What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operations Manager, Brand Activation position at AGAR?
ABOUT AGAR/
Agar is experiential. We leverage human experiences, event production, digital technology, music, art and content to grow culture for brands and communities.
Agar is the red substance in a petri dish that’s used to grow culture.
Founded on the premise that as the world grows more and more digital the value of a human experience inherently increases, agar has been growing culture through immersive, sensory experiential platforms since 2008.
POSITION DESCRIPTION/
AGAR is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee the planning, logistics, technical production, and execution of experiential marketing activations, trade show exhibits, pop-ups, and custom fabrication projects. This role bridges project management with hands-on production, requiring someone who understands how experiential environments are fabricated, transported, installed, and dismantled.
The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience in experiential marketing, exhibit production, scenic fabrication, live events, or a related field. They are equally comfortable managing schedules, budgets, labor, and logistics as they are working alongside installation crews, operating power tools when needed, and solving technical challenges on-site.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES/
- Manage experiential projects from concept through execution, partnering with Creative, Design, and Production teams to develop operational plans, production schedules, warehouse logistics, and installation strategies.
- Provide on-site installation support for trade shows, brand activations, pop-ups, and fabricated environments, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to AGAR's quality standards.
- Apply technical production knowledge to fabrication, scenic construction, exhibit systems, A/V equipment, materials, hardware, and installation methods, identifying solutions that support safe and efficient execution.
- Operate power tools and assist with assembly and field modifications when needed, while ensuring proper tools, equipment, and safety practices are utilized.
- Support Warehouse team with fulfilling equipment lists for jobs, including inventory, project staging, packing, shipping, receiving, equipment maintenance, company vehicles, facilities, and asset tracking.
- Build and maintain relationships with fabricators, vendors, rental partners, and logistics providers while sourcing new materials and negotiating competitive pricing.
- Monitor project budgets, purchasing, vendor costs, and operational expenses.
- Participate in project meetings, assisting with production estimates, technical planning, budgeting, and operational input
- Represent AGAR’s vision, mission, guiding principles, and core values and embody AGAR’s quick and nimble way of executing work and knowing when there is a sense of urgency to meet client and project needs.
DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE/
- 3–5 years of experience in experiential marketing, trade shows, exhibits, scenic fabrication, live events, or production operations.
- Strong understanding of fabrication, construction methods, exhibit systems, and installation processes.
- Comfortable using power tools and working in warehouse and installation environments.
- Ability to read production drawings, fabrication plans, and installation documents.
- Proven experience managing multiple projects, budgets, schedules, vendors, and logistics simultaneously.
- Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to travel and work evenings or weekends as required by project schedules.
- OSHA certification, forklift certification, or experience operating aerial lifts and other job-site equipment is a plus.
OUR CORE VALUES/
- Embrace Being Uncomfortable - The greatest learning moments occur when outside of your comfort zone.
- Execute with Excellence - provide agile service without compromising quality of work.
- Constantly Curious - Immerse into experiences and think outside the norm.
- All Hands on Deck, Always - No matter the nature of the job, we get it done together.
- Truth in Words and Actions - Take ownership and accountability.