Freelance Senior Event Production Lead/Executive Producer

Job Description

Job Description

RED VELVET is a boutique full-service creative experiences, activations, and events agency calling Austin, Texas home since 2002. RED VELVET partners with companies and agencies to create international award-winning experiences of all shapes and sizes.

OVERVIEW:
RED VELVET is seeking Freelance Senior Event Production Leads/Executive Producers. In this role, you will lead and manage the production of large-scale, complex, creative experiences for our clients. 

The Freelance Senior Event Production Lead/Executive Producer is accountable for bringing a project from its inception through to completion. This role maintains a firm handle on project management and processes, with a keen ability to “see the bigger picture” in order to strategically fulfill client and team needs. You will lead and manage multiple components of projects simultaneously, and navigate (sometimes) ambiguous situations with grace and confidence.

As a leader on our project team(s), this role will manage the client relationship and act as a strategic partner, resource, and advocate at a senior level. You will be responsible for managing strategic vendor relationships, and you will need to effectively collaborate across internal departments (creative, operations, account, and production) in order to be successful. 

RED VELVET projects include:  Experiential Activations, Experiential Conferences, Luxury Experiences, and Strategic Consulting.

We look for the following in Senior and/or Executive Producer-level candidates:

Experienced Producer on Complex Projects. You have a minimum of 10+ years of industry-related experience with multiple years of experience in event production. You have been the lead producer of large-scale events and projects. You have managed complex events incorporating live event production, digital and physical activations, expo components, and ancillary events that weave an integrated, sophisticated experience.

Collaborator and Project Manager. This is a highly collaborative and project-driven position in which you will lead end-to-end production for all event elements and collaborate with internal teams, including creative, operations, accounts, and production.

Relationship Builder : You are an accomplished leader who strives to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships. You’re able to quickly connect with our RED VELVET team while effectively leading projects. You can build successful, trusted relationships with senior-level clients, including C-Suite Executives at large global organizations.

Initiative and Discernment. You consistently anticipate the next step or next need. You make contingency plans and say “I’ve been thinking…” You are proactive and thoughtful and can see the big picture while not losing sight of the details.

Inquisitive and Strategic. You demonstrate a desire to learn, grow, and improve your craft. You make a point to learn about your client's organization and industry. You’ve pursued continuing education or certifications in project management or similar frameworks to develop your producer skill set. You’re always thinking through the strategy of projects for the benefit of the client and team.

Negotiator. Reviewing and negotiating venue and vendor contracts are a breeze.

Agile. This is a dynamic industry, and no two days are ever the same. Your ability to work irregular hours and travel based on client deliverables is required.

Competence. Ability to speak confidently on areas beyond just the 'production' bubble; an intimate understanding of the industry as a whole, finger on the pulse of trends and innovations; and understanding of the web of elements required to bring projects to life.

SKILLS + CHARACTERISTICS EXPLAINED: 
Advanced Project Management Skills

• Expert ability to build and manage: Workback schedules, timelines, scope, risk management, and communication plans; to calculate the critical path and effort estimations, etc
• Excellent budgeting skills: Able to continuously identify pricing opportunities and optimize strategies with the Account Lead to increase company net revenue.
• Experience with all facets of planning, managing, and executing complex creative and logistics-heavy projects.
• Ability to hold team and/or vendors accountable to project management plan(s) and structures. Can kindly and effectively pull the team and/or vendor “back on track” as needed.
• Ability to work on most project management software (or quickly figure new ones out) and proficiency in building and managing spreadsheets.
• Takes initiative to provide communication of project status, risks, scope creep, issues, etc, to the team and clients in a timely and professional manner. Knows when to escalate issues to the Head of Production in order to keep a project on track.
• Graceful ability to know when to abide by the desires of the client and when to hold a boundary. This is a delicate skill of utmost importance.
• Problem-Solver
  • Highly proactive temperament, and exhibits a growth mindset.
  • Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous situations with low context. Able to assert a sense of power and confidence even when information may not be readily available.
  • Confident decision-making and problem-solving skills, but not too proud to ask for help.
• Leadership Qualities
  • A mentor mentality - wants to see others around them shine and grow. 
  • Communicates and delegates to the team effectively and in a timely manner. Can take the reins and lead the way, even when the way is ambiguous. 
  • Uses a professional, authoritative, and respectful tone among the company and with the client. 
  • Knows when to lead, when to execute, when to collaborate, and when to listen.
  • Effectively balances the needs of the team, the client, and the company with agility.
  • Strong, confident presentation skills.
• Phenomenal Interpersonal Skills
  • Confident ability to address and resolve conflict, handles “hard conversations” with finesse.
  • A strong sense of Self that fosters healthy relations with the team and clients.
  • Excellent stress management and emotional intelligence.
  • Able to hold self and others accountable. Knows how to set a team pace and hold everyone to it.
  • Demands excellence, goes above and beyond without taking themselves too seriously. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Understand the strategic and creative requirements and objectives of the event; collaborate with departments to ensure alignment.
• Manage the day-to-day budget and operations of the project.
• Develop and manage timelines for cross-functional teams to bring the project to successful execution.
• See beyond what is right in front of you (the immediate tasks) and comprehend the big picture – the 360 views of the overall project in its entirety, and make recommendations and adjustments as necessary. Take initiative and do not wait to be told what to do next.
• Drive and track cost management through negotiation and strategic buying.
• Activations design and production management, collaborating with fabrication partners.
• Graphics project management & production.
• Communicate with and manage vendors.
• In partnership with the account lead, actively participate in regular client status meetings and provide project status (including any areas of risk).
• Audit the status of the project/event to ensure it's on track with each of the project leads.
• Oversee the on-site execution of the project/event and staff.
• Responsible for post-event deliverables and leading internal retrospectives for the project team.
• Ensure all vendors and partner invoices are paid post-event.

If you made it this far and are still interested, please apply and tell us what makes you ROCK as a Freelance Senior Production Lead/Executive Producer . No phone calls, please. We will respond to candidates who have qualified for the first round of interviews.

DISCLAIMER: This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by associates within this classification. It is not designed to confirm or be interpreted as a comprehensive summary of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job.

RED VELVET is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Flexible work from home options available.