Production Director (Experiential)

On Board Experiential; San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York (CA, CA, NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Profit sharing/bonus plan

401(k)

PTO

Job summary

On Board Experiential (OBE) is seeking a seasoned Production Director to oversee end-to-end production for large experiential programs. You will lead internal and external teams, manage budgets, and drive timelines with a focus on quality and client satisfaction.

This role requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to work in a fast-paced agency environment. Occasional travel and onsite/offsite coordination are expected.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in marketing, business administration, or related field.
• 8–10 years producing/managing large experiential programs.
• Experience with large fabricators and multiple vendors.
• Strong client service focus and communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Smartsheet, Google Apps, Trello.

Responsibilities

• Direct, mentor, and motivate junior production staff.
• Lead feasibility work and production deliverables for proposals.
• Serve as primary Production contact with internal and client teams.
• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams on projects.
• Oversee communications, documentation, and deliverables to standard.
• Ensure production staff meet industry standards and SOPs.
• Create and manage detailed event timelines and plans.
• Coordinate budgets, R&R grids, and load in/strike schedules.
• Manage remote, live, and hybrid production directions.

Skills

Organizational skills

Leadership

Client interfacing

Multi-tasking

Team management

Education

BA/BS in marketing, business administration, communications, or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

SharePoint

Smartsheet

Google Apps

Trello

Job description

ON BOARD EXPERIENTIAL

On Board Experiential (OBE) is an award-winning, full-service, experience-led agency that creates meaningful brand experiences worldwide. We work out of our homes and physical offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and NYC, or wherever our adventures take us! Our clients include Nike, Meta, JPMorgan Chase, The Infatuation, Stripe, and OpenAI, to name a few. We know, "Cool, cool, but what’s it like to work at OBE?" We thought you'd never ask. Event Marketer has recognized OBE as one of the best places to work in events and well, we couldn't agree more.

The most important part of our business is our people. They are hardworking, brave and make magic happen on the regular. But under each majestic exterior is a human deserving of a healthy work‑life balance. That’s why we believe in recovery days, happy hours, friendly but competitive fitness challenges and company offsites.

We conduct open meetings to facilitate discussions that heal, inspire, and bring us closer. We encourage each other to bring our whole selves to work. We want to hear about your lived experiences and unique perspectives. We don't just want you to be unapologetically you: it's part of the job description.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Our Production Directors are responsible for all elements of production for each assigned project/program from start to finish and for executing the approved production‑specific Scope of Work in support of client goals and objectives. General responsibilities include management and direction of all production related personnel including, but not limited to, internal producers, external producers, third‑party vendors/suppliers, and will often involve leading and/or overseeing multiple projects simultaneously at various stages of activation.

This person will play a critical and prominent role in the development of each program, which will include, strategic thinking, concept development, feasibility work, development of the overall project plan, comprehensive pre‑production work, budget development, management and tracking P/L, and the overall quality of the project/program. By working closely with our internal and external teams in a collaborative manner the Production Director will continuously look to elevate the level at which OBE is operating.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Direct, manage, mentor, and motivate junior production staff.
• Assist new business development team in determining feasibility of projects/events and developing production deliverables for new business proposals (RFPs). Please note this will often include attending pitch presentations...
• Serve as primary Production team contact throughout a project/program with both internal and external teams, including client teams.
• Collaborate with OBE Leadership and senior level production team, Account, Creative, Strategy, Technology, and others as applicable, on project, departmental, and companywide details.
• Direct and oversee all production related communications, documentation, and required deliverables required by the project in a timely, detailed, efficient, professional, and courteous manner, always maintaining the highest standards.
• Ensure staff executes at the highest level of industry standards and in accordance with company policies and SOPs.
• Establish and maintain best practices that meet client needs and provide continual improvement to our operations.
• Create and manage and meticulously track detailed event timeline(s).
• Produce detailed project‑wide, operational, and logistical plans and procedures, including but not limited to staff plans, detailed R&R grids, workbacks timelines, production timelines, load in and strike schedules, accessibility issues, on‑site communications, weather preparedness and contingency planning.
• Keep OBE Leadership and senior level production staff briefed, as applicable, on a regular basis, related to any revisions to SOW’s and budgets.
• Source, secure, recruit, hire and manage both project specific as well as FT production staff.
• Source and secure new vendors needed as necessary in accordance with the company’s SOP’s and policies. This includes competitive triple bidding, negotiation and obtaining signed contracts.
• Reconcile all production budgets and prepare post event analysis of production.
• Live, Virtual and hybrid style production direction including:
  • Remote and in‑person video production management
  • Post‑production Supervision
  • Digital Asset Mgmt and Tracking (platform and content based)
  • QA/QC support
  • Licensing and compliance
  • Talent relations, mgmt. and implementation
  • Integration of content into projects utilizing both internal and external resources as deemed necessary based on project needs/requirements. Project types to include:
  • Pre record
  • Simu‑live
  • Livestream
  • Other duties as assigned

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

• BA/BS in marketing, business administration, communications, or related field.

EXPERIENCE

• 8 – 10 years of direct experience in producing/managing large experiential programs and events, preferably with at least 5 years in an experiential agency environment.
• Large event, big budget activations experience, working with large fabricators and multiple vendors for complex activations.
• Very strong client/customer service experience and focus.
• Additional experience in at least 2 of the following specialized area: audio/video/lighting, mobile marketing tours, set fabrication, live event activations, and corporate meetings.
• Must have an extremely strong and diverse experience base that directly applies to this multi‑facetted, high demand position.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, , Smartsheet, Google apps,Trello and/or other project management tools
• VERY Strong network of production personnel and service providers to tap for projects and events.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Exceptional and proven organizational, planning, managerial and client interfacing skills.
• Superior management, leadership, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent ability to manage internal and external crews and staff.
• Ability to multi‑task, manage priorities and commitments, and meet deadlines.
• Must be able to work in a VERY collaborative manner both internally, and with clients.
• Excellent computer skills that include Microsoft Office (including PowerPoint and Access)
• Ability to manage projects/events within budget.
• Excellent judgment and decision‑making skills, with the ability to pro‑actively identify issues/obstacles and effectively create solutions.
• Ability to work independently as well as with expansive internal/external teams.
• Extremely strong working knowledge of and experience with location permitting and insurance processes.
• Strong Vendor relationships and experience with the competitive bidding process.
• Strong work ethic and ability to thrive and enjoy a VERY fast‑paced, dynamic, flexible work environment.

OTHER QUALITIES AND SKILLS

• Must be flexible, and comfortable with working non‑traditional hours as needed (some nights and weekends).
• Enjoys working in a fast‑paced, challenging, and fun environment.
• Strong work ethic, integrity, and very positive attitude.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Ability and willingness to work in‑office, onsite and remote as required.

Compensation Range: $110,000 - $145,000 annually. This is the pay range OBE believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on level of experience, relevant skills, professional certifications, market pay, and demand for the role. OBE reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, Benefits include: medical/dental/vision insurance, employer paid basic life and personal accident insurance. Also included: Annual Profit Sharing/Bonus Plan based on the company’s performance and your individual performance, 401(k), Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, PTO, STD/LTD insurance benefits. On Board Experiential is An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in On Board Experiential’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.