Associate Director, Programs and Production (Full-Time, Onsite) - MASS MoCA - North Adams

About MASS MoCA:

Since 1999, MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams, MA, has been a dynamic hub for the performing arts, seamlessly integrating them with its renowned visual art exhibitions. Performing Arts is integral to the museum's mission, dedicating half of its programmatic resources, and emotional bandwidth to live performance. The museum hosts over 75 performances annually, encompassing contemporary dance, indie rock, world music, and cross disciplinary collaborations in multiple venues including a 10,000 square foot black box theater, a cabaret style venue, an assortment of outdoor courtyards and occasionally in our soaring indoor exhibition spaces. Signature events like the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival, Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival, and the FreshGrass Festival transform the museum into a vibrant hub, celebrating innovative music and fostering artistic exploration. 

Beyond presenting performances, the MASS MoCA plays a crucial role in project development by providing artists with residencies that offer time, space, and professional support to ideate, develop and rehearse new creations. These residencies often culminate in work-in-progress showings, allowing audiences to engage with the creative process. Through this dual focus on presentation and creation, MASS MoCA fosters a dynamic environment where innovation thrives and audiences experience the evolution of contemporary performance firsthand.

MASS MoCA seeks a progressive and experienced professional with extensive production management experience who can lead and manage complex logistics, develop operational plans, and support artists throughout the working process. 

Position Description: 

The Associate Director of Programs and Production serves as the senior production lead for all live performance activity at MASS MoCA, working in close partnership with the Artistic Director, Managing Director of Performing Arts, and the museum’s Director. This role is responsible for overseeing multi-year production planning, technical execution, and resource allocation to support the successful realization of performances, residencies, and commissions. The Associate Director leads the development of long-range production schedules, scenario planning, and technical feasibility assessments, ensuring that projects align with institutional goals and the Artistic Director’s creative vision. Acting as the primary point of contact for projects in consideration or development, the Associate Director provides strategic oversight from concept through performance, ensuring productions are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest production standards.

This position reports to the Managing Director, directly supervises the Production Manager/Technical Director, and works cross-departmentally to align production logistics with institutional priorities and operational needs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supporting the long-lead production planning process, coordinating with artists, internal departments, and production staff to align calendars, budgets, and technical requirements with artistic development. 
• Serve as the central production liaison for long-lead projects, ensuring consistent communication and tracking of milestones from early development through execution.
• Monitoring artists and projects that we may be interested in for future presentation or developmental residencies. 
• Provide focus, prioritization, and context in a landscape of multiple and concurrent commitments.
• Maintain detailed tracking systems for projects in development, identifying production requirements and next steps for each stage of progress.
• Assesses technical requirements and production feasibility for all projects, reviewing venue capabilities and identifying opportunities for technical efficiency.
• Engage with artists to identify the resources and scope required to create budget assumptions for each production; manage those assumptions and communicate if changes or requests for more resources occur.
• Work with the Managing Director to refine production roles and accountabilities and define and support relationships to cross departmental leads. 
• Supervises the Production Manager/Technical Director in supporting load-in, rehearsals, performance, and strike for each production.
• Manage departmental resources, conducts ongoing budget analysis and future budget planning in coordination with the Managing Director and Production Manager/Technical Director.
• Review and improve stage management recruiting, hiring, oversight, support, communication, feedback, and pipeline development. 
• Develop and maintain working practices and systems for the production team.
• Provide performance feedback and manage staff development goals. 
• Oversee the recruitment process and pipeline development for the production team.
• Manage hiring practices, pay scale, and oversight for production over hires.
• Participate in seeking funding opportunities working with Director, Artistic Director, and Advancement. 
• Provide input and helps to oversee renovations and capital improvements to MM’s venues. 
• Foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, clear communication, and mutual support while ensuring adherence to the UAW 2110 CBA and MASS MoCA policies and procedures.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Minimum 8 years production leadership experience working in a multi venue environment.
• Successful track record managing multiple productions simultaneously.
• Experience working on long lead production planning, tracking, budgeting, technical analysis and negotiation.
• Experience tracking and working with artists and production teams in advance planning and on the ground.
• Knowledge of up to date practices and current technology in the field.
• Experience in capital planning and or renovation in a theatrical venue setting preferred. 
• Expertise in all aspects of stagecraft.

Work Conditions: 

• This position requires ability to work a flexible schedule, with availability on weekends, and holidays, and for events, programs, and festivals, including those after museum hours
• This position is onsite, with occasional travel 
• This position may require overtime, as scheduled
• This position may require work in dimly lit areas, and/or may be subject to strobe lights or other photo sensitive situations
• The position may be subjected to loud environments for extended periods of time
• The majority of the workday is spent indoors, but occasional special events, exhibitions, and/or festivals may require working outdoors and in inclement weather

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time
• The employee may occasionally be required to climb or balance, squat, kneel, and crouch
• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds as required
• Must be able to verbally communicate with colleagues and guests
• Must be able to wear PPE when necessary
• Requires a valid driver's license

Exempt. Salary: $90,000 a year

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter as part of your application. We also ask that you complete the brief screening questions included in the online application form. Applications without a cover letter or responses to the screening questions may not be considered.