Department: Col of Visual and Performing Arts
Classification: Professional Faculty
Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Manassas, VA
Workplace Type: On Site Required
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa
sponsorship
Salary: $110,000 - $125,000; commensurate with education and
experience
Restricted: Yes
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is dedicated to
advancing the study, creation, performance, and exhibition of the
arts, acting on the strong belief in their transformative influence
on individuals and societies. The College honors the values of
great traditions in the arts while actively engaging in the
creation of new works and ideas. This distinctive fusion of the
academic and the professional, the campus and the community, the
past and the present, defines the college as it engages new art
forms, communities, and ways of working to meet the needs of a
rapidly changing world.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center (HPAC) stimulates and transforms
the cultural and economic vitality of our region by presenting
diverse performances and programs of high quality and artistic
excellence to inspire, educate, enrich, and enhance the community.
The Hylton Center’s vision is to nurture artistic excellence and
engagement, as we strive to be the creative commons of this dynamic
region, inspiring the community to express its voice by
participating in the Center’s work as artists, audiences, and
lifelong learners.
About the Position:
As a member of the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s senior
leadership team, the Director of Production provides
executive-level strategic leadership, operational direction, and
organizational oversight for all production and technical services
across a complex, multi-venue performing arts center.
This position is responsible for aligning production systems,
staffing structures, and technical capabilities with institutional
priorities, artistic excellence, and revenue-generating activities,
serving as the Center’s primary authority on production strategy,
infrastructure planning, and operational performance.
The Director of Production plays a critical role in:
- Driving institutional excellence in production delivery;
- Advancing revenue growth through rentals and partnerships;
- Leading capital planning and lifecycle management of technical
systems; and
- Ensuring HPAC remains a competitive, innovative, and nationally
recognized performing arts venue.
This position requires availability for evening, weekend, and
occasional holiday work.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership, Fiscal Administration & Organizational
Management:
- Directs, develops, and mentors a complex, multidisciplinary
production team (lighting, audio, carpentry, stage management,
video) supervising 6 FTE, 4 indirect reports, and a 20+ wage
workforce;
- Establishes, evaluates, and optimizes organizational
structures, staffing models, and workflows aligned with
institutional strategy;
- Develops, tracks, and manages comprehensive production budgets,
including permanent labor, operating expenses, equipment rentals,
and capital improvements;
- Ensures full fiscal accountability and return on
investment;
- Oversees overhire workforce strategy, contract execution, and
payroll administration in compliance with institutional and labor
standards;
- Manages vendor relationships, procurement strategy, and
technical purchasing processes;
- Serves as the senior production leader, aligning facility
capabilities with university, artistic, and community priorities;
and
- Fosters a collaborative, inclusive, service-driven, and
safety-focused culture.
Production Excellence & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Provides executive-level oversight for all technical production
activity across multiple venues and event types;
- Leads all production advancement strategy, including
interpretation and execution of complex technical riders;
- Translates artistic and technical requirements into fully
executable, resource-efficient production plans;
- Ensures seamless delivery in venues with advanced production
systems, including large-scale rigging and theatrical
infrastructure;
- Maintains proactive communication and alignment across
production staff, administrative leadership, academic departments,
and external clients and partners;
- Serves as the final escalation point for high-risk or complex
production and personnel issues; and
- Conducts contract and rider review (“redlining”) to ensure
compliance with university and Commonwealth requirements.
Facilities, Equipment & Safety Management:
- Leads long-term capital planning and lifecycle management of
technical systems and production infrastructure;
- Partners with facilities and campus leadership on preventative
maintenance strategy and execution;
- Ensures compliance with OSHA, ESTA/ANSI, and industry safety
standards; and
- Mitigates institutional risk through rigorous safety oversight
and compliance practices.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination
of education and experience;
- Generally, ten (10) years of progressively responsible
professional experience in technical production or live event
management within a major performing arts center, academic
presenting organization, or comparable multi-venue
environment;
- Demonstrated experience operating within a multi-venue
facility, including spaces exceeding 1,000+ seats and concurrent
event management;
- Proven experience managing large-scale productions across
multiple technical disciplines (lighting, audio, video, rigging,
carpentry, and stage operations);
- Generally, a minimum of five (5) years of experience managing
full-time staff, indirect reports, and part-time/hourly
workforce;
- Direct responsibility for departmental budgets, including
labor, overhire payroll, and operational expenditures;
- Demonstrated expertise in production advancement, contract
interpretation, and execution of complex technical riders and
negotiation;
- Knowledge of advanced theatrical production systems across
multiple disciplines;
- Advanced operational knowledge of counterweight and motorized
fly systems (75+ line sets), digital audio networks (Dante/AVB),
and advanced theatrical lighting systems and protocols;
- Skill in leading large, multidisciplinary production teams in
complex environments;
- Skill in financial management, budgeting, and resource
planning;
- Exceptional interpersonal and diplomatic communication skills
with ability to work effectively across diverse stakeholder
groups;
- Ability to align production operations with strategic,
financial, and institutional goals;
- Ability to manage high-pressure, multi-event environments, and
resolve complex issues;
- Ability to communicate effectively with technical and
non-technical stakeholders; and
- Proven ability to serve as the final escalation authority in
high-risk, time-sensitive environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in related field;
- Experience with large-scale counterweight rigging systems and
fly systems in proscenium theaters;
- Experience integrating production with academic programs,
including student engagement and experiential learning;
- Experience with venue management software, scheduling systems,
and production databases;
- Knowledge of university policies and procedures, including HR,
procurement, and compliance requirements;
- Advanced knowledge of concert hall acoustics, orchestral
production, and touring production standards;
- Advanced knowledge of strategic planning and operational
alignment within complex performing arts or multi-unit
environments;
- Knowledge of cost recovery, procurement practices, and
revenue-generating venue operations;
- Knowledge of multi-venue operations and varied event types
across presenting, academic, and rental activity;
- Advanced knowledge of safety standards and regulatory practices
(e.g., OSHA, rigging, electrical systems);
- Knowledge of production management systems, scheduling tools,
and technical databases;
- Skill in long-range planning, including capital planning,
equipment lifecycle management, and long-term infrastructure
strategy;
- Skill in leading and developing multidisciplinary teams,
including full-time and part-time workforce models;
- Skill in supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and
integration with academic programs;
- Skill in communicating complex technical concepts clearly to
diverse audiences;
- Ability to evaluate and implement emerging production
technologies, including hybrid and streaming systems;
- Ability to make data-informed decisions regarding resource
allocation and investment priorities;
- Ability to represent the organization as a senior production
authority in high-level artist and client engagements;
- Ability to develop staffing strategies and foster a
collaborative, inclusive, high-performance culture;
- Ability to implement and maintain comprehensive safety and risk
mitigation programs;
- Ability to lead adoption of technology-driven workflows and
operational innovation;
- Ability to build consensus, resolve conflict, and influence
decision-making at senior levels; and
- Demonstrated ability working with a diverse population of
artists, students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for the
Director of Production at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online
application to include three professional references with contact
information, and provide a cover letter and resume.
Posting Open Date: June 12, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: July 10, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
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http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/
