Position: Head of Sound
Classification: Full-time, represented by IATSE
Reports to: Artistic Director
Hourly Rate: $23.50 per hour (40 hours/week, PTO, holidays, benefits, and overtime eligible)
Date: April 14, 2025

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit arts organization located in the heart of Arlington Heights, Illinois. It houses a 329-seat professional theater, and a school of performing arts that offers drama, dance, and music lessons to artists of all ages. Metropolis’ mission is to create an artistic home for performers, students, and audience members by making the arts accessible in our community.

Summary of Position
The Head of Sound is responsible for executing sound requirements for the organization, including Main Stage productions, Metropolis Presents series, School of Performing Arts productions, and Development/Fundraising events. This role is responsible for all technical and operational aspects of sound, including system design, implementation, and maintenance. This role supports Artistic leadership and contracted Sound Designers for our Main Stage series. Additionally, this role spearheads the advancing process with Metropolis Presents series artists on sound, audio, and lighting needs. While the Head of Sound doesn’t need to run every show, this role is expected to recruit, mentor, schedule, and oversee additional sound technicians to support the organizational needs. In addition, as an integral part of the production team, this person supports colleagues in the technical, lighting, and production departments as needed.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Strong knowledge of acoustics, sound systems, and maximizing the potential of a performance space. This role is responsible for maintaining the quality of all sound elements of production.
• Expert knowledge of running both live and pre-recorded sound at a high professional level of excellence.
• Takes pride in the work product and offers a clean, organized, and efficient workspace.
• Basic knowledge of standard rigging practices.
• Resident sound technician of the performance space with a working knowledge of all its operating systems.
• Present when the performance space is in use, unless determined otherwise by the Artistic Director or Executive Director.
• Exercise superior leadership skills and be able to lead a crew through sound installations, operations, maintenance and strikes.
• Attend weekly production meetings, designer calls, and tech rehearsals as determined by the AD.
• Commitment to safety and compliance with EPA & OSHA workplace standards.
• Work closely with the Production Manager and Sound Designers to oversee rentals, annual capital purchases, installations, strike, and bi-annual maintenance.
• Provide an annual inventory of all sound equipment.
• Generate, manage, and report on sound department budgets.
• Secure over-hire and subs as needed (with AD/ED approval) for sound needs.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two or more years of sound design or sound engineer experience.
• Strong sense of service, collaboration, and drive to meet goals with colleagues.
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence in dealing with staff, artists, and students.
• Experience working with theatrical projection systems is a plus.
• Detailed knowledge of QLab, Vectorworks, Yamaha console line, Shure microphones and wireless equipment, in-ear monitors, and standard sound infrastructures.
• Ability to successfully lead, delegate, and manage over-hire personnel.
• Excellent communicator and collaborator.
• Time and project management skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks under pressure.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs regularly, operate a Genie, and climb scaffolding as needed.
• Commitment to Metropolis’ DEI platform.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Indoor theatrical environment, some with low lighting at times, and performance spaces including main stage, backstage areas, dressing rooms, and administrative office spaces.
• Seated and standing positions
• Ladders, Genie Lifts, and catwalks
• Ability to regularly lift objects of up to 50 lbs. and climb ladders up to a height of 24 feet required
• Option to flex schedules based on performance needs.
• Evening and weekend hours required.

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter and resume to: dvictor@metropolisarts.com.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT:

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoffs, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.