PHTS Production Supervisor

Organizational Summary:

The Playwrights Horizons Theater School (PHTS) has provided thousands of students with intensive theater training through a four-year program that emphasizes professional development and interdisciplinary theater making. The curriculum includes courses in acting, directing, playwriting, design, movement, and voice and speech for nearly 200 students each year. Playwrights Horizons is a writer’s theater committed to the advancement of bold and visionary contemporary playwrights, through the development and production of daring new work and the education of future theatermakers. In a city rich with cultural offerings, Playwrights Horizons’ 55-year-old mission is unique among theaters of its size; the organization has distinguished itself by a steadfast commitment to centering the voice of the playwright. It’s a mission that is always timely, and one that’s necessary in the ongoing evolution of theater in this country. By expanding the U.S. theater canon with a wider range of voices, Playwrights Horizons aims to be a home for the exploration of playwriting and an anti-racist center of curiosity, dialogue, and artistic risk. Reports to:

Director, Playwrights Horizons Theater School Position Summary:

The Production Supervisor (PS) is a full-time faculty role with substantial administrative responsibilities supporting anywhere from 20-30 small-scale student productions per semester in a festival setting. Serving as a liaison between production staff and students who are leading projects with their peers, the PS facilitates clear communication about technical production plans and guides students through navigating leadership as it pertains to design and technical production. This position may flex to include nights and weekends as needed during production. Responsibilities: Teaching

Oversee and develop technical production curriculum in collaboration with the Director

Co-teach the Project Design class with the advanced training design faculty as determined by the Director

Collect and grade student project plans

Teach the design half of the Transfer Intensives course

Includes all attendant faculty responsibilities such as grading and writing evaluations.

Teach technical production workshops across the studio as needed such as ladder safety and ground plan fundamentals

Teach students safety best practices and basic technical skills as needed, especially during the technical rehearsal process

Attend staff, faculty, Project Track, and design area meetings

Hold regular office hours

Conduct regular plan review meetings with individual student project leaders

Develop relationships with both the Tisch Dept. of Drama Production Resource Office (PRO) and Playwrights Horizons Production Uptown (PH)

Support students in developing problem-solving skills including interpersonal conflict management

Oversee production programming in collaboration with PH such as student tech observerships

View a sampling of student productions regularly

Participate in the planning and execution of school events such as First and Final Friday, orientation, and curricular info sessions as needed

Stay current with professional training and development within both technical production and academic skills such as classroom management, conflict resolution, anti-racism, consent practices, etc.

Facilitate conflict resolution processes as needed

Maintain mental health first aid certification

Maintain a professional practice within the field primarily during the summer months Technical

Serve as a technical adviser for student projects and productions

Partner with the Technical Coordinator on tracking student production needs and determining the necessary technical support

Coordinate student inventory requests

Serve as a liaison between the Technical Coordinator, PRO, faculty, and students

Create and maintain documentation regarding student production processes and resources

Meet weekly with the Technical Coordinator and Manager of Student Productions

Support the load in and technical rehearsals of student productions as needed

Coordinate the strike of student productions with Technical Coordinator and Technical Supervisors

Assist in ensuring that students conduct their technical production work safely

Coordinate first year student crew assignments for all student productions, including the Mainstage

Coordinate the fulfillment of classroom production requests in collaboration with the Manager of Academic Affairs and Technical Coordinator

Maintain fire guard certification Requirements

Minimum 3-5 years of practical experience working in technical theater in a range of production scales

Able to work from the office a minimum of 4 days a week during the semester

Must be available to work nights and weekends during production weeks including load in and load out

Able to pass a background check

Teaching or mentorship experience

Experience teaching and working in an undergraduate learning environment preferred

Experience working as a designer and/or director a plus

A thorough knowledge of theatrical production materials, tools, and equipment

Strong understanding of all aspects of technical theater including: lighting, sound, and projections. A working knowledge of carpentry is a plus.

A working understanding of design principles and process including best practices regarding the director, designer, and technician relationships

Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills

Facilitation and conflict resolution skills, a plus.

Ability to lift 50 lbs., climb ladders, and perform manual labor as needed

Ability to read and produce technical drawings in Vectorworks

High professional standards with acute attention to detail Salary & Benefits:

Salary: $60,000 per year Playwrights Horizons offers a comprehensive benefits package including 10 days (two weeks) of vacation, four personal days, and 10 sick days. Employees have access to individual medical, dental, and vision coverage, with various plan options available through Oxford Health Plans. Playwrights Horizons partially subsidizes health and dental insurance and provides vision insurance at no charge to employees. Our benefits package further includes life insurance policy, a 403b retirement plan, and flexible spending accounts for medical, dental, and dependent care expenses. Other perks include a health reimbursement account, Transitchek for transportation expenses, and complimentary and staff-rate tickets to our productions. Values Statement:

Playwrights Horizons is committed to building a more just future for everyone -- particularly those from historically oppressed communities, by employing a broad spectrum of voices that will enrich the quality and vitality of our work. Playwrights Horizons is an equal opportunity employer that has a strong institutional commitment to uprooting all systems of oppression by demonstrative equitable and inclusive practices. The organization is interested in receiving applications from people of all races, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, classes, religions, and people with disabilities.

The facilities at Playwrights Horizons are accessible and ADA compliant.

To Apply:

Please submit your application materials to our portal. No phone calls please. Full link to application; https://form.asana.com/?k=5jYxQs7c_WcLOMHdkMpr3w&d=17022989146991 Priority Consideration Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2026 (applications received by this date will be reviewed first and guaranteed equal consideration). After September 11th, applications will be accepted but considered only on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The anticipated start date for the position is around January 5th, 2027.