Assistant Professor of Practice - Theatre & Technical Director

Assistant Professor of Practice - Theatre & Technical Director

Davidson College Davidson, NC Full-time Education

Posted on February 14, 2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

Davidson College invites applications for an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Technical Direction in the College's Theatre Department. The College welcomes candidates with enthusiasm for teaching, mentoring, and collaborating in an interdisciplinary and liberal arts context, while using their expertise to support the high production values of our season and classroom activities. This position will have the opportunity to work with excellent students who represent many diverse majors on campus, including theatre majors who have a broad course of study in the various areas of the discipline.

The Theatre Department boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a well-equipped scenic studio with a dedicated assembly area, paint room, construction area, 2 CNC machines, and office space. The department produces in both the Barber Theatre, a flexible black box space adjacent to the scenic studio and equipped with a newly acquired LED lighting package and the Duke Family Performance Hall, a 600 seat proscenium space with a fly loft and a recently updated sound system.

The successful candidate will have an MFA and a minimum of 3-5 years experience in theatrical technical direction (may include experience in graduate school) and be a skilled collaborator and team-player who is able to work with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. The candidate will have the ability to create technical and construction drawings in CAD (AutoCad or Vectorworks). Ideal candidates will have experience in one or more areas of design and related technologies (scenic, lighting, sound, projections) with an openness to develop expertise in others, and teaching experience at any level. Preferred skills include CNC programming/use and the ability to weld.

The responsibilities of the Assistant Professor of the Practice in Technical Direction include:

Serve as the Technical Director for 4-6 departmental productions and several class projects and support per year, (1-2 in our large proscenium venue, 2-3 in our flexible black box space, and 1-2 small student productions)

Contribute to the production season as a designer and/or engineer in at least one of the following areas: scenic design, lighting design and technology, sound design and technology, projection design and technology

Create technical and construction drawings in CAD (AutoCad or Vectorworks); supervise construction and load-in/out, lead stage rigging, maintain departmental equipment

Work with the Assistant Technical Director to oversee the scheduling, supervision, and training of 8-12 work-study students and other student production crews, which includes executing electrics, paint, and props

Communicate effectively and collaboratively with designers and directors

Teach one course per year in an area of expertise which enhances students' knowledge of and experience in design and production

Promote safe and contemporary building practices

Budget, purchase materials, and schedule the build and load-in/out of all scenic elements of productions

Supervise the work of the Assistant Technical Director in managing the scene shop

Professors of the Practice are non-tenured renewable positions with support for professional activities and the possibility of rank advancement. Professors of the Practice are considered continuing faculty positions and renewed contract lengths increase with experience. Evaluation for contract renewals and promotion will be based upon the candidate's teaching and work with students, professional attainments in technical direction for college productions, and service to the Theatre Department and college. The initial contract will be for two years, beginning July 1, 2025.

Apply online at and attach 1) a cover letter explaining the how the candidate is prepared to fulfill the responsibilities of this position, 2) a C.V. or resum, 3) a link to portfolio or website, and/or materials that display prior technical direction and design/technology expertise, 4) 1-2 page teaching philosophy statement that includes your approach to inclusive teaching and mentoring and to supporting a diverse undergraduate population (click here to read Davidson College's commitments) 5) Names and affiliations of three academic or professional references. In the interest of conducting an equitable hiring process, we will neither review any additional materials nor read beyond the page maximums listed for each document.

Review of applications will begin January 2nd and will continue until the position is filled.

Salary commensurate with experience and skill set.

Davidson College is a highly selective, residential, four-year liberal arts college, located in the Charlotte metro region. The College is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. At Davidson College, we believe the college grows stronger by recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff committed to building an inclusive community. In order to achieve and sustain educational excellence, we seek to hire talented faculty and staff across the intersections of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, political perspectives, abilities, cultures, and national origins.

ABOUT US

Davidson is a highly selective, nationally ranked, residential, four-year liberal arts college located in Davidson, North Carolina, close to the city of Charlotte. Davidson is strongly committed to achieving excellence and cultural diversity ( At Davidson College, we believe the college grows stronger by recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff committed to building an inclusive community. In order to achieve and sustain educational excellence, we seek to hire talented faculty and staff across the intersections of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, political perspectives, abilities, cultures, and national origins.