Props Supervisor – La Jolla Playhouse

DEPARTMENT: Production – Props
CLASSIFICATION: Full‑time, exempt (salary) position
PAY: $85,000‑$92,500 annually
LOCATION: La Jolla, CA on the beautiful UC San Diego campus
SCHEDULE: Regular weekday work with occasional weeknight, weekend and/or holiday work
REPORTS TO: Director of Production
SUPERVISES: Lead Props, Props Carpenters, Props Artisans, Technicians, Apprentices and Pre‑Apprentices
WORKS WITH: Production Supervisor Team, Production Management, LJP Staff, Visiting Artists and Designers, IATSE Labor, UCSD Theatre and Dance Supervisors, UCSD Residents and Students

POSTING DATE: January 2025
INTERVIEWS: February 2026
START DATE: March 30, 2026 (flexible)

Cover letter, resume, and references

The Props Supervisor has the primary responsibility of managing the Props Department and overseeing execution of the props design from design development through completion. They oversee the construction, installation, maintenance and transfer of props (built, purchased, rented, or otherwise) for all productions produced and presented by La Jolla Playhouse including festivals and special events while maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

This position works directly with the design and creative teams for each production, interprets technical plans, pictures, and verbal ideas, presents efficient technical and artistic solutions to the design and production teams, estimates labor and material budgets, and tracks budgets throughout the production process. The Props Supervisor, in collaboration with the other Production Department Supervisors, will take an active role in communication with Designers, IATSE Stagehands and La Jolla Playhouse Management to ensure all departments are informed about Prop designs, changes, planning, and scheduling for each production.

• Recruitment and management of Props department direct reports including leadership and coaching, skill development and regular feedback communication.
• Oversee season‑wide planning for Props department including space use, maintenance, capital acquisitions and labor calendars.
• Manage the scheduling, accounting, purchasing and planning for the Props department for all productions, festivals, and shop operations.
• Maintain and organize La Jolla Playhouse Props Shop, props stock, venue inventory, materials and other resources including management, development, and tracking of LJP resources.
• Conduct regular meetings to communicate information within the Props department such as project hand‑off meetings and weekly team meetings. Regularly meet individually with team members to provide personalized guidance and support.
• Create a props list, lead the props design development process with the project creative teams on track with project benchmarks.
• Advise designers on time period and cultural research and offer suggestions as appropriate.
• Coordinate and support props for developmental workshops in New York City and elsewhere.
• Estimate and track labor and material costs for productions, adjust and present options to designs to assist in the budget process, and advise Production Management of the potential financial consequences of any proposed changes or other alterations to designs.
• Direct the Props Department Staff in the Construction, Installation, Strike and Transfer process for all productions beginning with early design consultations through completion of projects.
• Coordinate rehearsal props, purchase props as needed, advise on construction techniques and assist in problem solving to facilitate the completion.
• Communicate as needed with Creative teams, Stage Management, and across other production departments to evaluate use and function of props.
• Attend production meetings, run‑throughs, tech rehearsal, previews, and note sessions as requested by Production Management.
• In conference with the Designer and assistant, coordinate notes from dress rehearsals and previews and establish priorities.
• In conjunction with Production Management, coordinate with UCSD Theatre and Dance Department technical personnel to ensure mutual success for all projects utilizing the Theatre District’s…