Production Manager; U

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty and staff. As a world‑leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice.

Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity‑focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

Cal Performances is the performing arts presenting, commissioning, and producing organization based at the University of California, Berkeley. The mission of Cal Performances is to produce and present performances of the highest artistic quality, enhanced by programs that explore compelling intersections of education and the performing arts. The organization delivers a diverse artistic and educational mission to the University and surrounding communities, as well as internationally through its digital platforms.

The organization delivers roughly 350 events per year, maintaining a budget size of roughly $18 million and roughly 65 career staff with hundreds of part‑time employees, volunteers, third‑party partners, and students.

The Production Manager is responsible for the management of technical elements for Cal Performances events and other University and third‑party events staged in the Zellerbach Auditorium, Zellerbach Playhouse, Hertz Hall, Wheeler Auditorium, Hearst Greek Theater, and other off‑campus venues, as necessary. The Production Manager is also responsible for our theaters' technical assets and for leading our production technical departments and contractors, including set/carpentry, lighting, sound, wardrobe, and makeup.

Working with a team of 15 career production staff and dozens of occasional production staff, the Production Manager leads advanced production preparations and oversees all stage needs related to the production of each event.

• Production Advance Planning
  • Work with directors, designers, producers, company technical directors, and tour managers to assess and coordinate technical requirements and schedules in advance of each company’s arrival.
  • Under the direction of the Senior Director of Operations and with the assistance of Production Department Heads, plan, manage, and implement all technical and staging aspects for performances and related educational/community programming in a number of diverse performance venues.
  • Manage labor and material expense for production portions of project budgets, working closely with the Senior Director of Operations to optimally utilize financial and human resources. Ensure production expenses remain within agreed‑upon budget, consulting when necessary.
  • Disseminate production details to all stakeholders who require them for success.
  • Recommend optimal venue seating configurations for each performance and disseminate that information to internal stakeholders, including the Ticket Office, Front of House, Artistic Planning, and Marketing.
  • Fulfill and negotiate contracts, technical riders, and production operations requirements, recommending solutions to challenges that affect timelines, resources, or project scope.
  • Implement a system of reviewing all production activities after each event, documenting lessons learned and continuously improving safety, timeliness, expense management, employee engagement, and artist/renter satisfaction.
  • Advise on appropriate and cost‑effective equipment for presentations.
  • Advise Cal Performances departments regarding technical needs for special events or residency activities.
  • Assist the Rental Business Manager in developing labor estimates for rental or campus events.
• Production Leadership
  • Su…