Position Title: Production Manager
Location: Highland Arts Theatre, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Reports to: General Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW -
The Production Manager leads the planning, coordination, staffing, budgeting, and execution of productions and events at the Highland Arts Theatre. This hands-on management position supports HAT productions, festivals, rentals, educational activities, and facility projects from initial planning through rehearsals, performances, strike, and final reconciliation.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized and collaborative theatre professional who can manage multiple projects, lead production personnel, establish reliable systems, anticipate operational needs, and support excellent artistic work within approved schedules, budgets, agreements, and safety requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES -

Production Planning and Coordination:

• Create and maintain production schedules, calendars, contact lists, show files, and milestone plans.

• Coordinate production meetings, document decisions, assign action items, and communicate changes.

• Ensure productions and events progress efficiently from initial planning through load-in, technical rehearsals, performances, strike, and final reporting.

• Coordinate information among artistic, technical, administrative, marketing, patron services, rental, and educational teams.

Personnel and Scheduling:

• Hire, onboard, schedule, supervise, and support production personnel within delegated authority.

• Provide facility orientations and safety walkthroughs for incoming artists and technicians.

• Maintain a respectful, accessible, inclusive, and professionally rigorous production environment.

Contracts, Budgets, and Purchasing:

• Prepare and administer approved contracts, rental agreements, sponsorship agreements, permissions, and related production documentation.

• Develop and manage production budgets, track expenses, reconcile costs, and report emerging risks or variances.

• Obtain and compare quotes and coordinate the purchase or rental of production materials, equipment, and services.

• Maintain accurate records of contracts, approvals, purchases, assets, and inventories.

Technical Production and Facilities:

• Coordinate scenery, props, costumes, lighting, sound, video, rigging, staging, and related technical elements in collaboration with designers and Head Technicians.

• Plan, supervise, and assist with load-ins, technical rehearsals, performances, changeovers, and strikes.

• Welcome rental companies, coordinate their technical and facility needs, and ensure effective handoffs to production staff.

• Maintain organized costume, prop, set, equipment, technical, and storage areas.

• Assist with facility maintenance, capital improvements, and special projects.

Health and Safety:

• Serve as HAT’s lead production safety officer.

• Conduct and document regular inspections of production spaces and assigned safety equipment.

• Ensure personnel receive appropriate orientation, training, supervision, and protective equipment.

• Maintain safety records and respond promptly to hazards, incidents, damaged equipment, and compliance concerns.

Additional Duties:

• Support approved marketing, media, sponsor, donor, and rental communications.

• Maintain accurate and confidential personnel, financial, contractual, labour-relations, and organizational records.

• Collaborate with staff, artists, volunteers, renters, contractors, patrons, and community partners.

• Perform other reasonably related production-management duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS -

• Substantial experience in theatre production management, technical theatre, event production, arts administration, or a related field.

• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, budgeting, staffing, contracting, technical rehearsals, performances, load-ins, and strikes.

• Demonstrated ability to supervise personnel, delegate work, manage competing priorities, and meet firm deadlines.

• Excellent organizational, project-management, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

• Working knowledge of occupational health and safety requirements and safe theatrical work practices.

• Strong attention to detail and confidence using spreadsheets, calendars, databases, shared documents, and related administrative systems.

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.

• Commitment to accessibility, inclusion, respect, artistic excellence, safety, and responsible stewardship.

• Valid driver’s licence and reliable access to transportation, or another approved means of completing local purchasing, pickup, and delivery duties.

• Legally eligible to work in Canada.

• Willingness to obtain or maintain First Aid certification and complete required workplace training.

• Satisfactory Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Checks where required.

WORKING CONDITIONS -

This is a permanent part-time position requiring scheduling flexibility based on HAT’s productions, rentals, rehearsals, performances, events, and facility projects. Some evening, weekend, holiday, and concentrated production-period work will be required.

The role involves work in offices, public areas, backstage spaces, storage rooms, shops, and active performance environments. It may include standing, walking, climbing stairs, local travel, and safely handling or moving production materials within the employee’s training and physical capacity.

CONTRACT DETAILS -

• Duration: Permanent part-time

• Hours: Guaranteed 24 hours per week, with scheduling flexibility based on production requirements

• Start date: September 1, 2026, subject to acceptance of an employment offer

• Compensation: $22.00 per hour

• Position status: Managerial and confidential

HOW TO APPLY -

Please send your résumé and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience, skills, and interest in joining the Highland Arts Theatre team to gm@highlandartstheatre.com by August 15, 2026.

HAT welcomes applications from candidates with diverse professional, educational, and lived experiences. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Position Title: Patron Services Staff Member
Location: Highland Arts Theatre, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Reports to: General Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW -
The Patron Services Staff Member plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for patrons at the Highland Arts Theatre. This position involves working box office shifts, managing bar operations, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring the theatre is well-prepared for performances. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about providing exceptional customer service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES -

Box Office Duties:
 Handle ticket bookings via phone, email, and in person.
 Assist patrons with ticket inquiries, exchanges, and purchases.
 Provide excellent customer service to all patrons, resolving issues promptly.
 Maintain accurate records of transactions and tickets sold.
 Make sure the entranceways and box office are clean and clear of debris.

Bar Shifts:
 Operate the bar during performance times, ensuring a high level of service.
 Handle cash and credit transactions for drinks and snacks.
 Ensure the bar area is clean and well-stocked before and after shows.

Theatre Maintenance:
 Ensure the auditorium, bathrooms, and garbage bins are clean and presentable before each performance.
 Restock inventory, including bar supplies, bathroom amenities, and other necessary items. Communicate inventory restocking needs to the patron services manager.
 Make sure entranceways to the theatre are free of debris, garbage, snow and ice prior to patrons arriving for an event.

Signage and Marketing:
 Post signage for upcoming shows at the front of the theatre, in the lobby, and on auditorium doors.
 Ensure all promotional materials are visible and up-to-date in the concessions area and around the theatre.

Additional Duties:
 Collaborate with other team members to create a welcoming environment for patrons.
 Follow all health and safety guidelines during performances.
 Report any issues or concerns to the Patron Services Manager.
 Provide availability to the Patron Services Manager prior to a biweekly schedule being created.

QUALIFICATIONS -
 Strong customer service skills.
 Ability to multitask and work under pressure.
 Experience in retail, hospitality, or theatre environments is a plus.
 Comfortable with handling cash and operating a point-of-sale system.
 Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on the theatre’s performance schedule.

WORKING CONDITIONS -
This is a part-time position with evening and weekend shifts required, depending on the theatre’s schedule. The role involves standing for extended periods and light to moderate physical activity (such as restocking supplies and cleaning).

CONTRACT DETAILS -
 Duration: Casual
 Hours: Varied based on performance schdule.
 Start date: Rolling start dates as seasonally required.
 Compensation: $16.75/hour

HOW TO APPLY -
Please send your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience, skills, and passion for theatre to gm@highlandartstheatre.com

Applications will remain open year-round and eligible candidates will be considered for this and future openings.