Director of Production, Live Production

PRA Business Events • Austin, TX

19h • Hybrid

About The Position

PRA is a leading destination management company (DMC) with over 45 years of experience across 32+ states and 100+ destinations, specializing in transforming ideas into business event experiences. The Director of Production reports to and partners with the VP, Production Services to manage the production function within PRA. This role oversees the planning and delivery of meetings, general sessions, keynote events, and special programs across various destinations. The Director of Production is responsible for building and managing production capabilities, ensuring consistent execution, strong financial performance, and high client satisfaction. This position operates both independently and in close partnership with PRA's Core Services and destination operations teams, adapting to program scope and client needs. The role acts as a strategic link between production and the DMC business, ensuring alignment, clear communication, and seamless delivery when production services intersect with other core program elements like transportation, venues, décor, and entertainment.

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
• Applicants must reside in the Austin area to be considered for this role

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

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation Time
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Time
• Parental Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees