Director of Production (Live Events) - Orlando, Florida

About the Opportunity

We are partnered with a leading live events, exhibits, and experiential production company seeking a Director of Production to lead and scale event delivery across a diverse portfolio of corporate events, trade shows, exhibits, conferences, product launches, and experiential activations.

This role will oversee production operations from concept through execution, managing production teams, vendor relationships, logistics, budgeting, and onsite delivery. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a strong background in live events and exhibits who can drive operational excellence while maintaining exceptional client experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of event and exhibit production across multiple projects simultaneously.
• Oversee production managers, technical directors, project managers, and freelance event staff.
• Develop and implement production processes, best practices, and operational efficiencies.
• Collaborate with Sales, Creative, Account Management, and Operations teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Direct venue selection, technical production planning, exhibit installation, logistics, labor, transportation, and onsite event execution.
• Manage production schedules, timelines, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
• Own project budgets, tracking financial performance, profitability, and cost control measures.
• Build and maintain relationships with vendors, fabricators, AV partners, venues, and labor providers.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, risk management procedures, and company policies.
• Act as executive-level escalation point for clients and internal stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, and scalability.
• Support business growth by contributing production expertise during proposal development and client presentations.
• Mentor and develop production team members, creating clear career development pathways.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent industry experience.
• 8+ years of experience in live events, experiential marketing, trade shows, exhibits, or event production.
• 3+ years in a leadership role managing production teams.
• Proven experience overseeing large-scale corporate events, exhibits, conferences, and experiential activations.
• Strong understanding of AV production, staging, fabrication, scenic, graphics, labor management, and event logistics.
• Demonstrated success managing multimillion-dollar production budgets.
• Experience working directly with enterprise clients, associations, and agencies.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Preferred Experience

• Corporate events and conference production.
• Trade show and exhibit fabrication environments.
• Experiential marketing activations.
• National event programs and multi-city roadshows.
• Union labor management and convention center operations.
• Exhibit house, event agency, or production company background.