Event Producer, Print Production Lead

TED Conferences•San Diego, CA

5d•$20,000 - $25,000•Onsite

About The Position

TED is seeking an Event Producer & Print Production Lead (Contractor) to join the Event Operations team. This role is for someone who thinks like an event producer first, comfortable owning full conference production, from logistics to load-out, and who brings that same operational rigor to TED's print and signage operations. Day-to-day, you will own the full lifecycle of every printed asset from brief through on-site installation, across a busy calendar of world-class conferences and events. The strongest candidates will come from an event production background. This experience translates directly: you already understand how to manage vendors under pressure, navigate production timelines, maintain brand standards on-site, and juggle competing priorities across complex projects. Print and signage coordination, for the right person, is a natural extension of that skillset. You will flex across both functions as the event calendar demands — serving as TED's internal lead on all printing, environmental graphics, and signage, while stepping into full event operations ownership during peak production phases. This role suits someone equally at home building a production schedule and reviewing a print proof.

Requirements

5+ years of event production experience with demonstrated growth in responsibility
Hands-on experience managing print and signage production for large-scale events or environmental graphics
Demonstrated vendor management and contract negotiation experience across event services and print/fabrication suppliers
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Airtable
Strong project management instincts: able to run parallel workstreams, manage competing deadlines, and self-direct without close oversight
Operationally rigorous — strong instinct for logistics, sequencing, and follow-through
Detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger event picture
Comfortable switching context between production disciplines
Direct communicator; manages up and across proactively
Calm under pressure; solution-oriented when things shift on-site
Must be authorized to work in the United States.
This position requires regular on-site presence at event venues.

Nice To Haves

Degree or diploma in event management, project management, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience

Responsibilities

Serve as TED's primary point of contact for all event print and signage production, owning the process from brief through installation
Develop and manage print production budgets; negotiate vendor pricing and contracts
Manage the end-to-end workflow: sourcing vendors, submitting and approving proofs, coordinating production timelines, and overseeing delivery and installation at event sites
Maintain a centralized asset management and approval workflow for all visual production requests
Recommend materials, finishes, and installation approaches appropriate to the event environment and design intent
Conduct quality checks and resolve discrepancies with vendors promptly
Integrate sustainable materials and practices into print production where feasible
Ensure all signage and printed materials adhere to TED's branding and identity guidelines
Lead end-to-end operational execution for assigned TED events, from pre-production through load-out
Source, vet, and manage vendors from start to finish, becoming their first point of contact on behalf of multiple stakeholders.
Develop and manage production schedules, load-in/load-out logistics, shipping, and on-site coordination
Build, track, and reconcile event budgets; manage vendor invoices and change orders
Represent operational progress at weekly production meetings; maintain project documentation, databases, and event records
Coordinate cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders to align on operational requirements
Uphold TED's brand and quality standards across all event touchpoints