Status: Full Time, Exempt 

Reports to: Director of Technical Theater & Production and the Executive & Artistic Director / General Manager 

Submit all inquiries and applications to: Jiles King, Interim Executive & Artistic Director, at jking@forestforward.org 

Forest Forward is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that partners with the community to drive equitable development, economic mobility, and improve outcomes for children, residents, and families of the South Dallas community. Forest Forward launched in 2021 and has experienced a wonderful period of growth and impact. 

Forest Forward is seeking an experienced Technical Manager to oversee the execution, supervision, and safety of all technical operations within the Forest Theater. This role is responsible for managing technical crews, maintaining production systems, ensuring compliance with safety and labor standards, and supporting consistent, high-quality technical execution across all performances, rehearsals, rentals, and institutional events. The Technical Manager will serve as the primary operational leader for backstage and technical execution while helping establish operational excellence during the organization’s pre-opening and inaugural operational phases. 

Responsibilities: 

Technical Operations Oversight

• Supervise all technical departments, including audio, lighting, video, staging, and backstage operations.
• Ensure all technical systems are operational, maintained, and performance-ready.
• Oversee technical execution for rehearsals, performances, rentals, and institutional events.
• Coordinate technical workflows between departments, production teams, and visiting productions. 

Labor & Union Coordination

• Coordinating IATSE crews and additional labor partners to ensure proper staffing levels for all events.
• Ensure compliance with union agreements, labor regulations, call structures, and working conditions.
• Supervise stagehands and technical crews while promoting efficient and safe labor practices.
• Support labor communication, scheduling coordination, and operational problem-solving. 

Live Event Execution

• Oversee load-ins, system setup, rehearsals, performances, strike, and load-outs.
• Call performances or support show-calling operations as required.
• Troubleshoot technical issues in real time during rehearsals and live performances.
• Serve as the lead technical representative during production operations and event execution. 

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce OSHA standards, venue safety procedures, and industry best practices.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and operational risks in real time.
• Maintain incident reporting, safety documentation, and operational records.
• Support safe working conditions for staff, artists, touring personnel, contractors, and patrons. 

Equipment & Facility Management

• Manage technical equipment inventory, organization, maintenance, and lifecycle planning.
• Ensure proper use, storage, maintenance, and operational readiness of all technical systems.
• Protect organizational investments in audio, lighting, video, rigging, and backstage infrastructure.
• Assist in coordinating preventative maintenance and vendor service support. 

Critical Technical Qualifications (Required) 

• Extensive professional experience as:
• A1 Audio Engineer (Lead Mixer)
• A2 Audio Engineer (Assistant / Stage Audio Support) 
• Proven experience in live sound environments, including:
• Theatrical venues
• Outdoor festivals and open-air productions
• Touring productions including load-in, system deployment, and load-out 
• Studio experience across multiple genres, including:
• Recording workflows
• Mixing and production environments
• Signal routing and session management 
• Advanced working knowledge of:
• Yamaha digital mixing consoles
• QLab
• Avid Pro Tools
• Apple Logic Pro
• Ableton Live
• Dante
• Clear-Com communication systems 

Preferred additional experience with:

• Additional digital console ecosystems
• Wireless audio coordination
• Networked audio systems
• Integrated show control environments 

Ability to:

• Lead audio and technical teams with authority and technical expertise
• Troubleshoot complex audio and production systems in real time
• Interface effectively with touring engineers, visiting productions, designers, and stage crews
• Step into operational support roles when necessary to ensure production success 

Operational Expectations

• This role is expected to maintain hands-on technical proficiency and operational leadership capabilities.
• Standard schedule: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM evening show coverage during active production periods.
• Position includes operational overlap with the Production Manager to ensure continuity between planning and execution.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday work required based on performances, rehearsals, rentals, and special events.
• Schedules are subject to change based on production demands, dark days, and organizational priorities. 

Compliance & Standards ensuring adherence to:

• OSHA safety standards
• Venue operational and life safety protocols
• Industry best practices for technical production environments Union/IATSE agreements and labor compliance standards
• Maintain accurate reporting for incidents, equipment usage, maintenance records, and show documentation.
• Support safe working conditions for staff, artists, touring personnel, contractors, and patrons. 

Business Impact

• Ensures safe, compliant, and high-quality technical execution across all events and productions.
• Protects organizational assets, technical systems, and infrastructure investments.
• Supports stagehand productivity, operational efficiency, and event readiness.
• Maintains professional production standards for performances, rentals, and institutional programming.
• Strengthens operational continuity, technical reliability, and long-term facility sustainability. 

Skills and Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional technical management experience in theatrical, live entertainment, touring, or performing arts environments.
• Extensive experience managing technical crews and live event operations.
• Strong understanding of production systems, backstage operations, and venue technical infrastructure. • Experience working within unionized labor environments strongly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication, troubleshooting, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple technical priorities simultaneously in fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated ability to create technical documentation, maintenance records, operational procedures, and production reports. 

Compensation and Benefits This is a full-time, salaried position with an annual salary range of $65,000 – $75,000, commensurate with experience, complemented by a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off. 

Additional Information 

Forest Forward provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age