Head of Production - Exhibition in Guildford

Office and workshop based

Custom exhibition stand builds, compact through to double-deck, UK shows through to the US, and a production operation with no generic pop-ups, no off-the-shelf compromises. A Head of Production - Exhibition role where the systems are yours to build, the team is yours to grow, and the owner is one door away.

- International project variety across UK, Europe and the US

- Build systems and lead a growing team from day one

- Direct access to the owner. Decisions get made

- Private medical cover

- Profit-share scheme under development

- Overtime and away-time earnings on top of base salary

The Company

This is an owner-managed, custom exhibition stand design-and-build contractor based in Surrey, delivering turnkey projects from initial design through fabrication, logistics, installation and storage. The work is all custom build, no generic pop-ups, for a broad client base across multiple sectors. The owner is actively recruiting a Head of Production - Exhibition to take genuine ownership of the operation, with a profit-share scheme in development and a real appetite to delegate and invest in the people who run it.

The Role

The Head of Production - Exhibition takes full ownership of the production function: reviewing signed-off designs through fabrication, logistics and on-site installation, managing a team of carpenters and coordinating install crews across domestic and international shows.

- Manage a team of carpenters and projects through the workshop

- Review CAD drawings and working designs for build feasibility and practical production requirements

- Create production lists, assign tasks to carpenters and agree build schedules

- Audit stock and identify reuse or refabrication opportunities before ordering materials

- Plan and manage logistics including lorry bookings, packing, weight and height limits, and show timelines

- Assign and lead on-site installation and dismantling crews, attending larger shows as required

- Track daily progress across live jobs and report status to the owner

- Build and improve production systems and processes as the operation grows

The Candidate

The right Head of Production - Exhibition will have come through the exhibition stand design-and-build world specifically, with clear experience leading a production/workshop team and running the full build cycle from drawings through to on-site delivery. Critically, you can read CAD plans, assess build feasibility, and hold genuine credibility with qualified carpenters and tradespeople.

Exhibition logistics knowledge is essential: lorry specifications, packing and load planning, weight and height limits, and the tight deadlines that come with live show schedules. Candidates from retail fit-out or general carpentry backgrounds are not suitable for this role. Given the fully office and workshop-based nature of the position, you must be genuinely local to Surrey.

The package includes private medical cover, overtime and away-time earnings, and a profit-share scheme currently being structured for the near future. This is a senior appointment and the role of Head of Production - Exhibition will not be recruited slowly. Applications are being reviewed now, so send yours across.

Live specialises in all disciplines (and at all levels) across events, experiential and exhibitions. If this position isn't quite what you're looking for please visit live-recruitment.co.uk to view all of the opportunities we are recruiting.

As a specialist events recruitment agency we help our clients build the most talented and diverse teams in the UK. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, embracing diversity across all intersecting dimensions, including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, well-being, abilities, and neurodiversity. We are dedicated to ensuring a supportive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or accommodations for any reason, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Vacancy Ref: CC18548