Production Team Manager

Company Description
BlackOak Technical Productions is a design-focused technical production company based in Chicago, IL. We provide full-service design and production for meetings, conferences, galas, weddings and parties; either virtual or in-person.

Position Overview | The Big Picture
The BlackOak Production Manager directs the day-to-day production as well as long term strategic production capability of BlackOak Technical Productions. This position oversees execution of all events and ensures staff are completing projects safely, in budget, and at division standards for quality and customer satisfaction. The position is primarily responsible for Onsite Production, Shop Operations, Asset Management, and coordination with other departments. The position is a blend of office, shop, and onsite leadership. This position receives direction from the Managing Director and collaborates closely with the Sales and Design Manager and the Project Department Manager.

The ideal candidate is kindhearted, bold minded, and relentlessly hardworking to make it happen. They will have live event experience, be enjoyable to work with, and committed to improving themselves and their team.

We are open to interim candidates.

Essential Duties | What You’ll Do - The Fun Stuff

Production
•Manages the production of all projects to deliver beyond client expectations based on specifications from Producing and Project Team.
•Mentors, trains, and enforces safe working practices to ensure all work is performed safely.
•Maximizing project level margin through efficient production operations.
•Responsible for overseeing Production Staffing, Shop Operations, Asset Management, and Logistics Teams.
•Ensure all production efforts and teams are supported (including outside standard business hours).
•Direct inventory and material procedures, minimize lost or broken inventory, receive new inventory, and maintain existing inventory function and organization.
•Collaborate with other internal departments and external parties on production aspects of all events.
•Oversees custom build projects in coordination with Kehoe Designs’ team.
•Present on job site to oversee or participate in project install, strike, or operation of equipment.
•Review, approve, process, and receive purchase orders and other expenditures.
•Review Project P&Ls on a regular basis to assess operational efficiency.

People
•Oversee staff scheduling ensuring all events and departments are properly staffed according to production needs
•Create strategic hiring plan and assists direct reports with hiring.
•Source all production labor including full time, part time, temporary, seasonal, freelance, and subcontracted labor.
•Interview potential hires and hire new employees or contractors.
•Negotiate terms of employment for new hires and contractors.
•Create and direct training of new hires and ongoing training of existing staff.
•Manage staff lifecycle performance, including ad-hoc and annual performance reviews of staff, development plans, and coaching actions.
•Work with HR to address employee coaching actions, Workers comp, Unemployment claims, or other HR specific actions.
•Write job descriptions for new positions and work with HR department to create job requisitions.
•Complete and approve team payroll.

Workflow
•Direct day to day operation for project production
•Act as communication hub for department by fielding questions and communicating updates.
•Maintain state of preparedness for projected and anticipated work by monitoring project pipeline.
•Manage ongoing vendor and staffing supply chain and relationships.
•Process invoices and other bookkeeping items in collaboration with Accounting Department
•Periodic review of financial and performance metrics including event P&L and labor analysis.
•Continually optimize and improve production processes and team to scale capacity.
•Utilize and maintain computerized inventory, ERP software, and other software to support responsibilities.
•Assist developing a yearly purchasing strategy to support strategic needs of the business.

Other Duties and Safety Requirements
•Complies with all department and company safety guidelines, procedures, and rules.
•Mentors safe work practices to co-workers and team.
•Completes all safety training as directed and within established timelines.
•Interfaces professionally with all people, internal and external, in a kind and respectful manner.
•Tracks and enters time and assigns hours and tasks to appropriate events and jobs in time and attendance system.
•Completes all Human Resources and Payroll tasks and notifications through the Employee Self Service Online Portal on a weekly basis, as directed and within established timelines.
•Assists in other departments as needed and directed.
•May perform other duties as required.

Qualifications | What You Need to Bring
•5-8+ years of live event production experience.
•3+ years experience in people management.
•Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent background) in theater production, audio or video engineering, or live event production is a plus.
•Technical knowledge of all aspects of live event AV production including lighting, audio, video, and rigging.
•Basic understanding of electrical capabilities and proper, safe utilization of A/C power distribution and Generators.
•Willingness to work relentlessly to make it all happen and solve any problems that need to be solved.
•Excited to continually improve all aspects of the production workflow and process.
•Energized by working in a collaborative environment with creative clients and co-workers to take a fresh approach to our client’s events.
•Event safety training experience and certification desired.
•Certifications, training, or knowledge in Lean, Six Sigma, or other work methods a plus.
•Experience using or configuring computerized inventory or ERP software.
•Extensive ability with Microsoft Office and Office365 products including Excel, Teams, and Sharepoint.
•Ability to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals at all organizational levels.
•Excellent internal and external customer service skills required.
•Works well under pressure with a proven ability to multitask, work in a fast-paced setting, and meet deadlines and goals.
•Familiarity with Human Resources procedures and policies.
•Ability to work flexible hours including early late and weekend hours.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements | What it is Like in the Office
•Ability to use a computer and sit at a desk for long periods of the day.
•Able to walk 25% of the work shift.
•Ability to work with hands and arms during entire shift.
•Must be able to lift, carry, push and pull 30-40 lbs. occasionally.
•Ability to handle fragile items safely.
•Required to work outside of the office and nights and weekends as required.
•Must have 20/20 vision with correction.
•Must be able to tolerate cold, heat and humid conditions.
•May be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, and chemicals throughout the work shift.
•Ability to tolerate moderate noise on an intermittent basis.

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