Director of Production

Our Vision

Central Synagogue is one of the leading and largest Reform congregations in the country. Located in Midtown Manhattan, Central’s reach includes more than 2,800 member families, a

livestream community numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and more than 800

students, from birth to twelfth grade, in the Nursery and Religious

schools.  It has long played a significant role in the national Reform

movement and is known for its innovation and leadership in worship, leading to

a greatly expanded audience over the last two decades.

Central Synagogue works toward a world in which Judaism is core to the lives of

Central members and Jews everywhere and is a profound and positive force for

humanity. Central continually redefines what it means to be Jewish today, both

within the Synagogue community and far beyond the Synagogue’s walls. The

diverse clergy and professional team work hard, in collaboration with lay

leadership, to build deep and enduring relationships among Central members,

creating a caring, dynamic, and joyful community.  

Central Synagogue is an inclusive and

welcoming community. The Synagogue encourages participation from all who seek a

connection to Jewish life and want to be part of its sacred community

regardless of religious background, race, ethnicity, gender, ability,

socioeconomic status, political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender

identity. Central is committed to being an open tent, a place that welcomes all

people, including those who have been historically and institutionally

marginalized or excluded from the Jewish community. The Synagogue is well

resourced, has over 100 staff, and is governed by a 29-member Board of

Trustees.  To learn more, please visit: https://www.centralsynagogue.org/.  

Job Summary/Objective

The

Director of Production will help oversee the synagogue’s AV Department, any events

with production or AV (Shabbat Services, Staff Presentations, Speaker Series, Concerts,

Weddings, Funerals, Lectures, Film Screenings, Religious School, etc.) and

other events as necessary.  This position

oversees audio and visual systems in multiple spaces but primarily the Main

Sanctuary and basement studio, handles production issues, post-production work

and supports staffing demands as needed. This position requires experience in

audio engineering, operating video, and live streaming. The Director of

Production is responsible for communicating needs for services (clergy

requests, service specifics, etc.) or any issues or changes in the synagogue’s

AV, as well as on AV needs and improvements. This position is also responsible

for working with the Technology Department and overseeing the Live Web

Streaming program, as well as live production management with the Jewish

Broadcasting Service (JBS)- the Synagogue’s cable television affiliate.  The Director of Production will oversee work

with vendors on system maintenance and upgrades.   The

Director of Production is also responsible for hiring, training, scheduling,

and supervising freelance Audio-Visual Assistants/Techs. The Director of

Production also oversees all facets of production for our High Holiday services

(where we are approaching 1 million viewers on our streaming platforms,

including 35,000 unique viewers on a weekly basis), broadcasts and auxiliary

services (i.e., David Geffen Hall).

This position requires working flexible hours during the week, dependent on the

synagogue’s operations schedule and to staff all necessary shifts with an AV

Technician, in addition to office hours to cover the administrative duties

related to the role.  Must also work services for Jewish Festivals,

Holidays, and multiple services for the Jewish High Holy Days. Success in this role includes achieving an industry leading quality of

audio and video production, calmly troubleshooting technical issues that arise

in our production systems, actively suggesting new ideas to senior staff and

working collaboratively across the organization.

Reports to                       Senior

Cantor

Department                   Clergy Study/Music Department

Date                                  May 2024

Hours                               

·        

Full-time, exempt, and

not eligible for OT

• 
  
• Schedule
• dictated monthly based on calendar of events; flexible hours, Saturday-Sunday
• 
  
• Expected to work High Holy Days
• 
  
• Expected to be at all Friday night
• services except when time off approved by Senior Cantor
• 
  

Essential Functions/Key Responsibilities

Technical:

·        

Oversee all audio and video systems and related equipment on

Central Synagogue campus for Main Sanctuary, Pavilion, Beir Chapel, Lese Lobby,

110 conference room, 9th Floor and other smaller spaces (as needed) – working

with our Technology staff, Operations staff and AV Staff

·        

Responsible for securing competitive bids and working with facilities on

installations achieving budgetary timeline goals

·        

Responsible for identifying and maintaining relationships with consultants

as appropriate.

• 
  
• Responsible for maintaining and making
• recommendations on appropriate upgrades for all audio, video and streaming
• needs/equipment in sanctuary building , AV
• rooms and all other spaces in the facility.
• 
  
• Troubleshoot and perform regular
• maintenance on all Sanctuary sound, lighting, and video/streaming systems
• 
  
• Advise and recommend all Audio/Visual
• system equipment purchases to supervisor
• 
  
• Oversee and finish any sound and video system
• upgrades
• 
  

Production:

• 
  
• Assume director role during Friday night
• Shabbat services, directing and overseeing production of both audio and
• video in the sanctuary and online
• 
  
• Direct, plan, determine, coordinate,
• procure and oversee operation of all AV and production needs for
• year-round events in coordination with our Operations/Clergy/AE Depts,
• including staffing
• 
  
• Interface with clergy, staff, religious
• school, artists and musical directors to provide requested equipment for
• all related AV needs
• 
  
• Hire staff to set-up and operate
• Audio-Visual equipment for Central Synagogue events and rehearsals
• 
  
• Lead production coordinator for High
• Holidays and Shabbat, Interviewing and hiring additional staff as needed
• for larger productions on Holidays and/or special events
• 
  
• Handle any production issues with JBS
• 
  

Post-production:

• 
  
• Produce, Edit, Duplicate, Label and
• Archive video for weekly services and all requested events
• 
  
• Distribute copies of links and files from
• Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, Funerals, Baby Namings and Auf Rufs to
• families in a timely manner (2-4 weeks), as well as keeping a log of all
• links sent to congregants
• 
  
• Maintain organized YouTube link archive
• of all service videos
• 
  
• Perform media transfers as requested
• 
  
• Deliver requests from Communications
• Department in a timely manner
• 
  
• Make sure AV Staff uploads Friday evening
• sermons to YouTube and podcast
• 
  
• Upload video clips to YouTube on an as-needed
• basis from Clergy, AE Communications Department
• 
  

Management:

• 
  
• Hire, Train, Schedule, and Supervise
• freelance Audio-Visual Assistants/Techs
• 
  
• Provide Audio-Visual assistance, training
• and advice for all Central Synagogue staff
• 
  
• Prepare annual AV Capital Budget and
• annual AV Expense Budget
• 
  
• Maintains steady contacts and
• relationships with the greater AV world in NYC and abroad (vendors, other
• congregations, etc.)
• 
  
• Maintains an organized and clean
• facility, with all equipment properly labeled and stored in their proper
• locations
• 
  
• Work to continue to grow technical
• knowledge and seek input from markets, peers, and other professionals in
• production to identify areas of improvement year to year
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Qualifications:

• 
  
• Bachelor’s degree in Sound, Film, Music
• Technology, Recording, Communications or a related technical field
• 
  
• 5 years minimum working in Audio/Video production
• field
• 
  
• Highly detail-oriented; ability to
• multi-task; extremely organized
• 
  
• Proficient in Mac and PC operating
• systems
• 
  
• System and Technical operations
• troubleshooting experience
• 
  
• Must have excellent rapport and people
• skills with senior management and clergy, as well as front line staff,
• congregants and guests
• 
  
• Must be a willing and supportive team
• member
• 
  
• Must work seamlessly and gracefully under
• pressure
• 
  
• Must have flexible hours
• 
  
• Technical expertise and a trained-ear a
• must
• 
  
• Interest in emerging technology and new
• developments in process and equipment
• 
  
• Knowledge of Jewish Ritual, Services and Religious
• Customs preferred
• 
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal
• skills
• 
  

Other Duties:

Please note that the above is intended to describe the general content of and

requirements for the performance of this job. 

It should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties,

responsibilities, or requirements. 

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s rights to assign

or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

The expected salary range for this

position is $100,000 to $125,000. 

Central Synagogue offers an extensive benefits package designed to meet

the needs of our dedicated and diverse community.  The salary is commensurate with experience

based on several factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge,

training, education, areas of specialization, and depth and scope of

experience.  The above salary range

represents the Synagogue’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible

compensation range at the time of posting.

Additional Information: 

Central Synagogue requires all staff members (full-time AND part-time) to (a)

provide proof of vaccination and booster against COVID-19 or (b) obtain an

approved exemption as an accommodation. 

If you are offered employment this requirement must be met by your hire

date unless a reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved.

Hybrid

Schedule:  Central Synagogue employees are not eligible for fully

remote work.  One day remote for this position is available on Monday and four days

in the office.    

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a resume along with a cover letter to jobs@censyn.org.

·        

Please reference “Director of Production” in the subject line of

your email. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Application Process:         

To apply, please submit a resume along with a cover letter to jobs@censyn.org.

Please reference “Director of Production” in the subject line of

your email. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.