Director of Production, Live Production

PRA Business Events•Chicago, IL

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is hybrid with a combination of working from home, traveling, and some commuting to an office in Chicago. Applicants must be based in/near the Chicago area to be considered for this role. We're PRA, the leading destination management company (DMC) with 45+ years of experience across 32+ states and 100+ destinations. We believe destinations have power-and our people unlock its magic. We push past boundaries to transform ideas into business event experiences that connect, inspire, and endure. We love-and have fun-doing it. If you're curious, bold, and ready to build standout experiences, you'll find your place here. Position Summary The Director of Production reports to and partners with the VP, Production Services to manage the production function within PRA, overseeing the planning and delivery of meetings, general sessions, keynote events, and special programs across destinations. This role is responsible for building and managing production capabilities, ensuring consistent execution, strong financial performance, and high client satisfaction. The Director of Production operates both independently and in close partnership with PRA's Core Services and destination operations teams, depending on program scope and client needs. This role serves as a strategic bridge between production and the DMC business, ensuring alignment, clear communication, and seamless delivery when production services intersect with transportation, venues, décor, entertainment, and other core program elements.

Requirements

10–15+ years of experience in live event or meeting production
Proven leadership experience managing teams and multiple programs simultaneously
Strong financial and operational management skills
Experience building or scaling production functions in a growing organization
Excellent client and executive stakeholder management
Ability to travel regularly

Responsibilities

Partner with VP, Production Services to scale the live production department, including staffing, workflows, and vendor partnerships
Oversee production performance across programs, ensuring quality, efficiency, and profitability
Establish production standards, workflows, and best practices across programs
Partner with VP, Production Services, sales and operations leaders to support business development and program delivery
Build and maintain strategic relationships with internal stakeholders, key vendors and contract staff
Mentor and develop producers at all levels
Step into high-risk or high-visibility programs when needed
Lead production programs that operate independently of Core Services when production is the primary scope
Manage production budgets, timelines, staffing, and vendor relationships for standalone production programs
Ensure operational readiness, risk management, and contingency planning across programs
Maintain ownership of production quality and financial performance regardless of program structure
Serve as a bridge between production and Core Services teams to ensure alignment on program delivery
Partner with operations leaders when production intersects with transportation, venues, décor, entertainment, and logistics
Clarify roles, responsibilities, and communication workflows across teams
Support integrated program planning and execution when production services are part of broader DMC programs, from proposal through delivery
Foster collaborative relationships that enable efficient delivery without creating operational silos
Manage production budgets, pricing strategies, and margin targets
Forecast production resource needs and staffing requirements
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and cost control across programs
Ensure financial discipline and accountability across the production function
Recruit, mentor, and develop production staff and freelance teams
Build and maintain strong relationships with production and technical vendor partners
Establish scalable staffing and vendor models to support fluctuating program volume
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence
Partner with sales teams to support proposals, site visits, and client presentations
Provide production expertise and technical guidance during program planning
Help position production as a strategic capability within PRA's service offering
Identify opportunities to expand production services across destinations