Director of Production and Operations
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Position:            Director of Production and Operations

Department:     Artistic Operations

Reports to:        Executive Director

Supervises:       Personnel Manager / Librarian / Production Stage Manager /Operations Coordinator/ Stage Supervisor/Technical Coordinator /IATSE Crew

Start Date:        January 2022        

Salary Range:    $62,000 - $72,000 Commensurate with Experience

Introduction

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is currently celebrating its 74th year. From its debut 1948 performance to over 3,000 audience members, the WSO has become a powerhouse orchestra, regularly surprising guest conductors and artists with the exceptional musicianship and flexibility of its members. The WSO holds over 90 events in its five music series, and vibrant education programs.

Under the leadership of Music Director Daniel Raiskin, the orchestra has earned a place among the ranks of major Canadian symphony orchestras. It has come to be regarded as one of Canada’s most innovative, welcoming eminent artists and conductors from all over the world.

The WSO’s activity regularly extends beyond its home stage at the Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall (MBCCH). Each year, the WSO’s much-lauded and highly innovative Winnipeg New Music Festival regularly draws crowds in the thousands. The WSO has produced concerts in Olympic size diving boards, cottage country harbours and outdoors at The Forks in -30c. The orchestra has toured twice to Carnegie Hall, regularly performed across Manitoba and Canada and plans to tour to the Netherlands in May 2022.

In 2011, the WSO founded Sistema Winnipeg (based on the Venezuelan El Sistema program for at-risk children), in partnership with two Winnipeg school divisions.  Over 40,000 students attend orchestra concerts presented by the WSO each season and its innovative pops and film programs serve a rapidly growing audience. The WSO functions as the official orchestra of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Manitoba Opera Association.  My WSO TV, the uniquely WSO subscription-based platform features free and paid content alike.  The WSO plans its ambitious tour of the Netherlands from May 1 -11 2022.

The Role:

Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Director of Artistic Planning, the Director of Production and Operations manages and supervises all aspects of the orchestra’s operations and production of WSO concerts and non-concert events, with particular focus on the orchestra’s collective agreement and technical aspects of: staging, lighting, audio, video and guest artist rider logistics.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Concerts and Events

In consultation with the Music Director, WSO Associate Conductor and Director of Artistic Planning, the Director of Production Operations ensures the highest quality production of all concert and non-concert events, including live streamed WSO events.  Duties include to:

• Create and manage production contracts, technical riders and guest artist itineraries;
• Create and manage production documentation and stage plots, in conjunction with the Production Stage Manager;
• Manage and supervise the Personnel Manager, Principal Librarian, Production Stage Manager, Operations Coordinator, Technical Coordinator, Stage Supervisor, and IATSE crew;
• Plan, manage and supervise all aspects of the technical requirements for the WSO productions for local, national and international concerts and events. Where necessary, tour with the company, assisting or undertaking set ups, strikes and all technical activities as required;
• Work with the Operations Coordinator to ensure that guest artist logistics are completed in a timely and professional way including but not limited to itineraries, transportation arrangements, hotel reservations, rehearsals with orchestra, and hospitality arrangements;
• Plan, manage and supervise requirements for the instrument transportation associated with the WSO’s schedule, including local, national and international touring;
• Liaise with, supervise and manage venue staging crews working on WSO productions at each of the venues used by the company;
• Take responsibility for efficient, effective and cost-smart hiring of contract and casual staging crews for concert and non-concert events;
• Oversee all electronic media projects including live streaming, radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, recordings, television commercials etc.;
• Hire and work with recording engineers and producers to ensure that recording sessions/projects run smoothly;
• Maintain a working knowledge of recording and AV agreements and advise on compliance with agreements when necessary;
• Negotiate, prepare and oversee agreements with IATSE local 63;
• Manage bookings with the MBCCH and other venues required for rehearsals and concerts;
• Establish detailed budgets for company productions and presentations on an annual basis. Closely monitor and report against such budgets on a monthly basis with particular attention to ensuring hiring and technical costs are aligned to budget;
• Oversee and manage the maintenance and security of orchestral instruments and equipment. 

Orchestra Schedule and Orchestra Personnel

• Plan and administer the season schedule in conjunction with Director of Artistic Planning for orchestra, tours, runouts, community concerts and all concerts. Supervise communication of schedules;
• Supervise orchestra personnel issues in collaboration with the Personnel Manager and Music Director;
• Maintain a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Collective Bargaining Agreement;
• Work with the Executive Director to maintain relationships with musicians’ committees and unions and to negotiate collective agreements and process grievances;
• Communicate general information and new policies to the orchestra.

General Administration

• Manage human resources documentation for Artistic Operations personnel, including job descriptions, contracts, job postings and search processes;
• Assess areas of long-term artistic focus, including partnership opportunities, collaborations, recording projects, and run-outs/tours;
• Perform other duties as reasonably required by the Executive Director

Safety and Health

• Oversee and ensure compliance with workplace health & safety requirements;
• Manage the WSO’s Safety and Health policies, in conjunction with Senior Director of Finance and Administration, and participate in the WSO’s Safety and Health Committee;

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated success and experience in staging professional and commercial productions at the highest artistic level;
• Orchestra operations or related experience;
• Demonstrated success and experience in planning, scheduling and managing the production requirements of national and international tours;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; strong computer skills;
• Demonstrated experience navigating sensitive issues requiring interpersonal skills and ability to mitigate and solve difficult issues with musicians, staff, and artists;
• Demonstrated success and experience in budgeting for professional and commercial productions;
• Highly developed organizational skills and demonstrated success in managing and coordinating stage crews.
• Demonstrated success in staging symphony orchestra concerts and events and/or knowledge and interest in classical music are ideal;

This full-time position requires work on some evenings and weekends.  The WSO welcomes all qualified applicants and highly values inclusion, diversity and equity.   

Please submit your resume and cover letter ideally by December 22, 2021 to the attention of Jean-Francois Phaneuf, VP of Artistic Operations at jfphaneuf@wso.mb.ca.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.