Director of Production

Company Overview

ABOUT CANADIAN STAGE 

Canadian Stage is one of the country’s leading not-for-profit contemporary performing arts organizations. An anchor organization in Toronto’s vibrant cultural scene, Canadian Stage is a home for new, challenging dynamic art forms, as well as an incubator and exporter of leading-edge contemporary and multidisciplinary performance. 

Sharing innovative work from Canada and across the world, the company stages an annual season at across three Toronto venues, including its beautiful heritage building on Berkeley and Front Street, in the vibrant St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood.  

In its long and storied history, Canadian Stage has employed thousands of artists and produced hundreds of new productions to over 5,000,000 audience members, including the premieres of 350+ new Canadian works. Many of the plays developed by Canadian Stage have been awarded and nominated for Canada's most prestigious literary and performing arts honours, including Governor General's, Chalmers, and Dora Mavor Moore Awards.  

Job Description

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Artistic Director, with a secondary report to the Executive Director, the Director of Production is a fundamental part of Canadian Stage’s senior management team, responsible for managing all aspects of production and building operations. The Director of Production is responsible for creating and delivering effective activities to help Canadian Stage achieve several key objectives: 

·       Delivery of productions of the highest artistic quality possible

·       Close management of organizational resources and adherence to budgets in the execution of productions

·       Accurate future planning of financial and human resources for the realization of Canadian Stage’s seasons and new work development activities

·       Constructive leadership of the Production Department

·       Proactive oversight of Canadian Stage’s facilities

·       Maintenance of positive relationships with the artists and organizations that make up the Canadian Stage community

DIRECT REPORTS:      Production Manager

                                      Technical Director

                                      Building Operations Manager

                                      Head of Properties    

                                      Contract and seasonal staff (Stage Managers, Production Co-ordinator, Production Assistants)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial

·                Prepares and documents, under the management of the Artistic Director and the Executive Director, the annual production budgets, including all productions, production overhead, production facility maintenance, long term theatre maintenance, and capital acquisitions.

·                Administers the production budgets as approved by the Executive Director, including, but not limited to:

-          monitors all direct production expenses on a daily basis

-          authorizes all direct production expenses, either directly or through Department heads

-          maintains, with the assistance of the Technical Director and Production Manager, a full set of Production Accounts, and labour cost records

-          regular reports of all direct production budgets to the Artistic  Director, Executive Director, and Director of Finance

-          monitors and authorizes all production overhead expenses

-          monitors and authorizes approved production related capital purchase and projects

-          prepares any capital related financial reports required by the Executive Director

-          works with Production Manager in the reconciliation of all co-productions.

·                Approves all production related time sheets:

-          prepares production payroll summary for the payroll department

-          ensures that all Federal and Provincial labour regulations are respected

-          ensures that all Union agreements are respected.

·                In conjunction with the Executive Director, advises and assists the Director of Production with any changes to the accounting procedures related to any areas of production.

Administrative

·                Prepares the Production Calendar;

-          prepares and publishes individual production timetables, including design deadlines, construction starts, etc.

-          ensures that the financial requirements of the Season Calendar are in line with the corporate budgets of the organization.

·                Responsible for the staffing of the Production Department:

-          directly responsible for the hiring, firing, discipline, and morale of the Technical Director, Production Manager, Building Services Manager, and Head of Properties

-          directly responsible for the hiring, firing, discipline, and morale of all seasonal production staff

-          ensures that seasonal production staff compensation is accounted for in the company’s departmental, production, production overhead or corporate budgets, as applicable

-          in consultation with the Artistic Director and Executive Director, is responsible for the hiring, firing, discipline and morale of stage managers, assistant stage managers, and apprentice stage managers.

-          in consultation with the Artistic Director and Executive Director, is responsible for the hiring, firing and discipline of all Designers.

-          negotiates contracts for all Designers

·                In conjunction with the Health and Safety Committee, the Technical Director, House Manager(s) and Building Operations Manager, establishes and maintains Emergency Procedure Policies.

·                In conjunction with Canadian Stage’s Joint Health and Safety Committee ensures that the facility operates in safe and responsible manner.

