Grip and Equipment Manager

Universal Music Group•Philadelphia, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Grip & Equipment Manager plays a critical role in ensuring our teams have the equipment, environments, systems, and resources required to execute creative work safely, efficiently, and at the highest quality standards. This role serves as the operational owner of production infrastructure, ensuring camera, lighting, grip, audio, and studio equipment are maintained, organized, and production-ready at all times. Working closely with Producers, Directors of Photography, Photographers, Stylists, Editors, and Content teams, the Grip & Equipment Manager helps enable seamless production execution while supporting the ongoing growth and evolution of the organization's production capabilities. Combining technical expertise with strong operational and organizational skills, this role ensures production teams can focus on creating exceptional content without being limited by equipment, logistics, or operational challenges.

Requirements

4-7 years experience supporting production operations, grip departments, equipment management, studio operations, or content production environments
Strong knowledge of camera systems, lighting equipment, grip equipment, audio systems, and production workflows
Experience working within photography, video production, ecommerce, entertainment, agency, or studio environments
Strong organizational and inventory management skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and production schedules simultaneously
Understanding of production safety standards and best practices
Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Passion for production, technology, and content creation
Detail-oriented mindset with a focus on reliability and operational excellence

Responsibilities

Own the management, organization, maintenance, and deployment of all production equipment
Maintain inventory across camera, lighting, grip, audio, staging, and production support equipment
Ensure all equipment is production-ready, tested, maintained, and functioning properly
Develop and maintain equipment tracking and asset management systems
Manage equipment check-in, check-out, and return processes
Coordinate repairs, servicing, and preventative maintenance schedules
Evaluate equipment performance and recommend upgrades or replacements when required
Support productions through equipment preparation, logistics, and technical setup
Partner with Producers and Directors of Photography to ensure productions have appropriate equipment and support resources
Oversee equipment allocation across multiple concurrent productions
Assist with studio setup, breakdown, and operational readiness
Support lighting, grip, and technical requirements during productions when needed
Ensure production environments operate safely and efficiently
Identify and resolve equipment-related challenges before they impact production timelines
Maintain studio readiness and operational standards
Support organization and optimization of studio spaces, storage areas, and production environments
Establish equipment handling, safety, and operational procedures
Monitor studio resource utilization and identify opportunities for improvement
Ensure compliance with health, safety, and operational best practices
Develop scalable processes for equipment management and production support
Create documentation, standards, and operating procedures for production equipment and workflows
Support onboarding and training related to equipment usage and studio operations
Research emerging technologies and equipment innovations
Recommend investments that improve production efficiency, quality, and scalability
Contribute to the evolution of production infrastructure and operational capabilities

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services
Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants
Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year)
Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement
401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees
3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees
2-weeks paid Winter Break
10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day)
Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent