Media Producer & Studio Manager

Position Description

Opera San José is an opera company located in the heart of Silicon Valley. With a resident company of artists, OSJ presents four mainstage productions annually in San José’s historic California Theatre and regularly broadcasts from its state-of-the-art Heiman Digital Media Studio. Entering its 43rd season, OSJ specializes in role debuts, serving as an artistic incubator for established and emerging artists alike, producing world-class operatic performances for diverse audiences throughout the Bay Area and around the globe.

Media Producer & Studio Manager

Status: Full-Time (40 hours per week), Non-Exempt, Hourly

Reports to: Director of Patron Experience

Purpose

The Media Producer & Studio Manager leads Opera San José’s in-house Heiman Digital Media Studio, producing engaging digital content that documents the company’s live performances, community programs, and artists at work — and managing the studio as both a creative resource and a bookable rental space. This role blends hands-on production craft (filming, editing, livestream direction) with studio operations (rental coordination, contracting, scheduling, and archival management). We’re looking for someone with both a creative vision and the organizational discipline to keep a busy studio running smoothly.

Creative Ownership & Vision

While much of the work supports defined campaigns and capture needs, we want this role to be a creative voice at OSJ. The Media Producer is encouraged to help shape our visual storytelling, propose new content formats, experiment with how we present opera in the digital space, and contribute ideas for how to engage audiences across platforms. Strong candidates will bring a clear point of view alongside technical proficiency — we’re not looking for someone who just shoots what they’re told.

Day-to-Day Priorities

The role is wide, but the work breaks roughly into three areas. These percentages are illustrative and will flex around the production calendar:

• Content production (approx. 55%) — Filming, editing, livestream direction, and post-production for OSJ’s own programming.
• Studio operations & rentals (approx. 30%) — Managing the Heiman Digital Media Studio as a bookable space: handling inquiries, drafting and executing rental contracts, coordinating client schedules, on-site facilitation, and post-rental invoicing in partnership with Finance. Maintaining studio equipment and the technical environment.
• Asset management & platform strategy (approx. 15%) — Archiving and organizing media assets, maintaining naming and storage conventions, and partnering with Marketing on platform strategy for YouTube, TikTok, and Meta Reels.

Examples of Projects You’d Produce

To give a sense of the content portfolio:

• Behind-the-scenes rehearsal documentaries and mini-features
• Artist spotlights and interview series
• Livestreamed salons, recitals, and talk shows from the Heiman Studio
• Broadcast-quality recordings of fully-staged productions
• Short-form social clips and trailers for YouTube, TikTok, and Meta Reels
• Archival recordings for institutional and donor use
• Marketing and fundraising videos in collaboration with Marketing and Development

Responsibilities

• Film and edit video content including artist interviews, rehearsal footage, studio sessions, and performance captures.
• Co-direct production and direct post-production for salons, recitals, talk shows, and digital broadcasts.
• Manage rentals of the Heiman Digital Media Studio — respond to inquiries, scope projects, prepare and execute rental contracts, coordinate scheduling, and oversee on-site logistics.
• Produce digital assets for marketing, social media, donor stewardship, and archival use.
• Develop and maintain expertise in platform best practices for YouTube, TikTok, and Meta Reels.
• Maintain studio equipment, troubleshoot technical issues, and collaborate with the Director of Production to coordinate freelance crew (camera operators, audio engineers, lighting techs) as needed.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Manager and Director of Patron Experience to align visuals with campaign strategy.
• Archive and organize media assets for long-term use, retrieval, and brand consistency.
• Contribute creative ideas and proposals for new content formats and storytelling approaches.

Required Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

• 2–5 years of experience in video production, editing, or multimedia storytelling.
• Proficiency in DaVinci Resolve or in Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere, After Effects, Audition) or Final Cut Pro.
• Working knowledge of camera operation, lighting, and audio capture for interview and performance settings.
• Strong eye for composition, pacing, and brand identity.
• Comfort with administrative work — scheduling, contracting, and client communication — alongside creative production.

