Head Scenic Artist
Des Moines Metro Opera
United States, Iowa, Indianola
Posted on: Sept. 23, 2025
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Description:
Summary
Des Moines Metro Opera is seeking to add the position of Head Scenic Artist to our full-time, year-round production team in Indianola, Iowa. This position is a recent addition to the organization and will lead the company in all scenic-art for the scenic builds and lead the scenic art team for the festival. The Head Scenic Artist will also need to act as the Head of Props out of the festival season; helping to prepare for the festival properties team to start by sourcing, organizing, planning for the properties. This position will be part of the advanced planning process for the festival and will participate in the hiring of the festival production staff.
Working year-round this position will finish, maintain, repair, scenery and work to better the warehouse and shop spaces. The Head Scenic Artist will be critical for the finished product. This position is not expected to run the shows or expected to participate in repertory changes other than with touch-up / repair work.
This position will work closely with the full-time head scenic carpenter, the festival head stage carpenter, the festival props team as well as the festival associate technical directors and will work year-round with the director of production as well as the assistant scenic carpenter and any overhire scenic artists required.
Requirements
Des Moines Metro Opera encourages applications from people without formal education in theater – the substitution of experience for traditional educational is perfectly acceptable.
• Diploma or Degree from a Theatre Production Program of study and/or 4 or more years of experience working in a scenic shop.
• Ideally, has experience as the primary scenic artist on several projects of various types and scales.
• Experienced in the accepted practices of theatre methods and with a variety of materials.
• Experience working with a variety of tools, and knowledgeable in the safe operation of standard shop tools/equipment, including equipment like forklifts, personnel lifts, ladders, box/panel trucks with lift gates, etc..
• A high attention to detail is essential; an understanding and willingness to adapt to the needs of the production designs to produce the best outcomes.
• Experience in leading a team, communicating with the team and the ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the team. This person should have excellent relationship building skills.
• Someone passionate about the art and someone who shares the belief that the beautifully finished front side of scenery should also have a beautiful backside – clean, labeled – someone who takes great pride in the work of the team.
• Experience in ordering and sourcing materials/products, as well as the ability to monitor spending/reporting spending.
• Experience in multiple techniques.
• Ideally, some experience in carving foam and working with plastics.
• Ideally some experience in prop building, creating, modifying, sourcing.
• Ideally, comfortable driving a 26’ box truck if ever needed.
• Willing to help support the touring technicians of Opera Iowa and someone willing to step-in in case of illness.
• Desire to organize and effectively store stage / shop equipment, including equipment from other departments.
• Willingness to help with the odd projects, events, installs, displays and other activities for the company when help is needed.
• This person needs to always behave like a professional and compassionate team-focused leader. The best candidate will have a good sense of humor and a good way of showing pride in the team’s work. This person should have a mindset of ‘how can I help’ and ‘how can I improve this for others’.
• This position will receive (if they don’t have) first-aid training, OSHA workplace safety training, fall arrest (as needed) training, forklift operation certification and any other safety training deemed necessary. All workplace training will all be provided to the successful candidate at no-charge. Des Moines Metro Opera will make other various professional development available to the successful candidate.
Application Deadline:
Nov. 30, 2025
Job Duration:
Open ended
Job/Audition Type:
Full Time
Job Category:
Creative/Artistic
Payment status:
Paid
Job Location:
United States,
Iowa,
Indianola
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