Senior Director, Production

Job Description

Senior Director, Production

About the Opportunity

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the world’s leading performing arts center managing more than 16 acres of performance and gathering space in New York City, seeks to hire its next Senior Director, Production. This individual will have the opportunity to execute all live-event production elements occurring within Lincoln Center’s state-of-the-art concert halls – including the newly renovated David Geffen Hall – and throughout its many public areas. The Senior Director will be central to the planning and execution of New York’s highest profile events including classical music concerts, contemporary dance festivals, film premieres, television up-fronts, and free concerts for New York City.

The Senior Director will lead a team of 15 full-time administrative production personnel as well as a large work force of production and technical employees and will be a key partner to Lincoln Center’s ten resident organizations. They will deeply collaborate with the Lincoln Center programming department as it seeks to plan and present the world’s finest artists in their disciplines. Overseeing a team of production managers, technical directors, and union and non-union technical employees, including IATSE-Local One stagehands, the successful candidate will be ready to craft a culture of collaboration, communication, and trust for everyone within the Production department. This position requires a great deal of diplomacy, prioritization, authority, and multi-tasking, while taking care to maintain open and respectful relationships throughout the Lincoln Center campus.

About Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is the world’s leading performing arts center in the heart of New York City. In these times of heightened anxiety and vigilance, we are holding on to the important role the arts play in our lives: they nourish our hearts and minds, teach us valuable lessons and critical skills, and help us create community. We are resolved not to lose sight of what connects us, and we hope you will consider joining our talented and diverse team.    

We are:

• The manager of the Lincoln Center Campus - We are part of 16 acres of activity and one of eleven amazing resident organizations    
• A leading Arts Presenter - We curate a number of series showcasing music, dance, and theater    
• An Education Hub - We have reached 20 million students, educators, principals, and community members    

Who are our people?   

Lincoln Center is a diverse team of dreamers, collaborators, and entrepreneurs who use unique platforms in the heart of New York City and beyond to advocate for the transformative impact of artistic experiences. Lincoln Center People imagine and create in concert with this mission by founding President John D. Rockefeller III - "The arts are not for the privileged few, but for the many. Their place is not on the periphery of daily life, but at its center." Lincoln Center welcomes applicants from all sectors who agilely solve problems, show up as they are, and can't stop innovating.

About the Position

Reporting to Vice President, Performance Operations, the Senior Director, Production leads the team responsible for the active technical and production management of events at Lincoln Center's iconic venues, including: Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall, the Kaplan Penthouse, David Rubenstein Atrium, Clark Studio Theater, the public areas including Damrosch Park and the under-construction Lincoln Center West Initiative, as well as off-campus venues.

The Senior Director supervises a team of production management and technical professionals executing a dynamic production operation. Lincoln Center is seeking an industry leader who understands managing a large team challenged by an incredibly diverse and demanding production schedule across a multi-venue campus, as well as the high profile associated with Lincoln Center’s activity and location. The ideal candidate understands how to lead with authority, encourage delegation, and build trust among the team. They will be charged with remaining accessible and present for a team working at maximum capacity, bringing them together to execute the vision of Lincoln Center and its stakeholders, through confident, steady guidance.

Performance and Campus Operations department members work together across disciplines to successfully execute events and performances that encompass nearly every artistic form and genre. This includes Lincoln Center’s iconic American Songbook and festival programs as well free educational and community-based programming, daily rentals, and large-scale, multi-day, corporate activations of Lincoln Center's venues. The team also serves the Lincoln Center Resident Arts Organizations and helps bring their work to life on stage and around the campus.

Key Responsibilities — What You’ll Get to Do Here

Team Leadership

• Lead, manage, and mentor all Production personnel including full-time staff members and freelance production personnel
• Serve as manager of record for all IATSE Local One Stagehands and Local 306 Projectionists in Lincoln Center halls
• Develop learning plans for inter-departmental cross-training opportunities
• Collaborate on Lincoln Center’s broader labor strategy; directing the team managing collective bargaining agreement interpretation and enforcement for departmental union employees (Local One Stagehands, Local 306 Projectionists)

Production

• Create and execute top-level production schedules, calendars, and detailed logistics plans for Production operations
• Serve as thought partner to Lincoln Center executives regarding any production related questions or concerns
• Identify technical, budgetary, and time-related issues regarding Production activities, proposing solutions throughout
• Develop and implement Production and Campus Operations goals with other Senior Directors in alignment with Lincoln Center’s overall organizational strategy
• Develop and implement multi-year venue operational budgets and long-term capital project planning with General Management and Finance partners

Campus-Wide Partnership

• Partner with Lincoln Center’s Programming department to ensure all events are produced to maximize artistic integrity while minimizing safety and economic risks
• Coordinate with production departments at all Lincoln Center resident organizations to promote collaboration and information sharing as campus norms
• Provide executive leadership with operational and strategic perspective to shape, adjust, and achieve institutional goals

Qualifications

• 12 years of experience, minimum 6 years of leadership experience required
• Excellent leadership skills, including influence, decision-making, and delegation
• Dedication to creating and maintaining a positive culture in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated broad knowledge of performing arts production and entertainment technology
• Ability to think strategically, maintaining a focus on long-term planning, coupled with a keen awareness of day-to-day operations
• Comprehensive experience developing and executing institutional goals and strategies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Well-versed in collective bargaining agreements with theatrical unions, including IATSE
• Experience with Local 1 IATSE stagehands preferred
• Deep knowledge of operational safety standards, theatrical and building systems, and regulatory compliance (ADA, OSHA, FDNY, etc.)

Join us! It is the policy of Lincoln Center to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, marital or civil partnership/union status, familial or caregiver status, alienage or citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, military or veteran status, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, unemployment status, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. LCPA is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.  

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $215,000-250,000. Lincoln Center (LCPA) acknowledges that offering a comprehensive and holistic health and wellness package is critical to our success and the wellbeing of our employees. As part of our commitment to making LCPA an amazing place to work, we offer a wide range of benefits that deliver choice, access, and value. We are committed to providing you and your family with affordable health and life benefits, as well as the ability to secure savings for retirement.

Application Instructions

The Senior Director, Production search is being conducted on behalf of Lincoln Center by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy aligning strategies, structures, and leadership toward a thriving cultural sector. The search is being led by Vice President Eric Gershman, in consultation with and support from the TOC Arts Partners search team.

To apply, visit the online application and submit your materials. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume.

For general questions or nominations of prospective candidates, please contact searchteam@tocartspartners.com. We kindly request no phone calls.

Specific questions about the position may be directed to:

Eric Gershman

Vice President, Strategy & Business Development

eric@tocartspartners.com

Applications will be accepted until this role is filled. We encourage you to apply by August 17, 2026, for priority consideration. Interviews may begin at any time, and we encourage you to apply as early as possible for best consideration. Please note that applying before the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview, and all applicants will receive a response regarding the consideration and status of their candidacy.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you're returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-02m7x6-216-73-216-64-42 in your application.