The National Ballet of Canada is one of the most exciting, innovative arts institutions in Canada, and regularly ranked among the top ten ballet companies in the world. With an annual operating budget nearing $40M and a robust $74M endowment fund, The National Ballet of Canada is a fiscally stable institution, and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the fourth largest city in North America and one of the most vibrantly diverse cities in the world.
Established by founder Celia Franca in 1951, The National Ballet of Canada presents a full range of traditional full-length classics and has been an innovative commissioner of new contemporary work by some of the most important choreographers and designers in the world. The National Ballet has a history of pre-eminent Artistic Directors and, starting January 2022, welcomed new leader Hope Muir.
Renowned for its diverse repertoire, the company performs traditional full-length classics, embraces contemporary work and encourages the creation of new ballets as well as the development of Canadian choreographers and designers through unique opportunities including the Choreographic Associate programme and the new CreativAction programme. The company’s repertoire includes works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Rudolf Nureyev, John Neumeier, William Forsythe, James Kudelka, Wayne McGregor, Alexei Ratmansky, Crystal Pite, Christopher Wheeldon, Aszure Barton, Guillaume Côté and Robert Binet.
The National Ballet has performed to 10 million people annually in the Fall, Winter, Summer, and Nutcracker seasons, along with touring in Canada and around the world. The National Ballet has perfomed to critical acclaim in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamburg, San Francisco, London, Paris, Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
The National Ballet is deeply committed to the values of equity, diversity and inclusion across the organization, and through community education programs that bring dance to the broadest possible community. The company has a wide range of age appropriate programmes designed to engage with schools and children in the GTA and communities across Canada. YOU dance, the National Ballet’s signature programme, is designed to introduce students in grades four, five and six to the world of dance through free workshops and performances and is now live-steamed to every Canadian province and territory.
The National Ballet employs 120 artists, dancers and musicians, in addition to 130 permanent and part-time production and administrative staff. The company owns two properties, the Walter Carsen Centre on Toronto’s beautiful waterfront, which serves as our corporate headquarters, and the Gretchen Ross Production Centre, located in Scarborough, which is the pre-eminent builder of full productions for ballet in North America, with works rented out to ballet companies around the world and where our productions are built, maintained and stored. Our Toronto performance season takes place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, one of the finest modern opera houses in North America.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Artistic & Executive Directors, the Director of Production is critical to the artistic success of the Company and is responsible for all aspects of producing The National Ballet’s performances, programmes and events. The Director of Production works closely with the senior management team and plays a key role in institutional strategic planning by contributing to the Company’s artistic planning process in the selection of repertoire and productions and long-term scheduling.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Creates, monitors and administers the Production Department budgets for current and future seasons including special projects. This includes the running costs of the yearly seasons and tours as well as the cost of building new productions and maintaining existing productions and facilities. Prepares budgets and technical riders for all Company tours.
- Approves, tracks and authorizes all Production Department expenses including payroll, purchases and contracts for services.
- Prepares the planning calendar according to the preferred repertoire of the Artistic Director.
- Liaises with designers, prepares estimates and manages the production for scenery, props and costumes for any new productions.
- Negotiates and facilitate Collective Bargaining Agreements with I.A.T.S.E. 58, 828, 822 and International (stagehands, scenic artists, dressers and road crew). Administers and implements the collective agreements, by finding appropriate resolution for issues that may arise and hires, contracts and manages road crew and stage manager(s) positions.
- Oversees the management of the non-union costume shop at the Walter Carsen Centre and the unionized Gretchen Ross Production Centre.
- Oversees the rentals of Company sets and costumes to other companies.
- Adheres to, implements and enforces the Company’s Health & Safety Commitments and Procedures, and ensure that safe work practices and policies are supported and enforced.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Many evenings and weekends are required beyond normal office hours. Must be available for rehearsals and performances, occasional travel on tours, etc.
Qualifications:
- Post-secondary education in a technical/production field with a minimum of ten (10) years of senior production director experience managing large scale theatrical or live performing arts, including experience working alongside and supervising IATSE union stagehands.
- Extensive knowledge of stagecraft, theatre production and scenic construction, rigging, automation, lighting and video.
- Extensive knowledge of ballet repertoire in relation to technical production.
- Skilled in scheduling, budget management and personnel management.
- Excellent project management, organizational, and communication skills.
- Willingness and ability to both operate at a higher strategic level and to roll up sleeves to make things happen.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive and respectful relationships with internal and external constituents.
- Ability to handle stressful situations with calm and composure, and to maintain momentum in the face of challenges.
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities successfully.
- Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation and best practices.
- Familiarity with the orchestral world a plus.
- Proficiency with the MS Office Suite, Outlook, Vectorworks and SharePoint an asset.
Direct Reports:
- Associate Director of Production
- Technical Director
- Lighting Coordinator
- Wardrobe Supervisor
- Road Crew Heads
- Production Centre Heads—Carpenter, Scenic Artist, Props
- Stage Managers
To be considered for the position, please email the items below in one PDF-formatted file to HR@national.ballet.ca and include “Director of Production” as the email’s subject line, by no later than Friday March 31, 2023:
- A substantive cover letter outlining your interest in the position and the organization, the date you would be available to start, the contact information of two (2) to three (3) professional references and where you found the position listed.
- A résumé no longer than two (2) pages outlining your educational and professional experience.
Resumes will be reviewed as soon as they are received. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check. The National Ballet of Canada recognizes its heightened duty to protect employees from health and safety risks during the current pandemic. As such, an offer of employment shall be conditional on proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization. Boosters are strongly recommended but not currently required.
The National Ballet of Canada is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible, and equitable environment where employees feel valued and respected. We are committed to reflect the diversity of our community, our city and our country. We strive to ensure our recruitment and selection processes are bias-free. We welcome and encourage submissions from Indigenous, Black and People of Colour, the Deaf and disabled as well as individuals of all genders, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We are committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The Human Resources department will work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.
