Production Manager

PRODUCTION MANAGER                                         

Position status: Temporary

Reports to: Artistic Operations Director

Compensation: $6,000 fee

Posted: March 2, 2026                                                                    

Application Deadline: by March 27 or until filled

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Chamber Music Northwest seeks a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Production Manager to join our team for the upcoming Summer Festival season. The Production Manager plays a central role in planning and executing all technical and logistical aspects of festival rehearsals, performances, and outreach events. This position works closely with seasonal production staff, artists, venue partners, and operations teams to ensure a seamless festival experience from first load-in through final strike. This is a hands-on role requiring flexibility, leadership, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic live performance environment. The ideal candidate would have interest in returning for future summer festivals.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Pre-Festival (Load-in)

• When able, attend meetings with CMNW staff leading into the Festival
• Become familiar with festival staff, artist roster, and Festival programming
• Create and oversee seasonal production staff schedules
• Serve as point of contact for CMNW’s production needs at all venues
• Oversee preparation of rehearsal and performance spaces, including backstage and office load-in, setting up chairs, stands, tables, and needed concert hall and performance equipment
• Learn the complete production schedule, including when and where public events will take place.

During the Festival

• Assist Festival staff with executing production aspects of Festival events
• Work directly with Stage Management team to prepare and run rehearsals and concerts
• Open, prepare, maintain, clean up, and close rehearsal and performance spaces as scheduled
• Act as artists’ main point of contact backstage, and as artist assistant during rehearsals and concerts when Stage Managers are unavailable
• Prepare and maintain artist hospitality tables; report when resources run low
• Liaise between production, operations staff, and artists during rehearsals and concerts as required
• Routinely ensure stage, backstage and greenroom areas are clean, safe, and secure
• Compile show reports in collaboration with FOH and operations team
• Execute emergency procedures when necessary

Post-Festival

• Inventory production supplies and equipment
• Return rented materials
• Assist with venue load-out
• Participate in Festival debrief

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

The Production Manager must have superb organizational, scheduling, and communication skills, and must have prior experience in live event or performing arts production (festival experience preferred). This position requires flexibility, reliability, limitless energy, and meticulous attention to detail. It also requires the understanding that they will supervise and/or assist, delegate or be delegated to depending on the day. Occasional heavy lifting/pushing will be required and candidates should be capable of spending long days on their feet.

Additionally, the following are required:

• Previous stage management or production experience at a major festival, event, or presenting organization.
• Ability to work independently but integrate with a larger team
• Discretion in handling personal information
• Ability to maintain a complex schedule of events and associated details (times, locations, artists, etc.)
• Fluency in Google Workspace and Slack
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation to/from work
• Accessibility via cell phone and/or e-mail during off-hours
• Potential last-minute availability

Strongly preferred qualifications:

• Supervisory experience
• Previous experience executing stage changes for live music or theatre
• Previous experience with musicians and technical staff at a live performance venue
• Background or strong interest in the arts or classical music
• Previous use or knowledge of radios/headsets
• Familiarity with backstage performance etiquette
• Interest in returning for future festivals

JOB CONDITIONS AND COMPENSATION

This Production Manager role is a full-time, seasonal position. In addition to the full work term listed below, there may be additional orientations, training, and pre-Festival staff meetings in early June. 

Contract Term: June 8–July 20, 2026

Summer Festival Dates: June 22–July 19, 2026

Pre-Festival hours will be for prep work and production meetings during regular office hours as needed. During the Festival period, hours will be long and demanding and will include working nights and weekends. The Production Manager must be available as many as six days a week during the Festival period, including occasional late night and early morning hours. Occasional heavy lifting is required. 

Chamber Music Northwest believes that our staff should reflect the diversity of our community. We welcome all qualified applicants, and encourage those who identify as Black, Indigenous, persons of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities to apply.  

CMNW is a 501(c)3 organization and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should send the following documentation to jobs@cmnw.org with “Production Manager” in the subject line by March 27, 2026:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Three (3) references (two professional, and one personal)

Please, no phone inquiries.

ABOUT CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST

Now in its 56th season, Chamber Music Northwest’s flagship Summer Festival presents programs of top international caliber that include mainstage concerts and numerous free education and engagement events in Portland. The artists invited to perform at Chamber Music Northwest range from rising stars to veterans and are among the most sought-after soloists, chamber musicians, and recording artists in the world. 

 

Chamber Music Northwest’s mission is to inspire our community through concerts and events celebrating the richness and diversity of chamber music, performed by artists of the highest caliber, presenting our community with exceptional opportunities for enjoyment, education, and reflection. Chamber Music Northwest is led by Artistic Directors Gloria Chien and Soovin Kim, and Executive Director Peter Bilotta.

Research encouraged at www.cmnw.org