Careers at Opera San Jose

Master Carpenter

Reporting to the Technical Director, the Master Carpenter is a member of the theatrical scenery production team. This position works closely with the Scene Shop Supervisor and other craftspeople.

Now entering its 39^th season, Opera San José is one of the leading cultural institutions in Silicon Valley and is distinctive in maintaining a Resident Company of artists, with onsite Scenic and Costume shops, as well as a local scenic warehouse. With a $6M budget, Opera San José’s mission and commitment is to incubate talent and innovation across the field.

Responsibilities

• In coordination with the Technical Director and Scene Shop Supervisor, construct scenery per design specifications
• Ensure scenery meets all safety and mobility standards
• Provide hands-on advanced carpentry skills, and from time to time supervise crews of carpenters
• Construct special projects for outside customers
• Assist during load-ins and load-outs

Ideal Skills & Experience Sought

• 3+ years experience as Carpenter or 1+ year experience as Master Carpenter of a 5+million scenery construction company
• Experience effectively leading multiple IATSE crews of up to 16 people in total
• Knowledge of current OSHA & Cal-OSHA standards and a strong proclivity for shop safety
• Ability to train inexperienced crew on proper/safe tool use of all shop tools
• Good organizational skills and multi-step task retention
• Basic knowledge of electrical and shop tool repair
• Eye for detail
• Adept at troubleshooting and providing solutions
• Positive attitude and ability to fit well into the current production team
• Experience assisting the charge painter with simple painting when absolutely necessary
• Desire and experience traveling to manage scenery installations and removals of set rental and contract projects

Minimum Requirements for Consideration

• 2 years of technical theater college or professional theater construction experience
• Ability to lead a crew of 4 or more
• Valid driver’s license and driving record which passes insurance company check of DMV records.
• Ability to drive a 26’ box truck
• Read and build from design and technical drawings
• Able to collaborate and effectively communicate with colleagues
• Safely use standard carpentry tools: table saw, miter saw, jig saw, grinder, sander, etc.
• MIG welding experience
• Self-motivated
• Scenery load-in and load-out experience inside a theater
• Forklift operation
• Comfortable on a 16’ ladder or 32’ personnel lift such as a Genie lift

Compensation

Opera San José offers competitive wages for its industry and location. This position is classified as full-time non-exempt with an hourly wage range of $30.00 to $32.50 depending on expertise and experience. This position would be eligible for company benefits, which currently include paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance plans, flexible spending accounts for medical costs and dependent care, and a pre-tax savings program. Benefits may change from time to time as Management determines.

Work Location & Schedule

Work is required primarily on-site in order to interface with team members and artists. The principal work location is Opera San José’s Scene Shop at 2245 Paragon Drive, San Jose CA, and the California Theatre in downtown San Jose when in production. Regular business hours are Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm with evening and weekend work during in-theater load-ins, tech rehearsals, and performances. The ideal candidate for this role must live or be willing to live in the San Jose Bay Area.

Physical Expectations

• In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Opera San José is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated, including subsequent boosters, and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine status before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical condition or sincerely held religious belief may request an exemption to this requirement.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds safely.

• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Company Culture

Opera San José, in desiring a more equitable world, is committed to fostering equity in our art form. Opera in the twenty-first century can and should demonstrate today’s values of equity and inclusion. We believe in building, fostering and sustaining a company that reflects, celebrates, and serves the diverse communities of the Bay Area. Opera San José cultivates a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork and respect among all employees. We are firmly committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds may grow personally and professionally.

Opera San José is an equal opportunity employer. It is our strong belief that equal opportunity for all employees is central to the continuing success of our organization. We will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, physical disabilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or veteran status in hiring, promoting, training, benefits, recommendations, rate of pay or other forms of compensation. Opportunity is provided to all employees based on qualifications and job requirements.

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit a resume to careers@operasj.org.  Please include “Master Carpenter” in the subject line of your email.

