JOB OFFER: Director of the Set and Costume Design – Scénographie Program

This job offer is closed.

The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is currently searching for a bilingual Set and Costume Designer with demonstrated professional experience and recognition. The successful candidate must be committed to and experienced in transmitting knowledge to students while encouraging them to develop their own artistic voice and a strong work ethic.

The Set and Costume Design - Scénographie program is the only bilingual program offered at NTS. Students enrolled in the program benefit from the opportunity of honing their skills in a unique environment where they learn and work together. Students are not required to be bilingual. However, a basic understanding of both official languages will enable students to fully benefit from their training at the School.

The successful candidate will report to the two Artistic Directors of the School (English and French sections), be a member the Coordination Committee, and fully participate in the pedagogical meetings of both sections.

CONTEXT

NTS, an intense, thriving hub of creativity founded in 1960, exposes its hand-picked student body to a wide range of approaches, working methods and expertise. We believe in the power of theatre to bring people together to think, feel and dream as one. Theatre strengthens communities, develops empathy and creativity, sparks debate and fosters collective well-being, to better equip society to tackle the complex challenges of our time.

Continually inspired by the energy and drive of its students and the artistic community, NTS is developing new ways of providing access to its expertise so that it can play a leading role in consolidating the cultural sector and building a more compassionate, resilient and healthier society. It is in this context of increased adaptability within the community that the person appointed to the position will work collaboratively with all program directors, and more particularly with students involved in set and costume design for the production of public performances.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The incumbent is responsible for the overall artistic and pedagogical direction, and the efficient management, of the Set and Costume Design - Scénographie program. Responsibilities include determining training content and learning activities, selecting students and guest trainers, and managing the human and financial aspects of running the department.

More specifically, the incumbent:

Participates in the implementation of the School’s New Pathways Action Plan;
Clearly articulates, communicates and implements a coherent vision for the program;
Is required to play a key role to ensure that the NTS French and English sections receive the same solid support in their day-to-day activities and outreach initiatives;
Is responsible for cohort selection and for ensuring balanced representation for Francophone and Anglophone students;
Evaluates each student’s progress according to the School’s evaluation policy;
Participates actively in student training by handling some of the course load and mentoring students who are part of the design team for public performances and other artistic projects;
Promotes pedagogical and artistic exchanges and conversations relating to set and costume design so that all participants (other program directors, stage directors, and students from other programs) feel involved;
Hires, trains, supports, motivates and evaluates employees within incumbent’s areas of responsibility, to help them achieve their respective goals;
Plans and manages budgets in incumbent’s areas of responsibility;
Supervises the various venues, and all set and costume design aspects of productions at Monument-National and the School's studios;
Works with the heads of Carpentry Shop and Wardrobe to ensure that projects advance smoothly;
Assumes all additional tasks related to this position.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The successful candidate should be an artist inspired by the challenges facing theatre today, yet fully at ease with technical and artistic aspects of the stage. He or she should be collaborative, motivated, and extremely disciplined and flexible – an artist who will defend the values upheld by NTS.

The successful candidate will have a career path that demonstrates:

A deep knowledge and understanding of Canadian and international theatre practice;
A network of significant and influential set and costume designers in Canada and abroad;
A mastery of the various theatrical languages and an advanced understanding of the impact of technology on the creative process and on stage performance;
Team leadership and management budgets and schedules;
Demonstrated planning, organizational, managerial and teamwork skills.

The successful candidate should also possess:

Written and oral communication skills in both official languages;
Strong people skills and a proven ability to foster teamwork, develop employee and student self-sufficiency, and manage conflicting priorities in a manner that respects everyone's point of view;
Pedagogical skills and demonstrated teaching ability and experience;
Excellent team player and the ability to work with students, artists, teachers and other staff members;
Excellent leadership and consensus-building skills, the ability to demonstrate sound judgment, creativity, rigour, diplomacy, self-sufficiency, integrity, and a good sense of humour.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL

The National Theatre School is the premier professional training institution for theatre artists in the country. We offer high-quality training program in both official languages to the actors, directors, designers, production specialists and writers of tomorrow. Through its artistic pursuits and work culture, NTS promotes values of collaboration, transparency, flexibility, and customer service.

If you are interested in this position, please submit an application describing your professional background, and explaining your interest in the position, by email to info@ent-nts.ca. Clearly state "Application: Director of the Set and Costume Design - Scénographie program" on the subject line.

Application deadline: By noon, on Monday, January 15, 2018.

This is a full-time Montreal-based position, requiring full availability from mid-August to mid-June. The official appointment date is August 1, 2018. There will be a transitional period between the months of April and July 2018, which will include the process of selecting the new student cohort for the 2018-2019 school year. The term of the contract is four (4) years, which could be renewable.

The person appointed to the position can accept other professional engagements during the school year on condition that these do not have a negative impact on the program. Each such engagement must be reviewed with and approved by the CEO and the Artistic Directors prior to acceptance.

NTS wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those selected for an interview will receive a reply.