Head of Properties

Position Location
Fort Collins, CO

Work Location
Position is fully in-office/in-person

Research Professional Position: No

Posting Number: 202301241AP

Position Type: Admin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification Title
Technical/Support II

Number of Vacancies: 1

Work Hours/Week: 40

Proposed Annual Salary Range
$42,000-$46,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for eligible employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ and https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/. To see the value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, visit our compensation calculator – https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/.

Desired Start Date
09/01/2023

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on
07/31/2023

Description of Work Unit

The School of Music, Theatre and Dance (SMTD) has 36 tenured and tenure-track faculty as well as 40 adjunct faculty. There are currently over 550 students in SMTD, with 311 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in music degree programs.

The University Center for the Arts is a nationally recognized state-of the art 350,000 square foot facility, that includes a 550-seat concert hall, a 275-seat organ and chamber music recital hall, a 320-seat thrust theatre, a 100-seat black box theatre, a 200-seat dance theatre, dedicated rehearsal, production, and research spaces, along with classrooms, labs, and practice rooms.

Colorado State University (CSU) is a land grant institution with a student enrollment of approximately 30,000 students in over 150 programs, and a faculty numbering 1,700. The College of Liberal Arts, within which the school is located, is the largest college in the University.

CSU is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, a beautiful city of approximately 175,000 located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. MarketWatch has listed Fort Collins as the “No. 1 Best Place to Live in America in 2020,” and was also ranked No. 1 for the “2020 Top 100 Places to Live in America” by Livability.com. Additionally, Fort Collins is in America’s top ten for best performing city, safest for driving and cycling, best place to raise a family, and No. 1 in the country for reducing harmful emissions by using alternative fuels and transportation. CSU was recently ranked first among Colorado-based educational employers and fifth among all in-state employers in Forbes magazine’s “America’s Best Employers by State!”

Colorado State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Position Summary

The Colorado State University School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is seeking a Head of Properties for immediate hire.

We seek an experienced Head of Properties with significant professional experience in theatre or opera, and experience in an academic setting, to train and supervise property shop staff and safely deliver our main-stage Theatre, Dance, and Opera productions, currently consisting of three fully produced plays, two fully produced operas, one fully-produced musical, a “workshop” level Freshman project (no major scenic elements), and four dance concerts (with limited scenic elements). CSU productions are designed by faculty and by students; willingness to work with and train developing talent is essential. The Head of Properties position provides practical training and supervision for the CSU Music, Theatre and Dance Practicum (TH186/TH286/TH386/TH486, D286) sections. The Head of Properties may help assist with TH 161 Stagecraft labs as collaborated with TH 161 instructor. The Head of Properties may also be asked to serve on various committees to help in season planning, recruit and retention of students, or to better the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Students enrolled in these courses are seeking Bachelors of the Arts degrees in Theatre (Design and Technology, Performance and Theatre Studies Concentrations), Music or Dance. Up to 80% of their time is spent working with and training music, theatre and dance students. This position requires some evening and weekend calls, as needed.

Required Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Technical Theatre, or General Theatre with evidence of experience in the area of technical theatre and/or film production, OR a High School Diploma/GED plus a minimum of 4 years of related professional experience
• Prop artisan portfolio
• At least 2 years’ experience in a professional or academic theatre
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Experience buying, sourcing, building properties
• Experience maintaining a properties shop
• Experience working within and maintaining a budget
• Demonstrated experience mentoring students and/or interns/artisans

Diversity Statement

Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Job Duty Category: Properties Training

Duty/Responsibility

• Responsible for training work-study and practicum students assigned to learn skills in the properties shop. 
• Work and training includes, but is not limited to, carving, sculpting, texturizing, refurbishment, reupholster work, purchasing, organizing, and paint mixing; interpret technical drawings, and coordinate with scenic designers and staff on most effective way of realizing the design of each production; attend and participate in rehearsals, as needed; ensure that touch up kits are created and stage management and running crew have been instructed in the proper care and maintenance of finished properties; ensure that properties are actively inspected during run of shows and repaired, as needed; read all rehearsal and production reports, and respond, as needed; supervise and assist with production load in and strike of properties, as needed, including, but not limited to properties being returned to inventory and restoring theatre spaces to neutral; maintain and revise build and properties schedule for prop shops, including hours of operation, as needed.
• The Head of Properties will ensure a clean, safe, and efficient working environment in the prop shops and off-site storage facilities, and train staff and students in those areas. 
• They will train, coordinate, oversee, and participate, as needed, in the appropriation, construction, alteration, creation, painting, finishing, and setup of properties for productions.
• This position will maintain a properties inventory, tracking and checkout system; monitor and maintain adequate inventory levels of designated materials in the properties shop; perform daily maintenance of tools and equipment, as needed; serve as a resource for: students learning real world skills, professional or faculty directors, choreographers, musical directors, designers, technical staff, and faculty advisors regarding scenic and prop requirements and feasibility for main stage productions and classroom use; provide general scene shop support, as assigned.
• Attend production and staff meetings, as needed.

Percentage Of Time: 80

Job Duty Category: Budgeting/Purchasing

Duty/Responsibility

• Coordinate with the SMTD Production Manager to maintain, record, and submit documentation related to university PCARD; coordinate purchasing, ordering, and tracking of all production/consumable materials for the prop shops.

Percentage Of Time: 10

Job Duty Category: Supervision

Duty/Responsibility

• Assist with the assignment and supervision of student properties leads for productions; assist with scheduling work-study students in the prop shop; assist with scheduling of practicum students in the properties shops and provide performance feedback, as needed; develop and maintain weekly build schedules, including property shops’ hours of operation for timely delivery of properties and finished scenery to rehearsals and productions.

Percentage Of Time: 10

Special Instructions to Applicants

In addition to completing the online application, please submit:

• Cover letter (includes a statement of purpose related to job qualifications, as well as principles and practices related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion)
• Resume
• 5-7 page portfolio demonstrating multiple skillsets in prop fabrication, ie. Woodworking, metalworking, fabric, crafts, faux painting, etc.
• The contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.

Conditions of Employment
Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License

Search Contact
Heather.Bellotti@colostate.edu or Gretchin.Wheeler@colostate.edu

EEO Statement

Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.

The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu.

The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.

The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.

Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Minimum References Requested
3

Maximum References Requested
3