Production Director

Working Relationships:

Reports to the Global Worship Pastor and works closely with Campus Worship Leaders, Communications Team, Ministry Staff, Production Volunteers, and outside vendors and integrators.

Job Classification:

Full-time, salaried at 40 hours/week, exempt with benefits

Principal Function:

The Production Director provides leadership, vision, and oversight for all production ministries at First West. This position exists to support the mission of the church by creating distraction-free environments where people can engage with the Gospel through worship services, ministry events, livestreams, and special productions. The Production Director is responsible for leading all aspects of audio, video, lighting, broadcast, and production technology across First West campuses. This includes developing volunteers, maintaining technical systems, planning future technology needs, and ensuring excellence in every worship gathering and ministry event. The ideal candidate is both a ministry-minded leader and a highly skilled production professional who can effectively lead teams while managing sophisticated AVL systems.

Responsibilities:

Production:

1. Provide leadership and oversight for all production ministries of First West. 2. Develop and implement systems, processes, and standards that promote excellence and consistency across all campuses and ministry environments. 3. Collaborate with the Global Worship Pastor and ministry staff to execute worship services, ministry events, and special productions. 4. Translate ministry vision into technical execution while fostering a culture of servant leadership, teamwork, and excellence.

Audio Systems:

1. Serve as the lead engineer and systems administrator for all church audio environments. 2. Maintain and operate all church sound systems, including the Worship Center, NextGen environments, Feazel Chapel, Tennison Hall, Atrium, and additional ministry spaces. 3. Oversee the Allen & Heath dLive S7000 audio platform and related audio infrastructure. 4. Manage Dante audio networking and system routing. 5. Develop and maintain system documentation, signal flow diagrams, and preventative maintenance schedules. 6. Ensure exceptional audio quality for both in-room and broadcast experiences. 7. Recruit, train, and develop volunteer audio engineers.

Lighting:

1. Lead operation and maintenance of theatrical and architectural lighting systems. 2. Design and implement lighting environments that support worship and ministry objectives. 3. Coordinate volunteer lighting teams and maintain all lighting equipment. 4. Collaborate with outside production partners when necessary for major events and productions.

Video, Broadcast, and LED Systems:

1. Oversee all video production environments throughout the church. 2. Lead operation and maintenance of First West's REVelux LED wall systems and supporting processors. 3. Manage IMAG systems, presentation systems, switching systems, and video routing infrastructure. 4. Ensure seamless integration between presentation software, LED displays, livestream systems, and worship service elements. 5. Oversee livestream production and broadcast workflows. 6. Develop standards for camera operation, video switching, graphics presentation, and online worship experiences. 7. Recruit, train, and develop video and broadcast volunteers.

Worship Technology Integration:

1. Ensure proper integration between worship technology, front-of-house audio, broadcast audio, lighting systems, and visual presentation systems. 2. Work closely with worship leaders and musicians to support worship ministry needs.

Volunteer Development:

1. Recruit, train, schedule, and shepherd production volunteers. 2. Develop clear pathways for volunteer growth and leadership development. 3. Foster a healthy ministry culture built on spiritual maturity, teamwork, ownership, and excellence. 4. Provide regular training opportunities and team development experiences.

Event Production:

1. Lead production planning and execution for weekend worship services, conferences, worship nights, student events, Christmas productions, camps, and special events. 2. Create production schedules, stage plots, technical plans, and event workflows. 3. Coordinate technical support teams, contractors, and outside vendors as needed.

Systems Management:

1. Maintain comprehensive equipment inventories and production documentation. 2. Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend future improvements that support the mission of First West. 3. Manage vendor and integrator relationships. 4. Ensure all production systems remain organized, documented, and operational.

Budget Management:

1. Assist in developing and managing the annual production budget. 2. Provide recommendations regarding equipment purchases, upgrades, and replacement schedules. 3. Exercise wise stewardship of church resources and oversee vendor quotes and purchasing processes.

Leadership Expectations:

1. Demonstrate a growing and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. 2. Support and uphold the mission, vision, values, and doctrine of First West. 3. Lead with humility, integrity, and a servant's heart. 4. Build strong relationships with staff, volunteers, and church members. 5. Maintain a solutions-oriented mindset and a commitment to excellence. 6. Serve as a positive representative of First West both on and off campus.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Demonstrates a clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.
• Commitment to the mission and vision of First West.
• Experience leading production teams in church, live event, broadcast, touring, or comparable environments.
• Strong knowledge of professional audio, video, lighting, and broadcast systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to recruit, train, and lead volunteers.
• Ability to troubleshoot technical systems in high-pressure environments.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Five or more years of production leadership experience.
• Experience with Allen & Heath dLive systems.
• Experience with Dante audio networking.
• Experience with REVelux LED wall systems.
• Experience with ProPresenter and Planning Center Online.
• Experience with livestream production and IMAG systems.
• Experience with Ableton Live, MainStage, and timecode workflows.
• Experience working in networked AVL environments.

Membership Requirements:

1. Must become and remain an active member of

First West Physical Requirements:

1. Ability to lift and move equipment up to 50 pounds. 2. Ability to work on ladders and elevated platforms when necessary. 3. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and special events as ministry requires.

Other Requirements:

1. Must successfully pass criminal background, sexual misconduct, and drug screening checks. About First West First West exists to see people changed by the Gospel and living out their Christ-centered purpose. Through our Core Values of Together We Worship, Equip, Reach, and Multiply, we are committed to helping people encounter Jesus, grow in their faith, and make disciples who make disciples. The Production Director plays a vital role in helping create environments where people can hear the Gospel clearly, engage in worship authentically, and experience the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. First West is a multi-campus church in Northeast Louisiana with multiple worship venues, a thriving NextGen ministry, robust livestream presence, large Christmas productions, and a commitment to excellence in worship and production ministry.