Open Forum

The St. Paul's Schools

The St. Paul's Schools are pleased to announce an opening for a Lighting/Sound Designer & Theater Manager at The Ward Center for the Arts. 

Art has the capacity to engage everyone. The St. Paul's Schools provide the necessary resources that will foster the universal need for words, music, dance, and performing and visual arts to give expression to the innate drive of each student's character.

Position Description

The primary responsibility of the Lighting/Sound Designer & Theater Manager position is to oversee the lighting and sound design and implementation/execution for all arts events that take place in The Ward Center for the Arts and on the St. Paul's campuses, including St. Paul's, St. Paul's School for Girls, and St. Paul's Plus. This employee will work as a member of the production team for all Ward Center productions, including theatre, dance, music, and community events.

Hours of employment are varying and regularly include nighttime rehearsals and performances, lasting until late evening during pre-production and performance weeks. In addition, work on some weekends for tech rehearsals for dramatic, dance, and musical productions is required.

Primary Responsibilities

• Hang, connect, and focus all lights (and instruct students in the process)
• Maintain all lighting and sound equipment in good working order
• Teach apprentices or interested students via independent study in theatrical lighting and sound design
• Co-teach two Technical Theatre courses per year, focusing on lighting and sound design. Explore, develop, and design a new Technical Theatre course and curriculum for potential implementation in the 2018-2019 school year
• Maintain the seats and the fly system in the theater.
• Serve as Lighting/Sound Designer & Theater Manager during all SPS and SPSG (and Ward Center) summer arts performances
• Provide technical assistance during all non-arts Ward Center events that involve lighting and sound, including speaker appearances as well as student and faculty coffeehouses
• Coordinate with SPS and SPSG regarding maintenance in the SPS Black Box classrooms, SPSG Middle School Theatre classrooms and dance studios 
• Recommend items for capital expenses and securing equipment sound and lighting upgrades in the theater and other campus arts facilities as technologies evolve
• Design the sound and serve as the production sound engineer for graduation activities (including musical performances) on both campuses
• Other duties as assigned 

Key Qualifications

• Theatrical lighting and sound design experience is required 
• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required
• Candidate must have good problem solving skills and be a proactive "team player"
• Knowledge of electrical distribution and safe practices
• Comfortable in making minor repairs to gear and wiring
• Completed coursework in education is desirable
• Experience working in an independent school experience is preferred

Specific familiarity with this installed equipment is highly desirable:

• Electronic Theater Controls Ion and Element Consoles (EOS Operating Software)
• Electronic Theater Controls Sensor Dimmer Racks
• SFX Sound and Show Control Software
• Working familiarity with Ethernet, DMX, Serial, and MIDI protocols
• Varilite VL1000 Moving Lights
• 96 ETC Source Four Ellipsoidals (50 – 575 watt, 36 – 750 watt, 10 LED Series 2)
• 40 Altman 6" Fresnels
• 10 L&E 3 circuit 6-foot zip strips
• 16 Wybron Forerunner Color Changers
• Roland M-200i Sound Console
• Shure Wireless Mics

The Lighting/Sound Designer & Theater Manager will report to the Dean of the Arts and will work closely in conjunction with the Director of Ward Center Operations. The contract is a ten-month contract, with a stipend of for specific summer events, including SPS and SPSG summer programs, as well as the BRIDGES program. 

Salary is commensurate with experience.Full benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life, flex spending & 403(b) participation.

Interested candidates can send their cover letter, resume and list of references to Shannon Duckett, Human Resources Director, at sduckett@spsfg.org.

The St. Paul's Schools are equal opportunity employers.