Experience Design and Production Special Instructor
Location: Santa Clarita, CA 91355 · Salary: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00
Salary/year · Posted: 08/07/2026
Description
School: School of Theater, Technical Direction
Program: Experience Design and Production
Status: Special Faculty
Appointment Details: Furnished in Special Faculty contract
Bargaining Unit: Special Faculty Unit, UAW
Position Overview
The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) School of Theater seeks a
forward-thinking, collaborative, and highly skilled Special Faculty member. /.
This role also serves in a Technical Director capacity to bridge teaching and
practice, combining curricular development, coursework, and student mentorship
with oversight of student-centered production work for a multi-show
performance season.
The Special Faculty member will oversee the technical execution, structural
engineering, safety, and physical realization of all School of Theater
productions across a diverse ecosystem of experimental spaces. This position
is central to fostering an environment where student artists can safely push
the boundaries of contemporary performance.
Appointment
Salary Range: $75K-$85K, commensurate with experience. This is a 9-month
special faculty position, with potential for renewal.
Key Responsibilities
1. Instruction (or Teaching), as assigned by the Dean, or their
designee.
Instruction: Teach specialized courses in technical direction, structural
design, and other related special topics which could include technical
management, electronics, rigging, drafting, etc.
Student Advising: Serve as a mentor and advisor to BFA and MFA students in
the Experience Design and Production program.
Production Mentorship: Act as the primary faculty mentor for student
technical directors assigned to school productions, guiding them through
the engineering, budgeting, and build processes.
2. Technical Production
Technical Execution: Provide overarching technical leadership for a
rigorous production season, ensuring artistic visions are realized safely
and efficiently. The number of productions includes but is not limited to:
8-10 curricular productions, informal oversight of 10-12 Coffee House
Production and miscellaneous Institute special events as requested.
Structural Integrity: Review and approve all structural, rigging, and
mechanical drawings for productions.
Scheduling: Coordinate production schedules with faculty and staff.
3. Financial Budgeting & Administration
Budgeting: Develop, track, and reconcile technical production budgets,
including material expenses and student labor costs.
Asset Management: In partnership with the Scene Shop Manager and
Production Manager oversee the procurement, maintenance, and inventory of
shop tools, hardware, and specialized theatrical equipment.
Space Oversight: Monitor the condition of theatrical spaces, recommend
maintenance, replacement, and safety-related upgrades.
4. Venue Management & Oversight
Overseethe technical infrastructure and operational safety of the
following primary performance spaces:
The Modular Theater: CalArts' one-of-a-kind highly flexible performance space featuring reconfigurable floor sections and wall sections. Benefits from advanced knowledge of variable acoustics, unique rigging grids, and modular architecture.
Two (2) Black Box Theaters: Versatile spaces dedicated to student-driven, experimental, and variable-scape workshops and full productions.
The Coffeehouse: A non-traditional venue used for experimental work, student showcases, and interdisciplinary projects.
5. Safety & Compliance
Safety Compliance: Maintain and enforce strict health and safety protocols
(including OSHA and Cal/OSHA compliance) across all shops and venues.
Training: Oversee student safety training, equipment certifications,
rigging inspections, and safe operation of powered equipment.
6. Service
Service: Participate in faculty governance matters, admissions reviews,
student reviews, and curriculum development.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with faculty and guest
artists across directing, design, and performance.
Qualifications
Qualifications
Required:
Degree: MFA in Technical Direction or Theatre Technology, or equivalent
professional experience.
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Technical
Director in regional theater, commercial entertainment, or experimental
performance environment.
Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD/Vectorworks, structural
engineering calculations for the stage, advanced rigging techniques, and
automation systems.
Pedagogical Drive: A demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring
diverse student populations in a progressive, student-centered
environment.
Preferred:
Experience working with non-traditional, immersive, or modular theater
spaces.
Strong background in managing safety programs and hazardous materials
protocols.
Teaching and classroom experience, preferably at the university level.
Active engagement with contemporary, experimental performance practices.
Commitment to sustainability in production - material sourcing, reuse,
creative problem-solving, circularity, and consciousness of the broader
impact of theatrical and production work. Prior experience is welcome but
not expected; we see this as a practice the field is still building, and
we want faculty eager to build it with students.
About CalArts
CalArts is a multidisciplinary community of artists whose ongoing educational
endeavor is grounded in openness, experimentation, critical engagement, and
creative freedom.
The School of Theater offers students an educational experience that is
experimental, interdisciplinary, international, and diverse. Each unique
program gives students the flexibility, skills, and critical thinking tools to
navigate a rapidly changing field and to pursue their professional goals with
maximum agency. Our educational mission is to forge a community of citizen
artists who are rigorously trained in their respective metiers, and who are
able to work effectively and innovatively across a broad spectrum of artistic
settings, media, and technologies.
