Assistant Professor of Practice, Technical Directing

Assistant Professor of Practice, Technical Directing
Full‑time, non‑tenure‑track position starting August 2026. Supports the School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) BA training in Live and Screened Performance, Theatre Arts minor, and Musical Theatre minor through rigorous classroom instruction and hands‑on production practice.

TFTV is a vibrant community of artists and scholars committed to storytelling across stage and screen. Students learn in an environment emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, professional preparation, and creative research, with access to state‑of‑the‑art production facilities and performance venues. The faculty are accomplished practitioners and scholars dedicated to mentorship, excellence, and fostering curiosity.

Responsibilities
Teaching & Mentorship

Teach undergraduate courses in technical theatre and production, including lecture, laboratory, and production‑based courses in technical direction, scenic construction, stagecraft, drafting, and production management.

Develop, assess, and maintain a rigorous, practice‑based curriculum that integrates theoretical foundations with hands‑on production experience and prepares students for professional careers.

Mentor, supervise, and evaluate students in roles such as Assistant Technical Directors, scenic carpenters, and technical production assistants.

Provide individualized mentorship that supports the development of technical, collaborative, and leadership skills necessary for work in professional theatre and related industries.

Integrate experiential learning, critical thinking, and industry best practices into coursework and production activities in alignment with the Provost’s “Success for Every Student” priorities.

Cultivate a pluralistic learning environment that promotes dignity, belonging, and empowerment for all students.

Production Leadership

Serve as Technical Director for productions in the School’s four‑show subscription season, overseeing scenic design realization from concept through strike.

Manage the technical planning and execution of scenic production, including drafting interpretation, engineering solutions, budgeting, materials procurement, construction, installation, and technical integration.

Collaborate closely with directors, designers, faculty, staff, and student production teams throughout the design and rehearsal process to ensure technical solutions support artistic goals while maintaining feasibility, efficiency, and safety.

Attend production meetings and technical rehearsals; advise on production feasibility, scheduling, and technical resource allocation.

Model professional standards and best practices while guiding students through the full technical production process.

Maintain an active professional practice that contributes to a creative and scholarly profile.

Shop & Facility Management

Supervise daily operations of the scene shop and related production facilities, scheduling, workflow coordination, and oversight of student crews.

Maintain and enforce safe working practices in accordance with institutional policies and industry safety standards, training students in safe equipment operation, rigging, and shop procedures.

Oversee equipment maintenance, inventory management, and acquisition of tools, materials, and shop supplies.

Manage scenic construction budgets in coordination with production management and departmental leadership.

Season Planning & Production Collaboration

Participate in season planning and production selection discussions, providing early technical consultation on feasibility, budgeting, and scheduling.

Collaborate with design and production faculty during design development to evaluate technical requirements, materials, construction methods, and shop capacity.

Contribute to the development of production calendars, build schedules, and technical timelines that support efficient workflows and student participation.

Support a collaborative production culture that integrates artistic goals with technical innovation, safety, and effective resource management.

Collaboration & Service

Collaborate with faculty and the School Director to evaluate and advance undergraduate and graduate curriculum.

Contribute to curriculum development, faculty governance, audition coordination, committee work, and administrative service.

Participate in initiatives across the College of Fine Arts, Arizona Arts, and the broader university, including public engagement and community outreach.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Demonstrated collaborative leadership and student‑centered pedagogy.

Commitment to artistic and academic excellence.

Ability to maintain safe shop and production practices.

Effective work with students, directors, designers, performers, and production staff.

Minimum Qualifications

BS or BA in Technical Theater, Theater Design, or related field with a minimum of licensed and working as a professional expert in the field of instruction for a minimum of 3 years.

Professional experience as a technical director in a variety of production environments.

Preferred Qualifications

MFA in Technical Theater, Theater Design and Technology, or related field.

Experience teaching at the university level.

Evidence of successful production leadership, including supervising student crews, coordinating production teams, and managing theatrical production budgets.

Evidence of ongoing professional engagement in the field, including conferences, workshops, or professional organizations.

Rank & Compensation
Rank: Assistant Professor of Practice

FLSA: Exempt

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time (40 hr week, 1.0 FTE)

Work Calendar: Academic

Job Category: Faculty

Pay Range: $57,000 – $60,000 (salary at 1.0 FTE)

Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; disability programs; sick leave and holidays; tuition reduction for employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to recreation and cultural activities.

Employment Conditions
Criminal background check: Name‑based.

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