Head of Sound

Department Head of Sound

Reports to:

CPO & Managing Producer

Our Sound Department is at the heart of every production at Hale Centre Theatre, and we're looking for a passionate, technically exceptional, and artistically collaborative leader to serve as our Department Head of Sound.

The Department Head of Sound is the organization's senior technical and administrative authority for all audio operations across mainstage productions, youth programming, and special events. The role is accountable for the long-term integrity of each venue’s sound system, department budgets, and high-level leadership and development of the sound team.

This position sets department-wide technical standards and workflows to ensure every production's artistic requirements are realized with engineering precision, operational resilience, and consistent quality from pre-production through strike. The Department Head serves as the primary technical partner to Sound Designers, Resident Designers, Music Directors, Music Supervisor, and Directors — translating creative intent into feasible system plans, staffing strategies, and repeatable execution.

The role reports directly to the CPO & Managing Producer and directly supervises Resident Designers, Sound Engineers, Audio 2/Zac Track staff (sound/lighting shared position), and Guest Designers. The Department Head works closely with the Resident Music Supervisor to ensure consistent sonic identity across venues and productions. The Resident Music Supervisor serves as an artistic liaison for directing teams and guest music directors to the sound department and sound designers.

This partnership is essential to aligning technical audio execution with the broader artistic vision of each production.

• Define department-wide technical standards, operational goals, and scalable workflows across multiple concurrent productions and event types.
• Determine yearly budgetary needs for all sound department operations with the Chief Production Officer, including, but not limited to resource allocation, capital purchases, rental decisions, and equipment lifecycle planning.
• Oversee labor and staffing for the sound department, including scheduling for all teams.
• Attend production related meetings as a representative of the sound department as scheduled and/or requested.
• Hold ultimate responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building’s full audio ecosystem — FOH reinforcement, monitor systems, wireless microphone infrastructure, playback systems, intercoms, and networked audio (e.g., Dante). Works closely with IT regarding any shared network systems.
• Work in collaboration with the Sound Designer to direct acoustic tuning and calibration of performance spaces to achieve consistent, high-fidelity coverage and predictable mixing translation.
• Serve as the primary technical counterpart to Sound Designers — analyzing requirements and directing implementation to deliver approved designs safely and repeatably.
• Ensure proper departmental preparation for all technical and dress rehearsals with the goal of properly executing the designer’s design.
• In collaboration with the Music Supervisor, ensure consistent execution of all sound related items across all venues.
• Oversee playback systems (QLab or equivalent), including organized file structures, cue programming methodology, and backup/redundancy discipline.
• Ensure timely updates of QLab files to rehearsal halls with requested edits and/or sound effects.
• Manage audio support for rehearsal spaces, including track-based materials and rehearsal playback distribution.
• Provide strategic oversight across the full production lifecycle, including feasibility assessment, design development, technical delivery, and final documentation & sustainment.
• In tandem with the CPO, recruit and onboard Guest Designers, ensuring alignment with department systems and culture.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate Resident Designers, Sound Engineers, and A2/Z2 staff; conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback.
• Establish consistent operating procedures and foster a team culture of calm execution under pressure, collaborative…