Department Head of Sound
Reports to: CPO & Managing Producer
Our Sound Department is at the heart of every production at Hale Centre Theatre, and we're looking for a passionate, technically exceptional, and artistically collaborative leader to serve as our Department Head of Sound.
Position Overview
The Department Head of Sound is the organization's senior technical and administrative authority for all audio operations across mainstage productions, youth programming, and special events. The role is accountable for the long-term integrity of each venue’s sound system, department budgets, and high-level leadership and development of the sound team.
This position sets department-wide technical standards and workflows to ensure every production's artistic requirements are realized with engineering precision, operational resilience, and consistent quality from pre-production through strike. The Department Head serves as the primary technical partner to Sound Designers, Resident Designers, Music Directors, Music Supervisor, and Directors — translating creative intent into feasible system plans, staffing strategies, and repeatable execution.
The role reports directly to the CPO & Managing Producer and directly supervises Resident Designers, Sound Engineers, Audio 2/Zac Track staff (sound/lighting shared position), and Guest Designers. The Department Head works closely with the Resident Music Supervisor to ensure consistent sonic identity across venues and productions. The Resident Music Supervisor serves as an artistic liaison for directing teams and guest music directors to the sound department and sound designers. This partnership is essential to aligning technical audio execution with the broader artistic vision of each production.
Responsibilities
- Define department-wide technical standards, operational goals, and scalable workflows across multiple concurrent productions and event types.
- Determines yearly budgetary needs for all sound department operations with the Chief Production Officer, including, but not limited to: resource allocation, capital purchases, rental decisions, and equipment lifecycle planning.
- Oversees labor and staffing for the sound department, including scheduling for all teams.
- Attends production related meetings as a representative of the sound department as scheduled and/or requested.
- Hold ultimate responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building’s full audio ecosystem — FOH reinforcement, monitor systems, wireless microphone infrastructure, playback systems, intercoms, and networked audio (e.g., Dante). Works closely with IT regarding any shared network systems.
- Work in collaboration with the Sound Designer to direct acoustic tuning and calibration of performance spaces to achieve consistent, high-fidelity coverage and predictable mixing translation.
- Serve as the primary technical counterpart to Sound Designers — analyzing requirements and directing implementation to deliver approved designs safely and repeatably.
- Ensures proper departmental preparation for all technical and dress rehearsals with the goal of properly executing the designer’s design.
- In collaboration with the Music Supervisor, ensures consistent execution of all sound related items across all venues.
- Oversee playback systems (QLab or equivalent), including organized file structures, cue programming methodology, and backup/redundancy discipline.
- Ensures timely updates of QLab files to rehearsal halls with requested edits and/or sound effects.
- Manage audio support for rehearsal spaces, including track-based materials and rehearsal playback distribution.
- Provide strategic oversight across the full production lifecycle, including:
- Feasibility assessment: Evaluating scope, schedule, and budget against creative proposals.
- Design development: Translating design intent into detailed system plans and documentation.
- Technical delivery: Managing installation, programming, test & adjust, and commissioning.
- Final documentation & sustainment: Producing and archiving complete show data for handoffs and future remounts.
- In tandem with the CPO, recruit and onboard Guest Designers, ensuring alignment with department systems and culture.
- Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate Resident Designers, Sound Engineers, and A2/Z2 staff; conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback.
- Establish consistent operating procedures and foster a team culture of calm execution under pressure, collaborative problem-solving, and high-quality audience experience.
- Enforce documentation standards for system block diagrams, patch lists, RF tracking sheets, IP schedules, intercom documentation, and cable conventions.
- Maintain equipment inventories, coordinate repairs, manage vendor relationships, and track consumables.
- Establish and enforce department-specific hearing conservation practices consistent with OSHA noise exposure standards.
- Own RF coordination practices, ensuring wireless operations (including radios) comply with applicable FCC spectrum rules.
- Ensure assistive listening systems are maintained, deployable, and compliant with ADA requirements.
- May serve as a sound designer and/or sound engineer on assigned productions.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Theatre, Audio Engineering, or equivalent experience with a focus on live sound and theatrical production.
- 5+ years of professional theatrical sound experience, with a strong focus on live musical theatre.
- Demonstrated experience mixing live musicals and executing cue-based sound operations under performance conditions.
- Expert working knowledge of digital mixing consoles (e.g., DiGiCo, Avid, Yamaha), wireless microphone systems, and playback software (QLab or equivalent).
- Experience with networked audio systems (Dante Level 2 or higher) and RF coordination software for large-scale wireless counts.
- Experience managing RF coordination for Shure Axient and PSM 1000 wireless systems and Clear-Com/intercom systems for multi-production environments.
- Strong knowledge of signal flow, system design, acoustic tuning, and audio network fundamentals.
- Proven ability to lead and develop a sound department, manage departmental budgets, and make high-pressure technical decisions in live environments.
- Strong written, verbal, and organizational communication skills across creative and technical disciplines.
- A commitment to safety, quality, and efficiency in all aspects of audio production.
- Ability to work both independently and within a collaborative team, adapting to changing production priorities.
- A passion for continuous learning, innovation, and technical excellence in live theatre.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience as an A1, Sound Designer, and/or Sound Supervisor in regional or educational theatre.
- Experience with show control systems (OSC, MIDI, LTC).
- Ability to read music and follow conductor scores.
- Experience working with live musicians in a theatrical/performance environment.
- Familiarity with youth or junior productions.
- Experience with object and immersive based mixing systems (i.e. d&b Soundscape, L-Acoustics L-ISA, Meyer’s Spacemap Go)
- Experience programming or working with Q-SYS Designer.
This position requires a proactive, collaborative, and detail-oriented individual who thrives in a fast-paced production environment. The ideal candidate will bring both technical mastery and a genuine passion for the art form — ensuring exceptional audio quality, aural cohesion across our venues, and a sound department that consistently elevates every production.
