The Northwest School is an independent day and boarding school. We serve students in grades 6 to 12 on an urban campus in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. We provide an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that nurtures compassionate, globally aware and environmentally conscious individuals who find joy in learning and are ready to inspire and innovate in our interconnected world.
Northwest fosters a warm, inclusive community dedicated to our school values. We believe that a diverse community enriches our institution, making it more creative and dynamic. The Northwest School is committed to building a faculty and student body that reflects the diversity of the broader society. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.
The Northwest School seeks a Stage Design & Technology Teacher & Technical Director with professional experience in teaching, theatrical design, and technical direction. This position requires someone who works well with students from 6th-12th grade and can foster mentoring relationships among students in multi-level classroom environments.
This is a 10-month .75 FTE teaching faculty position, comprised of .5 FTE teaching responsibilities and .25 FTE technical director responsibilities specific to Northwest School theatre arts productions.
.5 FTE Teaching: One section of Middle School Stage Design & Technology, one section of Upper School Stage Design & Technology
Courses cover the fundamentals of design and technical work in the theater through classroom instruction and practical application. Students will demonstrate their learning in at least one of these areas by participating in at least one school theatre production.
Skills taught within these courses include:
- Scenic design, carpentry, painting, and prop construction
- Use of CAD software
- Lighting design and lightboard operation
- Sound design and soundboard operation
- Stage management
- Front of house roles
- Backstage crew roles
Successful instruction includes:
- Creating clearly articulated and sequenced lesson plans that build on students’ prior knowledge.
- Engaging students individually and in group settings.
- Assessing student learning via formal and informal assessments.
- Delivering feedback that is substantive, informative, and drives student learning.
- Enforcing applicable safety practices in the theatre/classroom environment.
- Utilizing classroom management strategies that uphold the mission and values of our community.
- Working with members of team to ensure vertical and horizontal alignment of Theatre Curriculum.
.25 Technical Director: Support all MS and US Theatre productions
This includes:
- Serve as Technical Director for all school theatre productions. Work with theatre director(s) and Costume Design teacher to organize, design and manage the technical aspects of performances, including load-in and strikes of sets. Support student stage managers/assistant directors, backstage crew, and front of house team, etc. in carrying out these roles.
- Complete additional carpentry work outside of class time to ensure safety.
- Attend Tech Week rehearsals and supervise/manage the technical aspects of mounting each production.
- Manage/maintain the Black Box theatre technical booth, greenroom, and workshop. Maintain records of inventory. Ensure maintenance/upkeep of tools, audio-visual equipment, software, lighting & sound instruments and grid and all technical equipment.
- Collaborate with Performing Arts Department Chair to manage production budgets; maintain inventory and order specialized supplies. Make recommendations to the Dept Chair regarding capital purchases of technical equipment.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Attend all required faculty meetings, including Arts, Full Faculty, Division, D.E.I., and Professional Development meetings.
- Serve as an academic advisor to a group of middle or upper school students.
- Communicate and collaborate regularly with department chair, division directors, and colleagues.
- Complete all other duties of teaching faculty at NWS as assigned by department chair, divisional leadership, or head of school.
Physical Demands
Work is typically performed in a theatre/classroom environment with intermittent sitting, standing, or walking in various settings. The faculty member occasionally lifts or carries objects of a medium weight, up to 50 pounds, and it is expected that they will lift and work on materials necessary for theatre set design and use building and construction equipment. The ability to climb and work at heights/on ladders is required. Full range of hand and finger motion may be utilized.
