About Seattle Center: 

Seattle Center is the region's premier civic, arts and family gathering place in the core of our city and region, home to more than 30 arts, cultural, and entertainment organizations, family attractions, and tourist amenities.  Our mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. As a department of the City of Seattle, Seattle Center contributes to the quality of life for Seattle residents—and the region's economy and image as its top visitor destination.

About McCaw Hall:

McCaw Hall is a world-class, 3,000 seat multi-theater performing arts center hosting over 500 events and over 450,000 patron visits annually.  Owned by the City of Seattle and operated by Seattle Center, McCaw Hall is managed in accordance with a unique Operating Agreement with its resident tenants, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera. McCaw Hall’s Operating Agreement provides its resident tenants with on-going oversight and shared responsibility for the Hall’s annual budget and operations.

About this position:

We are seeking a Production Manager to manage the auditorium and backstage activities at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall. The position’s purpose is to ensure that all McCaw Hall clients have access to the theatrical equipment, systems and personnel they require to successfully produce their events. These events range from simple one-person presentations in our 400-seat lecture hall, to touring performances of major pop music artists and extremely complex professional opera and ballet productions involving over 200 cast and crew in our 2900 seat main auditorium. 

The Seattle Center and McCaw Hall place a very strong emphasis upon providing excellent customer service to guests, clients and staff as well as helping to ensure their safety and enjoyment while they are at McCaw Hall. 

Here is more of what you will be doing:

• Manage the selection, installation, operation and maintenance of all theatrical and technical systems and equipment related to event production, in coordination with appropriate Seattle Center and Resident Tenant staffs, including lighting, audio, video, rigging and portable stage equipment inventory. 
• Coordinate with the McCaw Hall General Manager, Front of House Manager, and Event Service Representatives and Seattle Center staff, to develop, policies, procedures, budget projections, and financial models for all aspects of backstage/production operations, including equipment/system use, maintenance, repair, and replacement/upgrades.
• In conjunction with and oversight by the McCaw Hall General Manager, and in collaboration with the Stage and Sound Department Crew Chiefs, develop and manage the labor and non-labor budget for the theatrical production operations for McCaw Hall.
• Collaborate with the McCaw Hall General Manager, Front of House Manager, and Event Service Representatives to develop, recommend, review, and implement policies, procedures, and projects to improve McCaw Hall operations, event servicing, client retention, and patron satisfaction.
• Assist McCaw Hall Manager Front of House Manager, and Event Service Representatives with identifying, prioritizing, budgeting, tracking, scheduling, and coordinating maintenance, repair, and capital improvement projects in the facility.
• Ensure that all such equipment and systems (whether provided by McCaw Hall or the client) are operated in a safe, appropriate and professional manner, and that all technical personnel and artists working in the building adhere to reasonable safety standards.
• Provide Event Service Representatives with thorough, useful, accurate and timely information about McCaw Hall’s theatrical equipment, systems, physical lay-out, and any other technical production related information, to maximize their potential for successful production of events at McCaw Hall. As appropriate/necessary, advise Event Service Representatives on design and production related issues and options.
• Work with Event Service Representatives to determine production requirements, including schedule, equipment, and labor for their event and, once confirmed by client, communicate with appropriate McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, and labor union staff to insure these resources are available as needed. 
• In coordination with appropriate McCaw Hall and Seattle Center staff, assist with providing Event Service Representatives with thorough, accurate, timely estimates of equipment use and production labor expenses for their event; inform Event Service Representatives of any changes to these estimates, and assist in preparing final production cost settlement post event. 
• Awareness of Primary production schedule for McCaw Hall; work with Staff to ensure fluidity throughout the year between RTO’s and outside clients.  
• Responsible for developing, implementing and managing a periodic preventative maintenance program for theatrical systems and equipment. 
• Participate in planning, and management of, assigned special projects and facilities initiatives.
• Liaison with RTO production managers to ensure production efficiency and quality operations.
• Serve as Manager On Duty for McCaw Hall.
• Serve as Seattle Center Duty Manager on a regular basis, typically one duty shift per pay period, as work load allows.
• Understanding of JCC labor contract, position demands, and provisions for the major represented work groups.

This position requires the following education, training and/or experience:

• Progressive professional theatrical production experience.
• Progressive professional experience managing budgets, staff, and facilities operations.

You will be successful in this role if you have demonstrated expertise in:

• Thorough knowledge of theatrical production in a venue of similar scale/operation.
• Maintaining an auditorium, orchestra pit, and stage areas.
• Theatrical production and performing arts venue operations.
• Effective handling of multiple tasks in a fast-paced work environment.
• Working with represented work groups (Local 15, 46, and 117) 
• Working cross functionally with departments, individuals, and contractors.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, with specific emphasis on demonstrated ability to communicate technical information in a useful, coherent way to people with a broad range of background/expertise in theatrical production.
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively as a key member of a team. The Production Manager must have the ability to quickly gain, and maintain, the confidence and respect of a diverse range of individuals with specific expertise.
• Extensive event industry knowledge and established industry relationships.
• Managed equipment and operational budgets ($1M⁺)  
• Excellent writing and computer skills, including Word and Excel.
• Experience with Momentus computerized event booking system.
• Working knowledge of CAD or other drafting software.

Work Environment/Conditions:

• Must be willing and able to walk and stand for extended periods, climb stairs, and, on occasion, move rapidly in response to situations requiring immediate attention.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

This position is classified as a Manager 1, Property & Facility Management. The full salary range for this position is $50.08 - $75.12 per hour. 

How to Apply:

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than 4:00 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, April 8, 2025:

1. Completed NEOGOV online application. 
2. Supplemental questionnaire responses. 
3. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
4. Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To align with our commitment to equity and the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative, Seattle Center is collecting cover letters and resumes without personal identifiers to achieve a blind screening process. 

Why work at the City?

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in dismantling racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and create and provide equitable processes and services. Seattle Office of Civil Rights)

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members

For helpful tips on the application process and recruitment process: Working at the City - Human Resources | seattle.gov