The Role
Lead delivery of technical and production requirements for live events and exhibitions. Manage budgets, schedules, suppliers, contractors, and health & safety. Produce project plans, present proposals to clients, oversee technical and fabricated elements, maintain ISO 9001 documentation, mentor junior staff, and develop innovative production solutions while ensuring profitable, high-quality delivery.
Summary Generated by Built In
Imagination is a world-leading experience design company founded on the principle of independent creativity. We create experiences that change the status quo, from strategy through to delivery.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Senior Production Manager to join our Live Production department. You will work to provide office and on-site management at a senior level for the delivery of technical and production requirements, for a wide range of sometimes complex live events and exhibitions.
Reporting into the Head of Live Production, your curiosity will help us research and develop innovative technical solutions, whilst your rigorous attention to detail will be important in making sure budgets, schedules and safety risks are managed accurately.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Senior Production Manager to join our Live Production department. You will work to provide office and on-site management at a senior level for the delivery of technical and production requirements, for a wide range of sometimes complex live events and exhibitions.
Reporting into the Head of Live Production, your curiosity will help us research and develop innovative technical solutions, whilst your rigorous attention to detail will be important in making sure budgets, schedules and safety risks are managed accurately.
Key Responsibilities
- Review of client brief and assessment of the requirements with Account Management & Creative Teams
- Ensure projects are delivered on budget and on time to the highest standards
- Develop production budget
- Budgeting of projects ensuring best value pricing, negotiating with suppliers and making suitable contractor selection
- Scheduling of all trades throughout pre production and delivery phases
- Produce overall project time plan with Account Management & Creative Teams
- Present budgets and project proposals in client meetings
- Present solutions to production challenges in client meetings
- Liaise with venues and carry out site visits as appropriate
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers and ensuring new and innovative products and services are introduced
- Management of all technical and manufacturing trades throughout event process
- Maintaining profitable business practices
- Manage client owned assets and make recommendations for storage, refurbishment and disposal
- Manage Health and Safety on all projects in conjunction with the Imagination Health and Safety Manager
- Delivery of all technical and fabricated elements as well as opening and maintaining ISO 9001 files
- Manage larger exhibitions & events and support on major projects
- Mentor junior production staff, offering guidance, support and advice with their development
- Record and document 'Value Add' and compile feedback from suppliers for internal feedback and client debrief
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Agency experience working across a wide range of projects from live shows and touring activations, to virtual experiences.
- Solid understanding of technical staging, Audio Visual and exhibition construction processes
- Confident and experienced with budgeting and negotiating on large scale projects
- Working knowledge of international Health and Safety regulations
- Confident managing programmes of work, rather than one-off projects
- Flexible and adaptable to new challenges and requirements
- Excellent communication with clients and other departments / colleagues
- Able to contribute to and and support revenue generation activities
- International experience, working in new and developing regions
- Management of more junior team members where relevant, which may include leading a bigger delivery team on a large event
- Confident upholding Imagination standards, within Imagination production framework
Able to develop/negotiate new supplier relationships - Experience with Microsoft Office suite of programs
Ability to understand and interpret technical drawings - A basic understanding of AutoCad and/or Vectorworks would be an advantage
Job Benefits
What we can offer you:
- Work with a state-of-the-art product and deliver it to exciting and innovative brands
- Learning and development opportunities that contribute to professional growth
Wellness
- Private Medical Insurance (including discounted gym options)
- Discounted Healthcare Cash Plan
- Discounted Private Dental Insurance
- Paid leave to support caring requirements, dependents, sickness, compassionate leave etc.
- Employee Assistance Programme (Help@ hand)
- In-Office Gym (London office only)
- Life Insurance - 4xsalary
- Annual Health Assessment & Flu Vaccinations
- Trained Mental Health First Aiders are available for support
Benefits
- 25 Days Annual Leave (pro-rata for part-time roles)
- Birthday Day Off plus a birthday gift
- Discretionary Annual Bonus
- Generous Family Leave Policies with coaching and support for new parents
- Tailored Learning & Development for Career Development
- Enhanced Pension Contributions
- Cycle-to-Work Scheme
- Season Ticket Travel Loans
- Income Protection (employee-only benefit)
- Subsidised Electric Car Scheme
- Home Technology Scheme (tax-efficient loan for tech equipment)
- Unpaid Sabbatical opportunities
Perks
- Hybrid Working (3 in-office days per week)
- Company Events and socials
- Pet-friendly office
- Lunch & Learns sessions
- Wellness & Educational webinars
- Subsidised Café (London office only)
Skills Required
- Agency experience working across live shows, touring activations, and virtual experiences
- Solid understanding of technical staging, Audio Visual and exhibition construction processes
- Confident and experienced with budgeting and negotiating on large scale projects
- Working knowledge of international Health and Safety regulations
- Confident managing programmes of work (not just one-off projects)
- Excellent communication with clients and other departments
- Able to mentor and manage junior production staff
- Experience developing and maintaining supplier and contractor relationships
- Experience opening and maintaining ISO 9001 files / quality documentation
- Experience managing client assets including storage, refurbishment and disposal recommendations
- Experience with Microsoft Office suite
- Ability to understand and interpret technical drawings
- Basic understanding of AutoCAD and/or Vectorworks
- International experience working in new and developing regions
- Able to contribute to and support revenue generation activities
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The Company
What We Do
Imagination is an Experience Design Company headquartered in London, with 13 studios worldwide. Founded over 50 years ago on a principle of Independent Creativity - we bring together diverse groups of strategic, creative and practical people to find creative and inspired answers to client challenges. We remain independent to this day. We have earned a reputation for consistently challenging and changing the status quo, through our core offers of Consulting, Destinations, Content and Live. Imagination’s clients include LG, Ford, IKEA, LVMH, Samsung, Jaguar Land Rover, HSBC, Major League Baseball, 3M, Turkish Airlines, Shell and Telstra. Imagination was awarded silver at Campaign’s Global Brand Experience Agency of the Year Awards 2022, ranked 38 in Newsweek’s UK Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces 2022 and won the Grand Prix award at Campaign Tech Awards for their recent work with Visa Masters of Movement
