Stage Manager Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Stage manager visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago, home to major employers like the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The city's dense performing arts scene, plus touring production infrastructure, creates steady demand for experienced stage managers from outside the U.S.
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INTRODUCTION
The Manager of Stage Operations manages all soundstage and classroom operations at DePaul Cinespace Studios (DCS) for the School of Cinematic Arts. This includes managing 25,000 square feet of production space across six soundstages and all instructional classrooms within the facility. The position is responsible for scheduling, supervising, and training student employees, and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of lighting, grip, high‑voltage, and virtual production technologies. Additional responsibilities include coordinating with the Manager of Equipment Operations on the maintenance of stage equipment, coordinating maintenance and construction of film sets, and supporting faculty and students in their use of the facility’s classes and stages.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What You'll Do:
- Student Staff Supervision:
- Hire, train, schedule, and supervise student workers supporting stage operations and classroom activities.
- Manage student assistance for faculty, classes, productions, workshops, and events on six soundstages and in all classrooms.
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Coordinate maintenance of 14+ constructed film sets and associated set dressing.
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Safety & Compliance:
- Develop, implement, and enforce industry-standard safety policies for all DCS stages and classrooms.
- Ensure safe operation of overhead motorized lighting systems, lighting control consoles, high-voltage power, constructed sets, and the LED virtual production wall.
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Promote safe practices among students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
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Scheduling & Workflow Management:
- Schedule all stages and classrooms, including 25+ weekly classes with 500+ students, as well as labs, workshops, productions and events.
- Manage reservation and approval workflows for classes, workshops, productions, and special events in WebCheckout or comparable software.
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Resolve space conflicts and support faculty with special scheduling needs.
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Supervises student employees; responsible for their training, ongoing development, and work assignments.
- Makes decisions regarding daily operations, safety procedures, equipment usage, and facility support needs as it pertains to the stages and classrooms. Refers major policy, budget, or facility changes to supervisor for approval.
- Maintains a procurement card for supply purchases related to stages and classrooms.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You'll Need:
- B.A. in Film/Video required and/or equivalent work experience in the field
- 5 years previous industry-related experience required
- Experience in troubleshooting and repair of stage and support equipment
- Experience in managing personnel and scheduling required
- Technical knowledge and significant experience in utilization of professional grip and electric equipment including large light fixtures, dimming systems, overhead motorized systems, cranes, hydraulic dollies, and other high-end professional related equipment desirable.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Advanced knowledge of current and emerging film/video production technologies.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a public-facing academic environment.
- Ability to meet deadlines and operate under time constraints in a high-volume facility.
- Strong attention to detail, problem-solving, and customer-service skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
- Strong command of industry terminology, equipment compatibility, and pricing.
- Ability to de-escalate and support dissatisfied faculty or students professionally.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of equipment and procedures under their supervision as well as new technologies and processes as they emerge.
- Lifting cases up to 50 pounds
- Sitting and standing for long periods of time
- Be able to walk considerable distances.
- Be able to walk up and down stairs repeatedly.
- Be able to endure a warehouse climate.
- OSHA, CSATF, ETCP or other industry-related safety certifications preferred
COMPENSATION
The anticipated hiring range for this position is: $56,222 to $79,695. The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.
PERKS
- Working for a stable and well-known University.
- Top choice medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- Retirement plan matching contribution of 8%.
- Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
- Generous paid time off, sick time, holidays, floating holidays, and more!
- Full-Time Benefits
For consideration, please include a resume and cover letter.
Vincentian Mission:
Guided by an ethic of Vincentian personalism and professionalism, DePaul compassionately upholds the dignity of all members of its diverse, multi-faith, and inclusive community. We seek to hire collaborative, open-minded, and dedicated professionals who are committed to advancing our university mission to making education accessible to all, with special attention to including underserved and underrepresented communities. Successful candidates thrive in an environment where ideas and perspectives representing a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences are welcome and supported.
Required Background Check:
Employment at DePaul University is contingent on passing a background check. Only final candidates who are extended an offer of employment will undergo a background check.
DePaul University is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.
Stage Manager Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Stage Manager Jobs in IllinoisStage Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Illinois sponsor visas for stage managers?
Chicago's major nonprofit theaters are the most active sponsors, including the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Large-scale production companies and touring houses operating out of Chicago also sponsor periodically. University theater programs at institutions like Northwestern University and DePaul University occasionally hire sponsored professional stage managers for mainstage productions.
Which visa types are most common for stage manager roles in Illinois?
The O-1B visa is the most common path for experienced stage managers with demonstrated extraordinary ability in the performing arts. The H-1B visa is less straightforward for stage management because the role must qualify as a specialty occupation requiring a specific bachelor's degree. Some stage managers working with internationally touring productions also enter on P-1B or P-2 visas as part of a recognized performance group.
How to find stage manager visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it possible to search stage manager roles in Illinois without sorting through positions that don't sponsor. Chicago's performing arts market moves quickly, so setting up alerts on Migrate Mate for Illinois stage manager openings helps you respond before roles fill. Listings include employer type and location, so you can target Chicago's nonprofit theater corridor directly.
Which cities in Illinois have the most stage manager sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for nearly all stage manager visa sponsorship activity in Illinois. The city's concentration of LORT-affiliated theaters, opera companies, and touring production hubs makes it the only realistic market in the state for internationally hired stage managers. Smaller Illinois cities like Peoria or Springfield have community and regional theaters, but sponsorship at those venues is rare.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for stage managers seeking visa sponsorship?
Illinois stage manager roles at nonprofit theaters often fall under IATSE or Equity agreements, which can affect how employers structure sponsored positions. Chicago's density of union-affiliated venues means prevailing wage determinations for H-1B petitions are benchmarked against a competitive local market. Stage managers with credits from recognized international companies or festivals tend to fare better with O-1B petitions, where Chicago employers have more experience navigating the process.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored stage manager jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.