Scenic Shop Foreperson 

POSITION: Scenic Shop Foreperson 

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary: $49,000 - $53,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Comprehensive package, including a modest 403(b) match.

Position Summary

The Scenic Shop Foreperson is an essential leadership role within the Production Department, reporting to the Technical Director (TD) and Associate Technical Director (ATD). You will be the daily operations leader for the scene shop, ensuring a safe, efficient, and productive workflow throughout our diverse, fast-paced season.

You will be responsible for translating design plans into reality, mentoring a team of staff carpenters, apprentices, and overhire labor, and ensuring the highest standards of safety and craftsmanship are met during the build, load-in, and strike phases. Strong time management, expert craftsmanship in both wood and steel, and a passion for team mentorship are crucial for success in this role.

Core Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, assign, and oversee all daily activities for the scenic staff (carpenters, apprentices, overhire) during the build, load-in, strike, and shop improvement phases.
• Mentor and train scenic staff, with a specific focus on guiding carpentry apprentices and fostering a positive, productive, and cohesive team environment.
• Collaborate with the TD team during the vetting process to align construction plans with the shop's capabilities and deadlines.
• Provide ongoing feedback to the team to increase overall efficiency and quality of work.

Construction & Technical Expertise

• Lead the construction of scenic elements, employing appropriate and precise fabrication techniques across a variety of materials, including wood, steel, foam, plastics, and fabrics.
• Read, interpret, and explain complex blueprints, shop drawings, and theatrical engineering documents, including generating cut/material lists and working with scale measurements.
• Ensure the accuracy and quality of all work produced by the scenic staff.
• Operate and provide training for staff on a wide variety of power tools and specialized equipment (e.g., table saw, band saw, MIG welders, CNC machine, etc.).

Shop & Safety Management

• Establish, enforce, and train staff in all shop and stage safety protocols and procedures.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and clean work environment at all times.
• Perform routine maintenance on shop and stage equipment.
• Track material and supply inventories and assist the TD team with timely reordering and material acquisition.

What You'll Bring

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• 2+ years in a leadership role in professional theatrical production.
• Expert working knowledge of both wood and steel construction practices.
• Proficiency in reading, understanding, and explaining theatrical drafting and shop drawings.
• Experience with rigging processes, safety standards, and various stage systems (e.g., fixed grid, counterweight systems).
• Demonstrated experience with standard shop tools, specialized fabrication equipment, and their maintenance.
• Comfortable and experienced working safely at height on ladders and lifts.

Key Skills & Aptitudes

• Exceptional time management skills with the ability to manage simultaneous team projects and meet tight deadlines.
• Calm, collected, and resourceful under pressure, with a strong ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve complications creatively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A positive attitude and a proactive approach to team building and mentorship.
• Physical capacity to safely lift materials weighing over 50 pounds and work in stage environments (grids, scaffolding, lifts).
• Valid Driver’s License.

Desired Qualifications: 4+ years of scenic construction experience and/or an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree (a theatrical field is a plus).

 

How to Apply

We encourage you to submit the materials that best represent you and your work—whether that's a traditional letter and resume, a video, a video letter, or a portfolio.

Please email your application materials to jobs@olneytheatre.org.

Please be sure to highlight and include any skills or experiences you believe are most crucial to this leadership position. No calls, please. Due to the anticipated volume of responses, we may only be able to contact candidates selected for an interview.

About Olney Theatre Center

Located ten miles north of Washington, DC in arts-rich Montgomery County, Maryland, Olney Theatre Center is one of the Washington region's most critically acclaimed large theater companies. Founded in 1938 as a summer stock company on the Straw Hat circuit, OTC is now an $8M/year professional regional theater offering nine-member productions annually in four spaces on its fourteen-acre campus. Legendary performers Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Sir Ian McKellen, Tandy & Cronyn, and Olivia de Havilland trod the boards in the early days. With a more recent turn towards new work, creatives with Tony and Grammy Awards, OBIEs, and MacArthur Genius Grants have premiered their work here, like Moises Kaufman and Sergio Trujillo, among others. Along with Baltimore's Centerstage, Olney Theatre Center is one of Maryland's two state-designated theaters.