Instructor, Technical Direction

The faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of South Carolina, Columbia campus, invites applications for a full time, professional-track position at the rank of instructor to begin August 16, 2025. The position is a 9-month appointment with a workload equivalent to teaching four courses per semester divided among traditional teaching and technical direction for theatre productions. This is an annual appointment that may be renewed contingent upon Dean’s approval, satisfactory performance, departmental needs, and the availability of funding.
The university provides opportunities for promotion to higher non-tenure ranks for eligible instructors.

The primary duty of the Technical Director is the coordination of all scenic activities (scenery construction, painting, and props) for departmental mainstage productions. Applicants must have proven managerial skills and the ability to promote a collaborative, team-based environment to fulfill artistic, scheduling, and resource needs.

Job responsibilities will include, as workload allows, serving as Technical Director for Mainstage theatrical productions each year by helping faculty and staff achieve production and educational goals of the department. The technical director assigns, coordinates, and oversees production planning, personnel, operations, budgeting and scheduling. Duties include but are not limited to: maintaining equipment, inventory, and upkeep of shop and theatre spaces; preparation of construction drawings; purchasing materials and supplies for productions; managing projects to ensure to fulfillment of production vision, schedules, and deadlines; establishing and maintaining production budgets and expenditures; teaching courses in elements of design for theatre or related topics such as stagecraft, advanced production design for theatre, or special topics in theatre; and serving as supervisor of part-time staff and/or students who are employed and/or completing experiential, theatre laboratory placements in theatre production studios while ensuring proper training and adherence to safety procedures/standards.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is a dynamic, collaborative community that includes two of the University’s most vibrant and visible programs. Students pursue a strong liberal arts undergraduate education or highly specialized graduate degrees in Acting, Theatre Design and Technology, Theatre Education, and Directing. Students gain practical experience and develop artistic skills through annual public performance seasons, educational conservatories, workshops, film projects, and community-engaged performances.

The Theatre program is committed to high quality productions as an essential component of preparing students for work in the profession. Our students perform in a range of unique venues, from an historic, arena-style theatre to our intimate black box, all located across the University’s downtown Columbia campus. Our venues include Longstreet Theatre (248 seat arena stage), Drayton Hall (404 seat proscenium theatre), Booker T. Washington Lab Theatre (90 seat flexible black box), and 707 Catawba Studio Theatre (60 seat flexible space).

The Department of Theatre and Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), and is a member of the University/ Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA). The department offers the M.F.A. (directing, acting, and design emphasis in scenery, costume, or lighting), M.A., M.A.T., and B.A. degree programs in theatre. For more information about our department, please visit our website at:

https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/theatre_and_dance/.

Review of applications begins March 15, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit the following materials:

Inquiries about the search and/or the position may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Associate Professor, Kristy Hall, at kristyleighhall@sc.edu.

All applicants must apply online at USCJobs at https://uscjobs.sc.edu.

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.