"Production Manager"

Job Summary

The Production Manager plays a key role in a collaborative and highly professional UtahPresents team, overseeing the technical production operations to ensure safe and successful events. This position provides leadership across production departments while fostering a supportive environment that balances artistic vision with technical excellence. The University of Utah provides a generous benefits package including medical and dental plans, a 14.2% retirement contribution, tuition reduction, a wellness program, and an Employee Assistance Program.

UtahPresents is a mission-driven, non-profit arts presenter located at the University of Utah with a focus on bringing diverse artistic and cultural experiences to the campus and the region. As stewards of the iconic Kingsbury Hall, UtahPresents provides a valuable gathering space for community events and campus partners. We are seeking an applicant who is interested in contributing to this mission.

Priority consideration for applications received before October 24th.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Oversight

• Provide guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to three full-time supervisory staff.
• Coordinate collaboration between production departments, front-of-house operations, and touring crews, as well as other UtahPresents and University departments.
• Represent the venue with professionalism under pressure, ensuring a positive experience for artists and clients.
• As part of the technical production team, contribute to event operations where appropriate, allowing operations to go efficiently and providing redundancy for the other supervisors and staff during busy event periods.

Budget & Administration

• Prepare and monitor production budgets; oversee labor cost management through supervisors.
• Ensure supervisors maintain lighting, sound, staging, and other production systems in excellent working order.
• Approve department purchases and ensure accurate record-keeping.
• Make strategic decisions on equipment investments, upgrades, and rentals in consultation with supervisors.
• Contribute technical expertise to contracts and negotiations.
• Oversee adherence to technical policies, safety protocols, and industry compliance across all departments.
• Oversee department-related projects that may include University Facilities, Projects or other outside vendors.

Event Production Management

• Advance all technical and production needs with touring companies, artists, and promoters, ensuring a clean handoff to Technical Director and other supervisors for execution.
• With the Technical Director, approve and distribute production schedules, load-in/load-out plans, and crew calls created with input from department supervisors.
• Act as the lead venue contact for visiting production teams and resolve issues that cross multiple technical areas; or coordinate the delegation of this role to department supervisors.
• Post-Event, review reports for accuracy in the event settlements, and ensure all vendor invoices are accurate, paid, and recorded.

Staff & Crew Management

• Manage department supervisors, full- and part-time staff. With Technical Director, oversee recruitment, scheduling, and payroll approval of all part-time technicians.
• Support supervisors in training, evaluating, and leading their teams.
• Build a collaborative and respectful work environment across technical disciplines.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated success supervising multiple department leads (technical, lighting, audio, staging).
• Broad working knowledge of live sound, lighting, rigging, staging, and venue operations. Experience with a touring production a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills with a wide range of collaborators.
• Strong understanding of OSHA regulations and venue safety standards.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, stage plots, lighting plots, and audio schematics.
• Knowledge of crew scheduling, labor rules, and cost control in a union or non-union environment.
• Ability to manage multiple production and project budgets.
• Ability to familiarize with required university and department software.
• Ability to understand and follow university policies.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50-75 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move continuously during long shifts, including load-ins and load-outs.
• Ability to climb ladders, work at heights, and use aerial lifts safely.
• Ability to bend, kneel, stoop, reach overhead, and perform other physically demanding tasks.
• Ability to work in varied environments, including dark spaces, loud environments, and fluctuating temperatures.
• Adequate vision and hearing to operate and evaluate production equipment safely.
• Ability to work extended hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as dictated by event schedules.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively in high-pressure or emergency situations.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a Bachelor's degree in a related area of assignment or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience) and 4 - 6 years of progressively more responsible management experience. Background knowledge of assigned department's area of specialization in order to analyze, plan and draw conclusions for recommendations to superiors. Demonstrated leadership skills in planning and directing employees and processes in order to effectively monitor and develop subordinates and to ensure the smooth operation of department. Completion of provided supervisory training within one year of employment may be required. Master's degree in a related area may be preferred. Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

(No specific preferences listed in the text)

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN43254B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Weekdays, nights and weekends as event schedules demand.
Department: 00491 - Utah Presents
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $65,000 - $75,000
Close Date: 10/31/2025
Open Until Filled: