Join our Team! Hiring a Lighting/Sound Supervisor

Payroll Title: Theater Production Specialist 2 

Job Code: 006144

Job Open Date: 07/23/2024

Application Review Begins: 08/07/2024; open until filled

Department Code (Name): DRAM (DRAMATIC ART/DANCE DEPARTMENT)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99 (Non-Represented)

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff (Career)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: Grade 19

Hiring/Budgeted Hourly Range: $28.07 to $29.18/hr.

Full Hourly Range: Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full hourly range for this position is $28.07 to $48.28/hr. The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $28.07 to $28.77/hr.

Work Location: Theater and Dance West 1613A

Working Days and Hours: M-F; 8am - 5pm, some evenings and weekends required

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: In-Person.

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

To apply go to JOBS.UCSB.EDU, Job ID  71128

Department Marketing Statement:

The Department of Theater and Dance fosters an inclusive, vibrant and stimulating environment that encourages creative self-expression and critical thinking. Undergraduate programs include intensive, conservatory-style training for actors and dancers, as well as general degrees with a focus on Dance, Design, Directing, Playwriting, Theater and Community and Theater and Performance Studies. The department's nationally recognized and highly ranked graduate program offers a diverse array of interdisciplinary approaches to performance research within a global orientation. The department provides a lively forum for faculty to integrate teaching and research, at the cutting edge of their areas of expertise.

Benefits of Belonging:

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC.

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Under general supervision of the Technical Director, the Lighting and Sound Supervisor oversees all lighting, sound, and projections for the department's productions including both theater and dance. Work includes extensive coordination and consultation with faculty and guest lighting, sound, and projection designers to ensure designs are successfully translated, realized, and executed as fully as possible. Creates and oversees, under the general supervision of the Technical Director, build, hang, focus, and labor schedules for each production. Purchases general shop and show specific materials and supplies. Works within budgets for general shop area, labor, and individual productions. Recommends for hire and supervises limited and student employees. In addition to public-facing, production-related duties, duties, as resources allow, may help to facilitate support for the lighting, sound, and projection needs of multiple classroom-related productions. Teaches lighting/sound practicum labs and evaluates their work for grading purposes. May assist in overseeing student design assistants assigned to productions. Assists in training the student Lead Technicians. Maintains lighting, sound, and projection area equipment, inventory, rigging, and theater spaces. Responsible for use of safe practices in rigging, lighting, sound, and projection areas.

Required Qualifications:

  • 1-3 years of professional work in theatrical/performing arts environment. 
  • Associate’s Degree or equivalent experience and/or training.
  • 1-3 years of demonstrated use and maintenance of theatrical lighting and dimming systems, audio systems and counterweight rigging systems, as well as basic electrical wiring and audio and projection signal wiring. 
  • 1-3 years of working use of QLab.
  • Basic computer/office skills, email, and word processing and spreadsheet programs.
  • Ability to work independently or with a team.
  • Ability to work effectively while under pressure.
  • Strong time-management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to meet tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 1-3 years of knowledge of industry specific software, such as Vectorworks, SFX audio/show control software, Lightwrite, and Off-line editors for lighting desks. 
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Theater with emphasis in lighting, audio, and/or projection.
  • Mastery level knowledge of technical aspects of a production area such as lighting, sound, video, or projections.

Special Conditions of Employment:

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

Lighting Production (40%) - Oversees and manages all lighting needs, which includes installation, hanging and focusing of lighting equipment for 8-9 primary departmental productions including both theater and dance. Includes budgeting, coordination, planning, safety, and execution of all lighting-related items. Work includes extensive coordination and consultation with lighting designers to ensure designs are successfully translated and realized. Attends weekly production and staff meetings. Leads all hang and focus work calls. Maintains lighting rep plots in studio venues. Coordinates with the Technical Director, faculty advisors, graduate TAs, student directors and choreographers to supplement rep plot with lighting specials, within available resources, for course-related plays and dance concerts. Serves as technical supervisor for departmental productions as assigned.

Student Teaching / Supervision / Communication (20%) - Instructs and supervises lighting/sound practicum labs and evaluates their work for grading purposes. Instruction includes the preparation of a course syllabus and basic fundamental information relating to the practical and safe implementation of theatrical lighting and sound. Projections may also be incorporated as circumstances allow. Responsible as the dedicated supervisor of students working practical lab hours in the lighting/sound lab and in the venues, ensuring students are following necessary safety guidelines at all times. Assists in the training of the department’s student Lead Technicians. Recommends for hire, trains, and supervises limited and student employees, who are assigned to these areas. Serves as communication link to shop employees when designers are not present to ensure proper execution of each design. In consultation with Technical Director and designers, leads all hang and focus work calls, and creates overall hang and focus schedule, as well as daily work schedule and effectively communicates these.

Sound/Projection Production (15%) - Maintains inventory and function of sound and projection equipment in primary venues. Responsible for budgeting, coordination, planning, safety, and execution of all sound and projection elements. Work includes coordination and consultation with respective designers to ensure designs are successfully translated and realized. Maintains working intercom systems in relevant venues. Maintains sound and projection rep plots in studio venues. Coordinates with the Technical Director, faculty advisors, graduate TAs, and student directors or choreographers to provide sound or projection support, within available resources, for course-related plays or dance concerts. Trains students and assists faculty and guest artists, directors or designers in the basic uses of QLab or other sound editing software. Serves as technical supervisor for departmental productions as assigned.

Budgeting / Ordering / Purchasing (10%) - In consultation with Technical Director, responsible for working within allocated production budgets. In conjunction with designers, responsible for providing accurate estimates and feedback on proposed designs, and working with designers to reach final design choices that be attained within budget. Responsible for weekly updates on production budgets. Works within and keeps accurate record of shop budgets for equipment, supplies, maintenance, and labor. Responsible for purchasing for all primary productions. Responsible for the purchasing of general supplies for the lighting, sound, and projection areas.

Safety / Maintenance / Facilities (10%) - Responsible for compliance of safe work practices in all work within the rigging, lighting, sound, and projection area. Responsible for the maintenance of correct documentation for all hazardous materials. Responsible for the organization and maintenance of all equipment, supplies, work space, and inventory. Responsible for the coordination of facilities maintenance with departmental and facilities personnel. Works in collaboration with other area supervisors and assists as needed and as resources allow.

Loans / Rentals (5%) - Coordinates the loan/check-out of lighting, sound, and projection items to faculty and students for departmental classroom-related needs as time permits. Coordinates rentals for non-departmental requests as time permits. Oversees the organization and proper maintenance of borrowed lighting, sound, and projection items. 

Policy on Vaccination Programs 

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs. As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.).  Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. 

For more information, please visit:

* Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this policy who Physically Access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

UC Santa Barbara is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

Reasonable Accommodations

The University of California endeavors to make the UCSB Job site (https://jobs.ucsb.edu) accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Katherine Abad in Human Resources at 805-893-4664 or email katherine.abad@hr.ucsb.edu. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.