Project Manager

Rock Steady Productions LLC; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rock Steady Productions LLC seeks a Project Manager to lead creative and fabrication projects from concept to completion in our on-site studio in Long Beach, CA. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, clear client communication, and a hands-on approach across branding, digital design, and experiential builds.

You will coordinate designers, fabricators, and vendors, manage timelines and budgets, and ensure quality deliverables while maintaining strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience managing creative projects involving retail builds, pop ups, premieres, trade shows, and event installations.
• Strong proficiency in developing project timelines, briefs, and managing fast-paced, cross-functional teams.
• Advanced visual design sensibility across branding, digital design, and motion graphics.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present creative strategies and feedback.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines with attention to detail.
• Hands-on, self-motivated, team-oriented with a solutions-driven mindset.
• Comfort interpreting client needs and guiding creative teams through complex problem-solving.
• Experience mentoring or managing junior creatives is a plus.
• Knowledge of design and project management software tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch Up, Google Suite) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end project lifecycles from brief to fabrication and delivery.
• Own schedules, milestones, and budgets while ensuring high-quality execution.
• Translate client goals into actionable deliverables across design, animation, web, and environmental fabrication.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams including designers, fabricators, developers, and external vendors.
• Present creative work and incorporate client feedback into workflows.
• Maintain strong client relationships and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Mentor team members to uphold brand and project standards.
• Maintain detailed project documents including timelines, briefs, budgets, and logs.
• Identify risks, develop contingency plans, and escalate issues as needed.
• Uphold quality control and conduct final reviews for deliverables.
• Regular on-site attendance is required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Creative project mgmt

Timeline development

Cross-functional leadership

Visual design sensibility

Verbal & written communication

Budget management

Mentoring junior creatives

Client brief interpretation

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design, Marketing, Communications, or related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Google Workspace

Job description

Description

Job Title: Project Manager

Department: Creative Production

Reports To: Director of Client Services

FLSA Status: Exempt

Summary

The Project Manager at Rock Steady Productions is responsible for leading and coordinating creative and fabrication projects from concept through completion. This role requires exceptional organizational, communication, visual design and fabrication skills. You will act as a liaison between clients and internal cross-functional teams, ensuring all design and build deliverables are executed on time, within scope, and at the highest standard of quality. This includes projects across retail, tradeshow, brand activations and experiential environments. This position is full-time and requires on-site presence daily.

Classification

Exempt: This is a salaried position and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end project lifecycles, from initial brief and creative direction to fabrication and final delivery.
• Own project schedules, milestones, and budgets while ensuring high-quality creative and build execution.
• Interpret client goals and translate them into actionable deliverables across disciplines including design, animation, web, and environmental fabrication.
• Coordinate and align multi-disciplinary teams, including designers, fabricators, developers, and external vendors.
• Present creative work and direction to clients and incorporate feedback into project workflows.
• Ensure all stakeholder expectations are managed and met, maintaining excellent client relationships throughout the project.
• Support and mentor team members across varying skill levels to uphold brand and project standards.
• Maintain detailed project documentation including timelines, briefs, budgets, and communication logs.
• Proactively identify risks and roadblocks; develop contingency plans and elevate issues as needed.
• Uphold quality control standards and conduct final reviews for design and production deliverables.
• Regular and predictable on-site attendance is required.
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may supervise vendors and oversee internal contributors but does not have direct reports.

Supervision Received

This position reports directly to the Director of Client Services.

People Contact

Frequent communication with clients, vendors, and internal production teams is essential.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to lead collaborative meetings are required.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

? At least 2 years of experience managing creative projects involving retail builds, pop ups, premieres, trade shows, and event installations.

? Strong proficiency in developing project timelines, briefs, and managing fast-paced, cross-functional teams.

? Advanced visual design sensibility and experience working across multiple creative categories such as branding, digital design, and motion graphics.

? Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly present creative strategies and feedback.

? Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines with high attention to detail.

? Hands-on, self-motivated, and team-oriented with a solutions-driven mindset.

? Comfortable interpreting client needs and guiding creative teams through complex problem-solving.

? Experience mentoring or managing junior creatives is a plus.

? Knowledge of design and project management software tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch Up, Google Suite) is preferred.

Minimum Education and/or Experience

? Bachelor's degree in Design, Marketing, Communications, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

? Minimum 2 years of creative project management experience.

Preferred Education/Experience

? Experience working with both internal creative teams and external fabrication vendors.

? Portfolio or case studies demonstrating successful project leadership across 3 or more creative categories.

? Background in agency or experiential marketing environments is strongly preferred.

Language Skills

? Ability to write and present creative briefs and proposals.

? Ability to effectively communicate with clients, teammates, and external partners.

? Strong editing and proofing skills for client-facing documents and visuals.

Financial Skills

? Ability to manage budgets and timelines including cost estimation, invoicing, and margin tracking.

Reasoning Ability

? Ability to think critically and independently solve challenges related to design scope, timeline conflicts, and resource allocation.

Physical Demands

? Regularly required to sit, use hands, and communicate verbally.

? Occasionally required to stand, walk, or lift objects up to 25 lbs.

? May require site visits or travel to events as needed.

Work Environment

? Office-based role with a requirement for daily on-site presence.

? Occasional travel to fabrication shops, event venues, or client locations.

? Moderate noise levels typical of a collaborative creative studio environment.

Travel

? Occasional domestic travel may be required for project site visits or event installations.

Equal Opportunity

Rock Steady Productions is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request during the application or interview process.

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice based on business needs.