan, which centers on the following four “cornerstone” areas of focus and goals:

 

Policy - We will work to revise and establish institutional policies in order to ensure a safe and respectful environment; break the traditional barriers of participation; and enact equitable practices for all who engage with our organization. Programming - We will review our artistic priorities—as demonstrated in the plays we produce, the artists we champion, the works we develop and Education and Engagement programs we offer—and ensure that BIPOC voices are centered in all creative endeavors going forward, both in new opportunities as well as in our ongoing/established efforts.

 

Communication - We are committed to creating new opportunities for partnership, mentorship and stewardship through revision of our internal and external communication processes. Along the way, we will work to establish a safe channel for honest dialogue with leadership.

 

Research and Assessment - We will invest in creating a more equitable American theater by examining our internal systems with industry professionals who will help us analyze, measure and track our goals with our action plan.

 

https://www.goodmantheatre.org/Accountability

 

 

Covid Safety Policy

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The Goodman requires all employees to provide proof of full vaccination and booster. New employees who are not fully vaccinated as of the date of hire are required to be fully vaccinated within 45 days of hire and provide twice-weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to being fully vaccinated. Goodman Theatre currently requires face coverings (i.e. disposable mask or cloth face covering) to be worn properly at all times in common spaces or when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

 

Goodman Theatre continues to consult on all COVID safety matters with Dr. David Hinkamp, MD, MPH who is board certified in Occupational Medicine and Preventative Medicine and is on the faculty of the School of Public Health and the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Hinkamp established the Chicago Blues Coalition’s health program and has been the Chair of the Arts-Medicine Section of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine since 1991.

 

It’s important to note that this Plan and timeline are governed by medical consensus and mandates from federal, state and local authorities. Plans and timeline will adjust as external conditions evolve.