Technical Production Manager

Freeman Company; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life, Accident and Disability

Retirement match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

The Freeman Company seeks a Technical Production Manager to lead live events with deep technical expertise and strong project leadership. You will oversee AV, lighting, sound, staging, rigging, and broadcast while guiding teams and maintaining client relationships.

The role requires 10+ years in technical events, CAD proficiency, rigging knowledge, and international project experience. London-based with hybrid in-office one day weekly, travel up to 25%, and budget discipline across complex

Qualifications

• 10+ years in technical events, agency space, indoor and outdoor productions.
• Proficient operational knowledge of 2D AutoCAD.
• Rigging certificates preferred.
• Proficient in Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• UK National or relevant permissions to work in the UK.
• Track record in international event delivery.
• Experience in proposal development and pricing.
• Exposure to budget management of 100K+.

Responsibilities

• Establish project scope and technical requirements with production and creative teams.
• Conduct technical site visits and provide reports.
• Brief suppliers, venues, site managers, and show Callers.
• Track production timelines, budgets, and expenses; manage schedules.
• Monitor services to stay within budget.
• Create and manage production budgets and timelines.
• Coordinate with Sparks EMEA Ryton on technical development per client brief.
• Source and manage suppliers; ensure compliance with approved lists.
• Collaborate with departments to deliver proposals on time and accurately.
• Maintain clear communication with employees, contractors, vendors, and divisions.
• Handle confidential information and records.
• Manage supplier/venue liaison.

Skills

Technical leadership

Budget management

Proposal development

Vendor coordination

Communication

Education

2D AutoCAD

Rigging certificates

Office Suite

UK work eligibility

International event delivery

Budgeting 100K+

Tools

Office Suite

Job description

Sparks is a leading global brand experience agency, specializing in the design and execution of award-winning experiences that forge deep connections between brands and audiences. Recognized by Adweek as Experiential Agency of the Year, we bring a unique blend of strategic insight and execution excellence to every brand activation, corporate event, trade show exhibit, and immersive experience. Our commitment to creativity, innovation, and flawless execution drives us to craft impactful experiential marketing solutions that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trust—all around the world.

Summary

The Technical Production Manager is responsible for delivering exceptional live events and exhibitions by combining deep technical expertise with outstanding project leadership. This role requires extensive knowledge of AV, lighting, sound, staging, rigging, broadcast, and event technology, along with the ability to identify innovative production solutions that bring creative concepts to life. The ideal candidate builds strong relationships with clients, suppliers, venues, and internal teams, inspiring confidence through expert guidance while leading production crews to consistently deliver high-quality, flawless event experiences. This role is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office one day a week (typically Wednesdays) at our London location.

• Works closely with production team and creative to establish project scope and technical requirements
• Carries out technical site visits – provides site visit reports
• Briefing: suppliers, venues, site manager, production managers, show callers, CAD drafters/visualizers/creatives
• Tracks and manages production timelines on active event programs; creates and manages budgets, supplier invoice/expense tracking and final reconciliation. Develop and track project schedules, agendas and show flows as needed. Drives timeline with team and client as directed
• Monitors services & activities to ensure they are within budget
• Creates production budgets and timelines associated with assigned proposals. Monitors costs and resource allocation to ensure they are within budget
• Work closely with Sparks EMEA Ryton team to ensure all technical aspects of event – build, AV – are developed in line with client brief
• Research, source and manage suppliers and ensure contractors and suppliers are within our approved supplier list. Management of new suppliers and Sparks EMEA new supplier procurement processes
• Work with other departments/agencies in order to produce, ensure quality, and deliver proposals to clients accurately and on time
• Maintain consistent and thorough communication with all levels of employees, contractors, vendors, and Sparks EMEA divisions
• Maintain confidential and sensitive information and files, correspondence and records.
• Supplier/Venue management and liaison

Education & Experience

• 10+ years within the technical events industry, with experience within the agency space and in indoor and outdoor productions.
• Proficient operational knowledge of 2D AutoCAD
• Entertainment industry related course / certificates in rigging preferred
• Proficient in Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• UK National or relevant permissions to work in the UK
• Track record in international event delivery
• Experience in proposal development and pricing
• Exposure tobudget management of 100K+
• Ability to quickly recognize or anticipate problem areas and quickly develop solutions

Travel Requirements

Travel up to 25%

What We Offer

The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.

• Life, Accident and Disability
• Retirement with Company Match
• Paid Time Off

Diversity Commitment

At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.