NMSU’s Department of Theatre Arts is housed in the Center for the Arts, which is a LEED Gold Certified sustainable building, one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the area, containing a 450-seat proscenium house with an orchestra pit, trap room, two balconies, and a fly tower, as well as rehearsal and office space. We produce 4-5 productions in a season, and host a biannual play development workshop series. Our courses serve the approximately 60 undergraduate majors pursuing a BA in Theatre Arts, as well as students in the departments of Digital Film Making and Animation, and students from all majors who enroll in our general education courses, or take our courses as electives. We also engage in outreach within the wider Las Cruces community, and are committed to using the arts to serve and reflect this community.

New Mexico State University invites you to apply to be a part of a diverse, dynamic and welcoming learning and working environment in Las Cruces, NM. NMSU seeks employees who are creative and flexible in developing and evaluating new ideas and ways to evolve NMSU into the future. Located in the borderlands and adjacent to the mighty Rio Grande, NMSU is a proud Hispanic-serving institution in the minority-majority state of New Mexico. Southern New Mexico features an average of 294 days of sunshine annually, making NMSU ideal for job-seekers who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and bird-watching. NMSU is committed to sustainability through improving and maintaining the quality of human life while preserving the integrity, stability, and beauty of ecological systems for the future. We are looking for student-centered employees with a passion for success. NMSU invites you to take the first step to your successful and rewarding career by applying today.

NMSU is New Mexico’s land-grant and space-grant institution, a comprehensive research institution dedicated to teaching, research, public service and outreach. In addition, the NMSU system includes a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, Cooperative Extension Service offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers. New Mexico State University is the institution of choice for more than 15,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries.

The City of Las Cruces is the second largest city in New Mexico and is located in Doña Ana County, approximately 45 miles north of El Paso, Texas, and 225 miles south of Albuquerque. Las Cruces is the economic and geographic center of the Mesilla Valley, the agricultural region on the floodplain of the Rio Grande which extends from Hatch to the west side of El Paso, Texas. The Organ Mountains, 10 miles to the east, are dominant in the city’s landscape, along with the Doña Ana Mountains, Robledo Mountains, and Picacho Peak. Las Cruces lies within a short driving distance of the Mexican border at Santa Teresa, as well as many other locations in the broader borderland region.

Geography, climate, demographics, and ambiance of Las Cruces and NMSU combine to offer a truly excellent place to thrive. Family members will discover a warm, open community that offers an attractive array of activities and outdoor recreation, amenities, services and opportunities, whether they are looking for top-notch education, meaningful employment, or simply a safe and comfortable place to live.

The Department of Theatre Arts at New Mexico State University invites applicants for a Technical Director, responsible for implementing and supervising the execution of the scenic and property designs for all productions, including their creation, transportation, installation, and removal, and to teach courses in scenic construction.

We seek candidates dedicated to craft, as well as excellence in teaching, with
excellent planning and communication skills, who embrace learning and innovation, will contribute to a collaborative environment, prioritize students, and actively work to build greater equity, inclusion and diversity within our department and university.

The TD will oversee budgets for each of the department’s productions.

They will price preliminary set designs and submit budgets for approval, select construction methods and materials to ensure budget and safety compliance for all scenic designs, and order materials and shop supplies.

They will also develop technical construction drawings of all scenery to be built for each production, keeping in mind the use of stock scenic elements where possible to save money and materials.

They will oversee and help train student crews (especially stagehands),
manage scheduling and budgeting of the scene shop, and oversee maintenance of the scene shop, equipment, inventory, and scenery storage.

They will actively participate in the construction and installation of scenery, rigging, painting, and props, while maintaining a safe working environment at all times.

They will teach courses in scenic construction. They may assist in planning, purchasing and installing facility improvements, providing technical oversight and crew management for rentals when the building manager is unavailable, and perform other duties as required.

NMSU Theatre Arts is housed in the ASNMSU Center for the Arts, which is a LEED Gold Certified sustainable building, one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the area, containing a 450-seat proscenium house with an orchestra pit, trap room, two balconies, and a fly tower, as well as rehearsal and office space.

We produce 4-5 productions in a season, and host a biannual play development workshop series. Our courses serve the approximately 60 undergraduate majors pursuing a BA in Theatre Arts, as well as students in the departments of Digital Film Making and Animation, and students from all majors who enroll in our general education courses, or take our courses as electives.

We also engage in outreach within the wider Las Cruces community, and are committed to using the arts to serve and reflect this community.

The Technical Director is responsible for implementing and supervising the execution of the scenic and property designs for all productions, including their creation, transportation, installation and removal.

Costs out preliminary set designs and submits budget for approval. Selects construction methods and materials to ensure budget and safety compliance for all scenic designs. Orders materials and shop supplies. Develops technical construction drawings of all scenery to be built for each production, keeping in mind the use of stock scenic elements where possible to save money and materials. Oversees crew calls and student labor. Manages scheduling and budgeting of the scene shop. Oversees maintenance of the scene shop, equipment and inventory. Actively participates in the construction and installation of scenery, rigging, painting, and props. Maintains the cleanliness and order of the scene shop, scenery storage. Maintains a safe working environment at all times. Assists in planning, purchasing and installing facility improvements. May teach courses in scenic construction. Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge and understanding of principles, procedures, regulations, and standards applicable to the job. Understanding of the University’s mission, vision and goals.

Short- and long-term planning; problem analysis and resolution; report preparation and presentation; interpersonal and organizational communication, both oral and written.

Effectively communicate with others in a manner that ensures clear and mutual understanding of information throughout the set construction process. Establish and maintain effective relationships. Present information that is readily accessible and understandable by others. Communicate expectations to staff and effective deliver regular, specific and objective feedback. Solve problems and resolve issues.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Three (3) years of professional experience directly related to the standard duties as outlined.

We seek candidates dedicated to craft, as well as excellence in teaching, with excellent planning and communication skills, who embrace learning and innovation, will contribute to a collaborative environment, prioritize students, and actively work to build greater equity, inclusion and diversity within our department and university.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of principles, procedures, regulations, and standards applicable to the job. They will exhibit short- and long-term planning skills, problem analysis and resolution, skilled report preparation and presentation, and strong interpersonal and organizational communication, both oral and written. They will also demonstrate proficiency with power tools including table saw, band saw, panel saw, drill press, router, etc., and will need to have or attain a driver’s license upon employment. They should show an understanding of and commitment to NMSU’s mission as an Hispanic Serving and Minority Serving Institution. The ideal candidate will also exhibit a facility with Vectorworks (and similar drafting/modeling software), welding, scenic painting, CNC router, Plasma table, a single purchase fly system, and will have OSHA 10/30 training, ETCP rigging certification, and the ability to lift 50 lbs.

Work hours may include occasional evenings and weekends.

All application materials must be submitted online. Application materials include the following:

• a letter of interest