Sr Technical Production Manager in London

About Us Sparks is a leading global brand experience agency, specializing in the design and execution of award-winning experiences that forge deep connections between brands and audiences. Recognized by Adweek as Experiential Agency of the Year, we bring a unique blend of strategic insight and execution excellence to every brand activation, corporate event, trade show exhibit, and immersive experience. Our commitment to creativity, innovation, and flawless execution drives us to craft impactful experiential marketing solutions that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trust—all around the world.

Summary The Sr Technical Production Manager plays a vital role in the successful delivery of events, pioneering new technologies and innovations to deliver appropriate technical solutions, H&S structure and providing the crucial backbone of certain and feasible delivery. This role is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office one day a week (typically Wednesdays) at our London location.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Works closely with production team and creative to establish project scope and technical requirements.
• Carries out technical site visits; provides site visit reports.
• Briefing Duties: suppliers, venues, site manager, production managers, show callers, CAD drafters/visualizers/creatives.
• Tracks and manages production timelines on active event programs; creates and manages budgets, supplier invoice/expense tracking and final reconciliation.
• Develops and tracks project schedules, agendas and show flows as needed.
• Drives timeline with team and client as directed.
• Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of all technical disciplines, including sound, trucking logistics, crewing, power, lighting, rigging, video/data, and set/stage/scenic construction.
• Joins weekly project and team meetings.
• Monitors services & activities to ensure they are within budget.
• Creates production budgets and timelines associated with assigned proposals.
• Monitors costs and resource allocation to ensure they are within budget.
• Works closely with Freeman Ryton team to ensure all technical aspects of event – build, AV – are developed in line with client brief.
• Research, source and manage suppliers and ensure contractors and suppliers are within our approved supplier list.
• Management of new suppliers and Freeman new supplier procurement processes.
• Works with other departments/agencies in order to produce and ensure quality; deliver proposals to clients accurately and on time.
• Maintains consistent and thorough communication with all levels of employees, contractors, vendors, and Freeman divisions.
• Maintains confidential and sensitive information and files, correspondence and records.

Education & Experience:

• Min 6 yrs event agency experience within a technical / production manager role.
• Formal H&S qualifications preferred but not required.
• Proficient operational knowledge of 2D AutoCAD.
• Entertainment industry related course / certificates in rigging preferred.
• Proficient in all software packages used within Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with international event delivery.
• Experience in managing vendors, people, equipment, and timelines.
• Experience in proposal development and pricing.
• Exposure to budget management of 100K+.
• Ability to quickly recognize or anticipate problem areas and quickly develop solutions.
• Exhibits an outgoing, upbeat personality, enjoys working as part of a team, and is efficient, considerate, and organized, with a keen eye for details.

Travel Requirements: Travel 25% to 50%.

Diversity Commitment: At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.