Assistant Properties Director

Title: Assistant Properties Director
Reports to: Properties Director
Employment Classification: Full-time, year-round, salaried exempt
Salary: Between $62,000-70,000/year, depending on experience
Benefits: Full medical, dental and vision coverage; retirement plan with employer match; and highly competitive time off, leave and holiday time policies. Full benefits package detailed below.
Job Description (PDF)

Summary, Scope & Purpose

The Santa Fe Opera, a world-renowned opera company producing a 5-show summer repertory season in its unique outdoor theater, is seeking qualified applicants for Assistant Properties Director. This year-round position will collaborate with the year-round Properties Shop Team, and key responsibilities include assisting in leading seasonal staff and apprentices in the production of stage properties; staffing staging, technical and dress rehearsals; and collaborating with outside designers to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality props and set dressings.

This position is well suited for a skilled prop fabricator and manager who enjoys taking a leading role in collaborating on the creation of world-class props and set dressings for a large, fast-paced summer opera festival. Someone who can both manage others and also get their hands dirty on prop builds. This role will collaborate with leading designers, fabricators, artists and other local and world-renowned companies within the theater industry.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include evaluating and implementing production designs with the Properties Shop Team that fit within budget and available build time, offering alternatives and solutions when required; serving as the point person at daytime and/or late-night rehearsals during the festival season; assisting in maintaining the properties shop, auxiliary prop spaces and prop inventories; hands-on properties builds; and assisting in managing and mentoring the next generation of properties technicians with different levels of ability.

Desired Skills & Requirements

Skills required include a BA in Theater or comparable professional experience, plus at least 3 years of prop shop fabrication experience preferred; understanding and implementation of safe practices in a theatrical environment; basic understanding of accounting practices and software preferred; proficiency in Microsoft Suite required and experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator preferred; and a willingness and ability to work within rigorous timelines and with a variety of personalities and skill levels. The ability to use standard prop shop equipment, to work from ladders and personnel lifts, to wear a respirator per OSHA guidelines, and have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive a panel van or full-sized pickup, is also required. Training will be provided for the right candidate.

Schedule, Compensation, Benefits

A 40-hour work week is typical September through early April. May through August, during the summer festival season, the workweek is extended to meet the needs of the summer festival season. The summer season can be challenging but is very rewarding!

The range for this salaried exempt position is $62,000-70,000/year, depending on experience. This position is anticipated to begin on or around January 1, 2026.

Benefits include comprehensive and low premium medical, dental and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability, life insurance and long-term care paid fully by the Opera; immediate eligibility for the Opera’s 403(b) retirement plan with employer match at the next open enrollment period after one year of work; paid vacation policy starting at 2 weeks and increasing after one year of work, along with sick and bereavement leave, one personal day, and 11 paid holidays throughout the year. Staff are also able to take advantage of discount tickets at the Opera and other Santa Fe venues, as well as a number of local businesses.

This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The fundamental job requirements are included, and these are the essential job functions. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

The Santa Fe Opera supports employees with its robust safety program, devotion to environmental sustainability and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion while setting the industry standard for stagecraft. The Santa Fe Opera has an industry-wide reputation as an excellent employer, providing rewarding opportunities amid a setting of great natural beauty. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the Santa Fe Opera celebrates diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, creed, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, political affiliation or philosophy. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.