Assistant Technical Director and Instructor

Job Description

The Theatre and Cinema program within the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech is seeking a dynamic and innovative craftsperson for an instructor position as Assistant Technical Director. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to artistic integrity, growth, and craftsmanship, and will help mentor our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Technical Director include assisting the Technical Director in supervision of scenic construction; instruction of scenic technology topics; the organization and upkeep of materials and supplies; the enforcement of shop safety; the coordination of the shop space in a safe and orderly fashion; and maintaining the scene shop facility and tool maintenance. The Assistant Technical Director supervises multiple sections of the Scene Shop Lab Course per semester, as well as maintaining the scene shop.

This is a 9-month position an expected start date of August 10, 2025.  The initial term will be one-year with the opportunity for renewal.

Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, the theatre program in the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech is committed to education and practice in the collaborative processes of theatre making with a focus on developing aesthetic literacy, socially aware critical thinking, methodological skills, artistic integrity and professionalism in all areas of theatre-making.

The School of Performing Arts (SOPA) is one of four schools (along with the Schools of Architecture, Visual Arts, and Design) in the newly formed College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD), which launched in July 2022. SOPA offers programs in music, theatre, and cinema at the graduate and undergraduate level. Programs are delivered in Virginia Tech’s Creativity and Innovation District, which concentrates 11 performance spaces within a three-block area on the Blacksburg campus. Performance venues range from the 1,300-seat Moss Arts Center to a 101-seat experimental theatre.

Required Qualifications

A master’s degree; experience that includes working knowledge of metal fabrication, carpentry, rigging, shop supervision, drafting, shop safety, and automation. Must be able to work at heights, be able to lift 50 lbs., and have a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous teaching experience; experience with Creative Conners automation equipment, machining, tig welding; OSHA 10 or 30 certification; ETCP Certification (or willingness to become certified); First Aid and CPR certification; and basic knowledge of lighting, sound, and projections.

Materials Submission Submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a curriculum vitae or professional resume, (3) three references   Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Salary range is $50,000 - $55,000 per year

Review Date

March 10, 2025

Additional Information

Questions may be directed to John Ambrosone, Theatre Chair, at jambroso@vt.edu.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

 

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development op