Director, Creative Production Operations & Estimating – Live Event Production

Role Summary

The Director of Creative Production Operations and Estimating is a senior creative minded, production leader responsible for developing and translating ambitious concepts into practical, profitable, and executable event solutions. This role serves as Precon Events' authority on production feasibility, estimating, scenic and technical planning, and concept-to-execution decision-making.

This is a senior operating role for a leader who can bridge creative vision, production reality, and commercial discipline. The successful candidate will help evaluate, estimate, plan, and execute complex productions. The ideal candidate understands how creative ideas become real environments, stages, scenic elements, branded installations, AV systems, fabrication packages, logistics plans, and client-ready budgets. This role serves as the company's primary authority on production feasibility and execution strategy before projects move into proposal or production. 

Key Responsibilities

Design Feasibility & Concept Translation

• Develop, review and translate creative concepts, renderings, drawings, floor plans, production requests, to determine feasibility, execution path, risk, and estimated cost.
• Translate concepts into executable production plans, determining the most effective combination of fabrication, graphics, LED, projection, staging, rentals, and vendor solutions.

Estimating & Margin Discipline

• Lead estimating discipline for complex projects, including direct costs, labor assumptions, material costs, vendor inputs, contingency considerations, scope boundaries, and margin expectations.
• Build, improve, and maintain estimating templates, standards, and required assumptions for proposal readiness.

Production Operations & Cross Functional Coordination

• Coordinate across Creative, Producers, Project Managers, Technical Directors, warehouse/fabrication teams, vendors, freelancers, and leadership to create clear project handoffs.
• Align internal equipment, inventory, fabrication, pull lists, logistics, truck loading, staffing, and readiness with project needs.

Scenic, Technical & Vendor Planning

• Assess materials, substrates, carpentry, graphics, modular systems, finishing, fabrication workflow, installation, transport, and scenic construction needs.
• Understand the implications of staging, AV, lighting, LED, projection, power, rigging, labor, floor plans, and venue constraints.

Preferred Location & Travel Requirements

This is a full-time, warehouse-based role requiring significant onsite presence. This role is deeply integrated with Precon’s production, fabrication, and event operations and requires regular onsite presence. Candidates should expect to travel to production facilities, venues, and event sites as needed to support planning and execution. Flexibility is critical, as event schedules and operational demands may occasionally require evening, weekend, and travel commitments.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $125,000–$160,000 annually, commensurate with experience, leadership capability, qualifications, and fit with Precon’s needs.

What You Bring to the Table

• 10 years of experience in live events, experiential production, scenic production, trade show/exhibit production, broadcast/corporate events, or similar complex production environments.
• Proven ability to evaluate creative concepts and balance feasibility, budget, risk, and profitability.
• Strong understanding of how creative ambition, technical reality, budget, labor, vendor scopes, warehouse logistics, and execution all connect.
• Experience estimating or overseeing budgets for complex projects, including labor, materials, rentals, freight, vendor scopes, venue rules, equipment, fabrication choices, and margin implications.
• Working understanding of AV, lighting, staging, LED/projection, power, rigging implications, floor plans, labor, and venue constraints.
• Knowledge of scenic fabrication, including materials, substrates, carpentry, graphics, SEG, modular systems, finishing, fabrication workflow, installation, and transport.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing people, vendors, freelancers, shop/warehouse resources, or cross-functional production teams.
• Commercial judgment with a strong understanding of margin, risk, client expectations, scope boundaries, and proposal readiness.
• Clear, direct, collaborative communication style with the ability to work effectively across creative, sales, operations, technical, warehouse, and executive stakeholders.
• Familiarity with production drawings, CAD platforms, estimating systems, and project-management tools.

Why you will love working here

You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how standout events move from concept to execution, helping Precon scale without losing its creative edge. You’ll work at the intersection of creative production, technical execution, scenic fabrication, warehouse operations, and estimating, bringing structure to complex work while partnering with a collaborative, high-performing team. This role offers true ownership, cross-functional influence, and the opportunity to shape how a growing event production company scales its operations. Success in this role will be measured by stronger proposal readiness, improved estimate accuracy, reduced production surprises, and increased operational scalability.

About Precon Events

Precon Events is an industry leader in live event production, known for creating emotional, memorable experiences around the world. Our team of Producers, Technical Directors, Project Managers, and Event Gurus brings together world-class talent and cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional events. We thrive under pressure and are committed to excellence in every facet of event planning and execution.

The Perks (Because You Deserve Them)

At Precon Events, we take care of our people. Our benefits include medical, dental, life, and both short- and long-term disability insurance, plus a 401(k) plan. We offer generous paid time off that grows into uncapped vacation after your first year. Please note that while we value flexibility, this role requires candidates to be based in the Washington, DC metro area. Only local applicants will be considered.

An Inclusive Place to Do Your Best Work

Precon Events is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants and team members of all backgrounds and identities. We’re committed to creating a workplace that’s free of discrimination, harassment, and anything that gets in the way of great work and good people.

How to Apply

Excited to take the next step? Our preferred method of application is through our recruitment portal: 

https://secure5.entertimeonline.com/ta/CBIZ20403.careers?CareersSearch=&lang=en-US

If you apply via LinkedIn and we’d like to move forward with your candidacy, we’ll ask you to complete your application through the link above. We carefully review every application and look forward to getting to know you.