Edtech.com's Summary

James Madison University is hiring a Production Services Manager. This role requires managing technical aspects of performances and events at the Forbes Center, supervising production staff, and coordinating production schedules and budgets. The position involves working closely with faculty, staff, and guest artists to ensure high-quality performances.

Highlights

Manage technical aspects of performances, including sound, lighting, and stage setup.
Supervise production staff including coordinators, fellows, and part-time crew.
Coordinate annual production calendar in collaboration with various departments.
Maintain inventories and manage short- and long-term technical needs.
Experience with lighting, sound, and theater systems preferred.
Provide technical guidance and ensure equipment maintenance.
Base salary is $68,000.
Significant production management experience required.
Strong leadership and communication skills essential.

Production Services Manager Full Description

Working Title:Production Services Manager

State Role Title: Media Manager II

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Visual and Performing Arts

Department:100551 - College of Visual and Performing Arts

Pay Rate: Maximum Starting

Specify Range or Amount:$68,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 05/09/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is the premier performing arts destination in the Shenandoah Valley presenting world-class theatre, dance and music entertainment. The Center houses 5 performance venues – a 600-seat Concert Hall, 450-seat Mainstage Theatre, 200-seat Recital Hall, 200-seat Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre and a flexible seating Studio Theatre Black Box. The Center presents an annual Encore Season featuring up to 16 internationally recognized professional artists/ensembles. 300+ ticketed and non-ticketed performances are presented annually including guest artists, faculty members and emerging young talent from JMU’s CVPA. The Forbes Center attracts over 45,000 patrons per year.
With 200+ full-time faculty members and 1,300 full-time majors, CVPA brings together Schools of Art, Design and Art History (SADAH); Music (SOM); and Theatre and Dance (STAD). CVPA also houses the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the Office of Creative Propulsion (OCP), Madison Art Collection, and multiple Art Galleries. The OCP is focused on integrative arts – bridging gaps across disciplines and between the university and the community to support collaboration in the arts. The CVPA is committed to advancing division- and university-level strategic goals, and empowering students to act boldly, justly and inclusively to create their unique path.

The Production Services Manager is a full-time exempt 12-month Classified Staff position within the CVPA. We seek a dynamic, well-qualified production management professional to engage and support a complex performing arts center season and a College of Visual and Performing Arts. The ideal candidate will have the capacity and drive to deliver expert technical management and production staff oversight for professional guest artist, student, and faculty performances. The position reports to and is evaluated by the Executive Director of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

•Manage technical aspects for professional, faculty, student ensemble, and guest artist performances and events in the Forbes Center including design details for sound, lighting, stage set-up for all Concert Hall and Recital Hall performances, conferences, and on-stage events in these and other Center venues. Production personnel in the School of Theatre and Dance do not report to the Forbes Center Production Manager.
•Supervise the work and scheduling for the Technical and Operations Coordinator, up to four production fellows per season, guest designers, over hire labor, part-time student crew, and outside contractors.
•Work with the Dean, Executive Director of the Forbes Center, and the Schools of Music and the Theatre and Dance administration, faculty and staff to schedule the yearly production calendar.
•Coordinate with the Sound Engineer to ensure all productions have first-rate sound design.
•Manage day-to-day operations for the production office including production budget expenditures by show.
•Collaborate with the School of Music Opera Director on Opera performances.
•Work with the Executive Director of the Forbes Center to determine short- and long-term technical replacement and upgrade needs. Manage and maintain an inventory of all technical equipment in the Forbes Center.
•Work with faculty and staff in the School of Theatre and Dance to provide technical guidance as needed and to ensure technical systems are maintained.

Qualifications:

•Experience with supervision of technical production personnel in a performing arts institution.
•Significant production management experience.
•Ability to operate and train others to operate complex lighting, sound, automation, rigging and other theatre systems.
•Budgeting and scheduling experience.
•Excellent communication, leadership, short and long-term planning skills.
•Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with various constituent groups to achieve their artistic vision, and faculty and student goals, while adhering to a budget.
•Ability to work a varied weekly schedule, which may include some early mornings, nights, and weekends.
•Excellent organizational skills.
•Ability to work well as part of a team, adapt to change, and work under tight deadlines.

Additional Considerations
•Lighting and scenic design experience.
•Safety Training (OSHA, or other certifications).

Additional Posting Information:

Applicants should submit a detailed resume and a cover letter. Please include the names and contact information of three professional references.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.

Original Job Description