Head Scenic Carpenter

This is a Full Time Job

DESCRIPTION:

Des Moines Metro Opera is seeking to add the position of Head Scenic Carpenter to our full-time, year-round production team in Indianola, Iowa. This position is a recent addition to the organization and will primarily lead the company in all scenic-building and scenic installations for the festival. This position will be part of the advanced planning process for the festival and will participate in the hiring of the festival production staff.

Working year-round, this position will build, maintain, repair, and improve the scenery, warehouse, and shop spaces. The Head Scenic Carpenter will be critical for the smooth install of all scenery & fly goods at the Blank Performing Arts Center and is not expected to run the shows or participate in repertory changes. If a candidate is interested in filling a festival position, that is certainly open for discussion.

This position will work closely with the festival head stage carpenter and head fly operator, as well as the festival associate technical directors, and will work year-round with the director of production, the assistant scenic carpenter, and the head scenic artist.

Work Environment

The nature of this position requires candidates to be able to move around a scenic shop and theater space safely. This position will require the candidate to work from ladders, lifts, near stage edges, and to be able to lift 50 lbs unassisted. This position will require lots of standing, sitting, kneeling, and bending.

This position will need some basic computer skills; we use the Microsoft Suite of office tools as well as AutoCAD. While the candidate does not need to be an expert, they should be able to use computers with ease. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively: spoken and written.

Qualifications, Responsibilities, Essential Abilities & Mindsets

Des Moines Metro Opera encourages applications from people without formal education in theater - the substitution of experience for traditional education is perfectly acceptable.

• Diploma or Degree from a Theatre Production Program of study and/or 5 or more years of experience working in a scenic shop.
• Ideally, has experience as the primary builder on several projects of various types and scales.
• Experienced in the accepted practices of theatre construction methods and with a variety of materials.
• Experience working with a variety of tools, but especially knowledgeable in the safe operation of standard shop tools/equipment, including equipment like forklifts, personnel lifts, ladders, box/panel trucks with lift gates, etc.
• A high attention to detail is essential; an understanding and willingness to adapt to the needs of the scenic artist's requests to produce the designed best outcomes.
• Experience in leading a team, communicating with the team, and the ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the team. This person should have excellent relationship-building skills.
• Someone passionate about making the install go smoothly is essential and someone who shares the belief that the beautifully finished front side of scenery should also have a beautiful backside - clean, labeled, without any fasteners that poke through - someone who takes great pride in the scenery they construct.
• Experience in ordering and sourcing materials, as well as the ability to monitor spending/reporting spending.
• Experience in building fly cables and preparing scenery for hanging.
• Ideally, some experience in aluminum welding and fabrication. Additional training can be provided.
• Comfortable driving a 26' box truck and with experience loading trailers/trucks with scenery.
• Willing to help support the touring technicians of Opera Iowa and someone willing to step in in case of illness.
• Desire to organize and effectively store stage/shop equipment.