Head of Production

Talent Circle Recruitment; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Circle Recruitment is seeking a Head of Production for a Berkshire Brand Experience Agency. This senior leadership role owns the physical delivery of every campaign, with a strong on‑site presence four days a week across two Berkshire sites and at live events.

You will lead production end to end—feasibility, tendering, contracting, briefing, quality checks and final sign‑off—while partnering with the creative team, managing budgets, AV partners, and on‑site crews.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in event, experiential or exhibition production with at least two years leading a team.
• Leadership experience, able to represent department to senior colleagues or a board.
• Proven track record managing build suppliers from brief and tender to delivery in exhibitions, conferences, roadshows and festivals.
• Ability to bring new materials, techniques or technology into creative work.
• NEBOSH General or IOSH Managing Safely, plus CDM 2015 knowledge.
• Experience leading sustainability initiatives, ideally including EcoVadis or ISO 20121.
• Strong ownership of production budgets and margins.
• Solid working knowledge of AV and how to brief and manage AV suppliers.
• Hands-on, on-site orientation; calm under plan changes.
• Full UK driving licence

Responsibilities

• Own production end to end—from feasibility to final sign-off.
• Partner with creative team to push ideas, advise on materials and tech.
• Champion Production across the agency; set processes and involve account teams.
• Lead health and safety across the agency; CDM 2015 duties and RAMS.
• Drive sustainability initiatives (EcoVadis/ISO 20121).
• Resource and schedule production managers, crew and on-site suppliers.
• Oversee warehouse, kit, inventory and vehicle fleet.
• Brief and manage AV partners on larger productions; oversee in-house AV for smaller jobs.
• Own production budgets, supplier rates and margin.
• Develop a growing team and contribute to agency strategy as part of SLT.

Skills

Production leadership

Experiential events

Budget management

Supplier management

On-site operations

Health and safety

Team development

CDM 2015

AV coordination

Education

NEBOSH General

IOSH Managing Safely

Tools

AV systems

Project coordination

Job description

Head of Production | Brand Experience Agency | Berkshire (4 days in office)

Do you love the moment a bold creative idea becomes a real, physical build? Are you the person who asks “what if?” and then finds a way to make it happen safely, on time and on budget?

We’re working with a multi-award-winning brand experience agency in Berkshire that’s looking for a Head of Production to own the physical delivery of every campaign they create. This is a senior leadership role with a seat at the top table. It’s as creative as it is operational, and it suits someone who’s happiest on site.

What you’ll be doing:

• Owning every build end to end, from feasibility and briefing through tender, contract, workshop quality checks and final sign-off
• Working closely with the creative team to push ideas further, bringing your own thinking on materials, fabrication, technology and interactivity
• Championing Production across the agency by setting the processes, getting involved early on briefs and pitches, and bringing account teams with you
• Leading health and safety agency-wide, including CDM 2015 duties, RAMS, inductions, permits and a positive safety culture
• Leading sustainability for the whole agency, including EcoVadis accreditation and the road to Gold
• Resourcing and scheduling production managers, crew and on-site suppliers across multiple live campaigns
• Overseeing the warehouse, kit, inventory and vehicle fleet
• Briefing and managing AV partners on larger productions and overseeing in-house AV on smaller jobs
• Owning production budgets, supplier rates and margin
• Developing a growing team, and contributing to agency strategy as part of the Senior Leadership Team

What we’re looking for:

• Production pedigree: Significant experience in event, experiential or exhibition production, including at least two years leading a production team
• Senior leadership: Experience at leadership level, representing your department to senior colleagues or a board
• Build and supplier expertise: A proven track record managing build suppliers from brief and tender to delivery, across exhibitions, conferences, roadshows and festivals
• Creative instinct: A track record of bringing new materials, techniques or technology into creative work
• Health and safety: NEBOSH General or IOSH Managing Safely, plus working knowledge of CDM 2015 and the Purple Guide
• Sustainability: Experience leading sustainability initiatives, ideally including EcoVadis or ISO 20121
• Commercial confidence: Strong ownership of production budgets and margin
• AV know-how: Solid working knowledge of AV and how to brief and manage AV suppliers
• Hands-on attitude: You love being on site, roll your sleeves up and stay calm when plans change
• Full UK driving licence

This role is four days a week in the office across two Berkshire sites, plus time on site at events, including some evenings and weekends.