Technical Director

Reports to:Managing Director of Artistic & Production
Status: Exempt, Full Time, Regular
Supervises:  Assistant Technical Director, IATSE Stage and Carpentry crews, Scenic Artist, Scene Shop Supervisor, Props Master Contract Hires (such as Master Electrician)
Works With:  Costume Director, Production Manager, Artistic & Music Ops Manager

Job Summary:

The Technical Director is responsible for the professional execution of all technical production issues. This entails, as appropriate, technical direction of all production elements and the day-to- day management of stage labor and crews.

Representative Examples of Work Performed:

Accomplish the objectives of Opera San José

• Support the Company’s mission to make OSJ indispensable to the public through transformational opera experiences and broad service which captures the hearts and minds of our communities.
• Strive to create a culture that emphasizes quality, continuous improvement, and high performance.

Technical Director

• Functions as Technical Director for all OSJ programming.
• Supervises the IATSE carpentry crew building new productions and/or elements for events and supervises IATSE stage crew installing and running OSJ programming. This includes drafting build plans as necessary.
• Attends all onstage rehearsals and note sessions. Compiles work notes for onstage work sessions. Covers all onstage performances with Managing Director of Artistic & Production.
• Works with other departments to coordinate technical requirements for events in the Heiman Digital Studio and other venues.
• As needed, conducts searches for appropriate rental scenery for OSJ productions with Managing Director of Artistic & Production and examines rental possibilities for practicality of space and crew requirements.
• Manages the relationship with IATSE personnel and advises in the negotiation of the union agreement.
• Drafts ground plans & sections into Vectorworks or AutoCAD for designers and stage management to use.
• Maintains current Ground plans for OSJ rental productions.
• Coordinates trucking for all rentals (including scenery, costumes, lighting and video).
• Ensures a clean, healthy, and safe scene shop, including overseeing the repair and maintenance of scene shop tools and equipment, to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Responsibility for safety of all audience, cast, and crews throughout all phases of scenery construction, installation, and use.
• Solicits and executes build-for-hire projects.

Scheduling and Budgeting

• In coordination with the Production Manager, creates onstage crew schedules for OSJ productions.
• Assists Managing Director of Artistic & Production in establishing technical budgets for OSJ productions.
• Creates cost estimates for new and/or adapted productions.
• Executes IATSE crew and painter payroll.

Facilities Management

• Manage the process of building maintenance and improvements between vendors and staff.
• Works with CFO regarding the budget and usage of resources for the Facilities.
• Prepares the Facilities for outside rentals.

Community Engagement Activities

• May be called upon to represent OSJ to the auxiliary groups and the general public on technical and design issues as needed.
• Conducts facility tours and participates in media interviews as requested by the marketing and development departments.

Management retains the option to change or add to the duties of the position at any time.

Working Conditions: The work is a mixture of sedentary (sitting at a desk using a computer, phone, and other office equipment) and physical natures (in the theatre, standing for work days of 10 to 12 and sometimes up to 16 hours). Work will require attendance at performances and other Company events. While much of the work occurs in relation to a long-term plan, will be required to be flexible to changing priorities and additional projects that can require extended hours. Employee must have the skills necessary to manage multiple deadlines.

Performance Measures:

The following are key items that will be utilized to evaluate performance of the work:

• Both public and critical (local, national, international) response to a production.
• Achievement of the goals of adhering to department budget and the artistic aspirations of the Company.
• The maintenance of technical staff to meet the technical demands of OSJ’s artistic goals.
• The ability to function as a productive member of the full time OSJ staff.

Personal Characteristics

• A mission-driven individual with a belief in and commitment to Opera San Jose’s mission, artistic vision and values.
• A good listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan.
• A forward-thinker, able to anticipate possible outcomes, needs or conflicts, and strategize solutions
• A flexible and creative individual who can find alternative ways to reach objectives when barriers arise
• A team builder – confident and competent, with strong skills in management and leadership; one who understands the subtleties of motivating and directing a diverse group of personalities with different work styles.

Minimum Qualifications

• MA or MFA in technical theatre/design
• Three to five years of experience in a professional performing arts company
• Ability to collaborate with staff, professional colleagues, and supporters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (including; Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point) and either AutoCAD or VectorWorks or similar drafting software.
• Must have the ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Valid Driver’s License.