Skills

• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable working closely with artists, donors, rental clients, and audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills.
• Self-motivated, with a commitment to continued professional growth.
• Excellent time management and ability to balance concurrent productions and deadlines.
• Disciplined approach to file management and media asset organization.

Nice to Have (Not Required)

We don’t expect any single candidate to bring all of these. If you have several of the core required skills and a willingness to grow into others, we encourage you to apply.

• Familiarity with or strong interest in opera, classical music, or the performing arts.
• Live event production experience with vMix, OBS, ATEM, or similar switching/streaming platforms.
• Experience drafting or administering rental, vendor, or production contracts.
• Motion graphics and color grading skills.
• Social-platform-native content strategy experience (TikTok, Reels, Shorts).
• Multi-camera shoot direction.
• Prior experience producing arts, performance, or music content.

Work Location & Schedule

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position performed primarily on-site to enable close collaboration with team members and artists. The principal work location is Opera San José’s main offices and the Heiman Digital Media Studio at 2149 Paragon Drive, San José, CA, with additional work at the California Theatre in downtown San José during productions.

Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The role does involve some evening and weekend work tied to in-theater load-ins, tech rehearsals, performances, livestream events, and studio rentals — but these are scheduled in advance around the production calendar and are not a constant expectation. We’re committed to keeping the workload sustainable and will plan with you around heavier production weeks. The ideal candidate must live or be willing to relocate to the San José Bay Area.

Compensation

This position is classified as full-time non-exempt at an hourly rate of $29.80 – $33.65 per hour (equivalent to approximately $62,000 – $70,000 annualized at 40 hours per week), depending on expertise and experience. Overtime is paid in accordance with California law for hours worked beyond 40 per week or 8 per day.

The position is eligible for company benefits, which currently include 15 days’ vacation, generous sick and holiday time, a 403(b) savings plan with a 3% match, employer-sponsored health plans with a shared premium, and pre-tax flexible spending accounts. Professional development opportunities are available and encouraged for all employees. Benefits may change from time to time as Management determines.

Company Culture

Opera San José, in desiring a more equitable world, is committed to fostering equity in our art form. Opera in the twenty-first century can and should demonstrate today’s values of equity and inclusion. We believe in building, fostering, and sustaining a company that reflects, celebrates, and serves the diverse communities of the Bay Area. Opera San José cultivates a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all employees. We are firmly committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds may grow personally and professionally.

Opera San José is an equal opportunity employer. It is our strong belief that equal opportunity for all employees is central to the continuing success of our organization. We will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, physical disabilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or veteran status in hiring, promoting, training, benefits, recommendations, rate of pay, or other forms of compensation. Opportunity is provided to all employees based on qualifications and job requirements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply via our online application form at . The form will ask for a résumé, cover letter, and a link to a portfolio or showreel demonstrating relevant work, along with a few short questions about your experience and creative vision — so we can evaluate candidates fairly across the full scope of the role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Mental Demands

Duties require planning, organizing, and performing a variety of tasks while applying a wide range of procedures and rules. The role demands attention to detail, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, alertness, sustained concentration during extended editing sessions, and sound judgment in juggling concurrent productions and deadlines. The role also requires creativity, written communication, and access to and use of confidential data where discretion and sensitivity are of the utmost importance.

Physical Demands

Frequently required to walk, sit, talk, and hear. Occasionally required to stand, reach, stoop, and handle and/or lift up to 40 pounds (camera and production gear). Must be able to check reports for completion and accuracy and to retrieve and transmit information. Use of general office and production equipment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee will perform other reasonably required job duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or other management. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Opera San José is an at-will employer. As such, your employment is for no specific period of time and may be terminated at will by either party with or without a reason or advance notice.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $29.80 - $33.65 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person