Director of Production

WHO WE ARE...

ASTOUND is a global experiential powerhouse with three core verticals: Brand Experiences, Sports Experiences, and Immersive Entertainment. From trade shows and large-scale events to experience centers and IP-driven attractions, we create programs that combine creative excellence, operational discipline, and ROI-focused outcomes.

With over 200 employees, a 350,000 sq. ft. production facility, and execution in more than 40 countries, ASTOUND is defining what the modern experiential partner looks like. Now, in our 25th year, we are expanding into a growth engine for our clients-powered by AI, integrated creative, and next-gen content strategy -and for the business itself, driving both revenue and enterprise value.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Production Operations is a hands-on, operational leader tasked with transforming ASTOUND's production and staging functions into a model of excellence, accountability, and collaboration. You are the bridge between Project Management and Production, ensuring that projects are properly planned, staged, and delivered within time and resource constraints.

You embody the ASTOUND spirit and standards, setting the tone for discipline, team spirit, and pride in craftsmanship. This role requires both authority on the shop floor and the ability to foster collaboration across departments, instilling accountability and raising the bar for performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Leadership & Reorganization

• Lead the continued reorganization and transformation of the production and staging departments, elevating them to a best-in-class level.
• Build team spirit and accountability by creating a culture where every individual takes ownership of quality, timelines, and safety.
• Uphold the ASTOUND spirit and standards, ensuring the shop reflects the company's reputation for excellence.

Bridge Between PM and Production

• Serve as the operational connector between Project Management and the shop floor, ensuring all handoffs are clear and complete.
• Translate project requirements into actionable production and staging plans with resource alignment.
• Anticipate and resolve conflicts or issues, keeping projects on track and within scope.

Process, Efficiency & Reporting

• Establish and maintain standardized processes for staging, scheduling, resource allocation, and quality control.
• Implement operational reporting with transparency on capacity, efficiency, risks, and delivery performance.
• Drive efficiency and excellence by improving workflows and introducing continuous improvement initiatives.

Shop Floor Authority

• Act as a hands-on leader in the shop, visible and respected, ensuring standards are upheld every day.
• Maintain a client-ready, organized, and safe environment, fostering pride and professionalism across teams.
• Empower supervisors and leads while holding them accountable for meeting performance and quality standards.

Quality & Delivery Excellence

• Ensure projects are staged and delivered on time, within allocated resources, and to ASTOUND's high quality benchmarks.
• Enforce standards of precision, reducing errors and rework.
• Drive operational readiness, confirming every project is fully staged and accurate before deployment.

Make-or-Buy Decision Leadership

• Lead and improve the make-or-buy decision process, balancing internal capacity with external vendor capabilities.
• Collaborate with Procurement, PM, and Fabrication leadership to ensure cost-effective, timely, and quality-driven sourcing decisions.
• Uphold accountability in vendor relationships while ensuring internal resources are optimized first.

Meet Performance Metrics

• Tangible improvement in production and staging organization, discipline, and efficiency .
• Consistently successful on-time delivery of projects within allocated resources.
• Implementation and adoption of standardized processes and reporting.
• Measurable improvement in shop quality, readiness, and accountability .
• Effective and strategic make-or-buy decision outcomes .
• Enhanced collaboration and team spirit across departments and levels.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in production operations, staging, or fabrication management within experiential marketing, events, or large-scale fabrication industries.
• Demonstrated success in reorganizing or transforming production operations, introducing structure and raising performance standards.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to balance authority and team spirit.
• Proven ability to improve and lead make-or-buy decision processes.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Skilled communicator who fosters collaboration and builds trust across levels.
• Experience establishing KPIs, reporting systems, and accountability frameworks.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:

The compensation package will be commensurate with experience. Our employees are entitled to a standard set of benefits, including health and dental insurance and 401(k) with company match.

• Excellent Medical Insurance
• Excellent Dental Insurance
• Excellent Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay
• 401K matching program after 90 days of employment
• 100% Company Life and Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Employee Referral Program

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT:

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome talented individuals from all backgrounds to apply. Our goal is to ensure that every candidate is evaluated solely on their qualifications, merits, and potential to contribute meaningfully to our team and mission.