·                Within Canadian Stage planning process, takes responsibility for production capital and infrastructure planning.

·                Maintains production staff resume files.

·                Chairs weekly Production Department Staff Meetings.

·                Participates in weekly Producers meetings.

·                Participates in weekly Programming meeting.

·                Represents the Production Department at weekly senior staff meetings.

·                In conjunction with the Executive Director, negotiates and manages the IATSE and other collective bargaining contracts.

·                Establishes and maintains Policies and Procedures as related to all areas of Production.

Direct Production

·                In consultation with the Technical Director, allocates human and material resources among the Bluma Appel Theatre, Berkeley Theatres, High Park Amphitheatre and any touring productions.

·                In consultation with the Technical Director, Designer, Artistic Director, and Executive Director, is the lead arbitrator between artistic desires and the budget realities. Final arbitration rests with the Executive Director.

·                In conjunction with the Technical Director, ensures that the production requirements of each production are met effectively and economically and on time.

·                Ensures that effective communications are taking place between all members of the production team.

·                Keeps Artistic Director and Executive Director apprised of the status and related issues of all production problems.

·                In conjunction with the Technical Director, maintains the budget of the Production.

·                In conjunction with the Technical Director, and the Stage Manager, establishes the Production Schedule for each show.

·                Provides advice and guidance as required to the Technical Director and to all Department Heads.

·                Leads all production meetings.

·                In conjunction with the Technical Director(s) ensure that all aspects of a production are safe both for the performers and crew and for the public.

·                Authorizes overtime as required.

·                Is present on a regular basis in the theatre, for all load-ins, tech weeks, preview periods and load-outs, as is appropriate.

·                Attends technical and dress rehearsals and assists and advises the Technical Director as necessary.

·                Maintains lead relationship with the IATSE House crews at each venue.

Building Operations

·                In consultation with the Building Operations Manager, oversees Building and Operations budgets and activities, including maintenance and general upkeep, building security, and liaison with the City of Toronto

·                Other related duties as assigned

KEY COMPETENCIES FOR THIS POSITION:

Inclusion: fosters relationships and provides equitable opportunity across a diverse spectrum of people and organizations.

Communication: engages artists and partner organizations in a manner that is respectful and clear; positively and timely communicates relevant issues of concern.

Tenacity and Problem-Solving: works independently and autonomously; conducts appropriate data gathering and collaboration for creative problem resolution; remains affable and calm within a fast-paced and changeable environment.

Leadership and Accountability: Leads by example, demonstrating Canadian Stage values in all aspects of their work while providing guidance and oversight to a range of staff members, collaborators and freelancers; with independent sound judgement, effectively manages productions to accomplish Canadian Stage’s mission and objectives.

Stewardship: delivers productions within recommended and approved budget and schedule parameters.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

·       Extensive technical theatre production experience.

·       Comprehensive knowledge of theatre production strategies, disciplines, and processes.

·       Comprehensive knowledge of theatre operations management strategies and processes.

·       Thorough understanding of Canadian Stage’s mission, strategies, and programming.

·       Solid experience in budget preparation and control.

·       Strong knowledge of union rules and other laws, rules and regulations relevant to Canadian Stage’s activities.

·       Knowledge of stage management procedures and production crew operations.

·       Knowledge of facilities management.

·       Extensive experience in production staff supervision and training.

·       Experience managing multiple concurrent projects with competing and unpredictable schedules.

·       Experience with balancing institutional priorities with staff capacity.

·       Strong interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.

·       Excellent negotiating skills.

·       Excellent oral and written communication skills.

·       Intermediate skills with MS Office particularly Word and Excel.

·       Any experience with Sharepoint, Netsuite, and Asana would be a plus.

·       Must have availability on evenings and weekends.

STATEMENT OF INTENTION 

Canadian Stage is committed to building an anti-racist, equitable and inclusive cultural institution. We work to reflect the stories, ideas, concerns, and priorities of the communities we have been entrusted to serve authentically and meaningfully.   

To address the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous administrators at our organization, and to affirm the importance of diverse lived experiences and perspectives, we encourage and welcome applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.