Department Head

Department Head – Live Event & Stage Production

Location: Dallas, TX
Job Type: Event-Based / On-Call
Department: Live Event & Technical Production

Position Overview

We are seeking experienced Department Heads to support professional live events, performances, productions, and venue operations. Department Heads are senior, hands-on technical professionals responsible for leading a specific production department while working alongside stagehands and other event personnel.

Areas of specialization may include:

• Lighting / Electrics
• Audio / Sound
• Video / Projection
• Carpentry / Scenery
• Rigging
• Props
• Wardrobe
• Other live-event technical departments

This is a working leadership position. Department Heads are expected to supervise assigned personnel while actively participating in load-ins, setups, rehearsals, performances, changeovers, strikes, and load-outs.

The ideal candidate has significant professional live-event experience, strong technical expertise, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to work effectively with venue management, touring personnel, clients, production supervisors, and technical crews.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Supervision

• Serve as the lead technical professional for an assigned production department.
• Supervise stagehands and other technical personnel assigned to the department.
• Provide clear direction to crews during load-ins, setups, rehearsals, performances, changeovers, strikes, and load-outs.
• Work directly and professionally with venue management, touring production representatives, clients, users, and production supervisors.
• Coordinate departmental activities with other Department Heads and production personnel.
• Ensure assigned work is completed safely, efficiently, professionally, and according to production requirements.
• Maintain clear communication between management, clients, touring personnel, and assigned crew members.
• Work alongside stagehands and technicians while providing leadership and supervision.
• Assist with assigning tasks and ensuring crew members understand production expectations and deadlines.
• Help maintain an organized, productive, and professional working environment.

Technical Production

• Set up, operate, troubleshoot, and strike professional production equipment within the assigned area of expertise.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of current equipment, techniques, terminology, safety practices, and industry standards applicable to the assigned department.
• Read and interpret production documents, equipment specifications, plots, schedules, diagrams, and other technical information as applicable.
• Identify technical problems and assist with resolving equipment or production issues efficiently.
• Ensure equipment is handled, installed, operated, and removed according to established procedures and applicable safety standards.
• Assist with maintaining organized and safe stage, backstage, loading, production, and work areas.
• Coordinate equipment placement and technical setup according to production specifications.
• Perform equipment checks before rehearsals and performances to help ensure systems are show-ready.

Electronic Control Systems

When electronic control equipment is used within the assigned department, the Department Head must be fully capable, confident, and competent in its setup, programming, and show operation.

Depending on the assigned specialty, responsibilities may include professional:

• Lighting consoles and control systems
• Digital audio consoles and sound-control systems
• Video switching, playback, projection, and control systems
• Show-control equipment
• Computerized production systems
• Other electronic production-control equipment

Candidates must be comfortable operating professional equipment in a live-show environment where accuracy, reliability, communication, and the ability to respond quickly to changing production requirements are essential.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must:

• Meet the professional qualifications and technical competencies expected of an experienced Stagehand.
• Have a minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in their applicable technical field or department, such as lighting, audio, carpentry, video, rigging, wardrobe, or another live-event production specialty.
• Possess strong working knowledge of professional equipment and current industry standards within their area of expertise.
• Have demonstrated experience supervising stagehands, technicians, or other production personnel.
• Be capable of working directly and professionally with venue management, touring personnel, production supervisors, clients, and other event professionals.
• Be able and willing to perform hands-on stagehand duties in addition to supervisory responsibilities.
• Be proficient in the setup and operation of equipment associated with their technical specialty.
• Demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot technical and operational problems in a fast-paced environment.
• Be capable of safely performing the physical and technical responsibilities associated with live-event production.
• Have a reliable means of transportation to and from assigned venues and production calls.
• Be dependable and able to report for scheduled calls on time.
• Be available for a flexible event-driven work schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates who have:

• Five or more years of professional live-event or entertainment-production experience.
• Previous experience as a Department Head, Lead Technician, Crew Chief, Technical Director, or similar production leadership position.
• Experience working in theaters, performing-arts centers, convention facilities, arenas, concert venues, event centers, or other professional production environments.
• Experience supporting touring concerts, theatrical productions, corporate events, conventions, festivals, trade shows, or large-scale special events.
• Advanced knowledge of professional lighting, audio, video, scenic, rigging, wardrobe, or related production systems.
• Experience programming or operating professional electronic control systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead crews effectively in fast-paced live-production environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing production schedules and requirements.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Live-event production is physically demanding and requires flexibility. Depending on the department and production, Department Heads may be required to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Bend, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive physical tasks.
• Lift, carry, position, and assist with production equipment and materials.
• Work on stages, backstage areas, loading docks, production floors, and other event spaces.
• Work around theatrical lighting, amplified sound, moving equipment, cables, scenery, and other production elements.
• Work indoors or outdoors depending on the event and venue.
• Work extended or irregular shifts based on production schedules.
• Work evenings, overnight hours, weekends, holidays, and early mornings.
• Work in environments where production schedules and priorities may change with limited notice.

Department Heads are expected to maintain safe working practices and follow applicable venue, production, equipment, and workplace safety procedures.

Scheduling & Assignment Requirements

This is an event-driven position, and work schedules will vary according to production and venue requirements.

Department Heads may be assigned to specific venues, events, productions, or technical departments based on their demonstrated experience and expertise.

Individuals selected for Department Head assignments are expected to provide consistency and continuity throughout their assignments. Once assigned to a particular venue or production, the same Department Head may be expected to remain available for subsequent production calls associated with that assignment.

Advance approval may be required before another individual can assume an established Department Head assignment.

Department Heads must demonstrate a high degree of:

• Reliability
• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Professionalism
• Schedule commitment
• Consistent job performance
• Technical competency
• Leadership and accountability

Supervision & Working Relationships

Department Heads will work under designated production and facility supervision and are responsible for directing assigned stagehands and technical personnel within their department.

The position requires frequent interaction and coordination with:

• Venue and facility management
• Production management
• Touring production personnel
• Clients and event representatives
• Other Department Heads
• Stagehands and technicians
• Vendors and production partners

Department Heads are expected to follow authorized instructions, venue procedures, production requirements, and applicable safety policies while maintaining effective communication with all supervisory and production personnel.

Performance Expectations

Because these positions support professional live events and productions, Department Heads are expected to maintain high standards of conduct, technical performance, safety, and reliability.

Successful Department Heads consistently demonstrate:

• Professional conduct and appearance
• Strong technical competence
• Effective crew leadership
• Dependability and punctuality
• Clear and professional communication
• Safe working practices
• Respect for clients, coworkers, touring personnel, and management
• Strong situational awareness
• Effective problem-solving skills
• Ability to follow technical and production instructions
• Ability to remain calm and effective under production deadlines
• Willingness to perform hands-on production work
• Ability to adapt to changing event and production requirements

Continued assignments may depend on maintaining required standards of performance, professionalism, safety, reliability, and technical competency.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal Department Head is more than an experienced stagehand. This individual is a hands-on technical leader who can take ownership of a production department while remaining an active member of the crew.

Successful candidates will be comfortable receiving production direction, translating technical requirements into clear instructions for their crews, operating professional equipment, troubleshooting problems under time constraints, and collaborating with other technical departments.

The strongest candidates combine technical expertise with leadership ability. They understand that successful live-event production requires teamwork, attention to detail, clear communication, flexibility, safety awareness, and the ability to perform consistently in high-pressure environments.

If you have extensive professional stage-production experience, strong technical expertise in your specialty, and the ability to lead a crew while remaining hands-on throughout a production, we encourage you to apply.