About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

About the UMass Fine Arts Center

Since its founding in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a central force in the cultural, social, and academic life of the University, the Five College campuses, and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but it also secures a very vital and necessary position for us to meet the diverse needs of scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community.

Job Summary

The Interim Production Manager is responsible for managing the operations of the Production Services department of the Fine Arts Center at UMass Amherst through June 30, 2025.  This includes day-to-day operations, scheduling, and finalizing staff assignments for Fine Arts Center performance facilities. 

Essential Functions

• Finalizes the assignment and scheduling of, and manages, technical staff. Coordinates interdepartmental production meetings. Maintains and coordinates venue and production schedules with box office, front of house, technical staff, and other departments.
• Assists Associate Director of Operations with implementing building maintenance and security operations for the Fine Arts Center performing arts facilities and outdoor events. Supports the production staff and work crew in the execution of normal maintenance, repairs, and improvements to the Fine Arts Center theatrical stage equipment in compliance with safety standards.
• Supervises provision of technical support for outdoor and/or off-campus and virtual sites and the scheduling of production services shops (audio, lighting, and carpentry) in the set-up, run and strike for all Fine Arts Center shows, events and rentals.
• Prepares and administers budget for production services, including processing invoices through Arts Vision and Sales Force, tracking expenses and revenues, and working with the business office to compensate production staff, reconcile facility rentals and complete end of year reporting. Assists with the purchasing process for production services including budget allocation, maintenance vendor quote requests for rentals and purchases, purchase order requisitions, and timely tracking of payables and receivables.
• Assists the Associate Directors of Operations and Production in the coordination of the production calendar.
• Maintains personnel and timekeeping records for five full time staff and a large pool of part-time students and over-hires for production services. Monitors and reviews the weekly timesheets submitted by production services staff and crew for accuracy.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Three (3) years of experience in stage/production management, and/or theater management.
• Experience supervising staff and knowledge of staff development.
• Experience working with large diverse teams and varied stakeholders (e.g, direct reports, partnering departments, vendors).
• General knowledge and experience in all aspects of performance production practice, technical theater and public assembly facility management.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to independently prioritize work and handle multiple tasks.  Ability to maintain accurate and detailed records.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s Degree in theater, technical theater or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in theater, technical theater or equivalent.
• First Aid/CPR certified.
• Proven ability in Excel, Vectorworks and Lightwright.
• Experience in stage rigging and theatrical electrical needs.
• Experience working with Student crews and student development.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• This position may require balancing, carrying, pushing/pulling, repetitive movement, standing, bending, climbing, reaching, sitting, twisting, working at substantial heights, etc.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. over a distance.

Additional Details

• Performs under the general supervision of the Associate Director of Operations.
• Manages Production Team of five staff members.
• Indirectly supervises pool of 40-60 student workers.
• Acts as staff liaison for technical theater contractors, including IATSE.

Work Schedule

• Monday-Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm; Required to work occasional nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Position is part-time and expires June 30, 2025.
• This is a temporary, non-benefited position.

Salary Information

• $30-$35/hour, depending on experience.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please apply online, including a resume, cover letter, and three (3) professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.