University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Theatre Technical and Production Coordinator, Theatre Arts ProgramJob Profile Title
Coordinator CJob Description Summary
The Theatre Technical and Production Coordinator will have primary responsibility for technical direction and production management of the Theatre Arts Program’s season, including two mainstage productions, an annual performance festival and other productions in the Theatre Arts season (workshops, staged readings, etc.). The role includes supervising and mentoring undergraduate students, supporting the development of their technical theater and skills along with some basic theatre electrical skills, and ensuring the safe and skillful execution of designs. This position includes construction and fabrication of scenic elements; helping to schedule and help execute light hangs, purchasing and payments; routine maintenance of spaces including restoring theatres after use; and coordination with faculty, students, and Penn Live Arts staff.Job Description
The University of Pennsylvania’s Theatre Arts Program is a small theatre, dance and performance program within a large research institution. We offer a major and minor, and teach students from many disciplines, studying theatre, dance and performance as part of a liberal arts education. Our faculty and guest-directed productions are taught as courses for credit. Our performance festival is a collaboration across the campus – but is produced by Theatre Arts. Additional events and performances are often done in collaboration with other departments, programs, or centers with which we are affiliated across the university.
Penn’s Theatre Arts Program is currently revamping our efforts to expand our curriculum and production schedule to include Dance and Performance. This is a small program with a focus on collaboration across arts on campus. We have few majors and minors, but focus on making Theatre, Dance and Performance a central part of the campus arts ecosystem. We work closely with our majors to help them grow in their interests and to expand their skills and curiosities. We are invested in meeting students where they are and helping them to grow their practices as makers.
Job Responsibilities:
The Theatre Technical and Production Coordinator will have primary responsibility for technical direction and production management of the Theatre Arts Program's season, including two mainstage productions, an annual performance festival and other productions in the Theatre Arts season, such as workshops, staged readings, and ad hoc events.
The Technical and Production Coordinator should be capable of exercising ingenuity with limited resources, possess a willingness to take on multiple production tasks simultaneously, and an eagerness to collaborate and support colleagues and students alike. The ideal candidate will have a genuine desire to learn, grow, and work in new and possibly unconventional ways within theatre production. Duties will include the scheduling, supervision, and training of one or more work-study students and other student production crews; budgeting for and purchasing various production elements; maintenance of various types of theatrical equipment, inventories, as well as rehearsal and performance spaces; creation of technical drawings; hands-on construction; supervision of fabrication of all kinds, as well as load-in, tech rehearsals, and strike.
The Technical Coordinator will be expected to maintain a high level of support for the artistic production and academic goals of the program, including mentoring students, and providing an educationally sound, safe, and satisfying experience for all Theatre Arts participants.
The Technical and Production Coordinator is a full-time salaried position, with frequent required night and weekend work to support productions. Flexibility in schedule from week-to-week is essential, while maintaining a regular presence during business hours. The person hired is expected to be a regularly present member of the team. We seek not only an excellent collaborator and colleague, but also a self-starter who is willing and able to work independently (sometimes without assistance), possesses a strong work ethic, as well as an unfailing commitment to getting the job done.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Essential skills include: all aspects of technical direction, carpentry, stage electrics, and rigging, as well as the desire and ability to teach, supervise, and inspire students to learn all aspects of theatre craft. We expect candidates to have an up-to-date knowledge of theater technology and to maintain professional relationships in the city of Philadelphia and surrounding areas so you can both hire over-hire, help hire designers for projects, and help students build contacts in the field.
This position will also require skills associated with production management, including: working with budgets, co-facilitating production meetings, coordinating the work of designers, setting schedules, and creating deadlines for deliverables.
Preferred but not required: Master’s degree; ME experience; professional design experience.
This is a full-time position for 10 months per year (i.e., "limited service") to begin August 1, 2026.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDepartment / School
School of Arts and SciencesPay Range
$64,500.00 - $66,000.00 Annual RateSalary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay