At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee all production and fabrication projects, ensuring timely delivery and high standards.
- Company: Join Visual Architects, a creative powerhouse in immersive environments and experiential installations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with a focus on teamwork and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovative projects that shape memorable experiences across the UK and Europe.
- Qualifications: Experience in production, fabrication, or live events with strong organisational and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
Location: Manchester
Type: Full Time - Fully office based
Reports to: Directors / Production Leadership Team
About Visual Architects
Visual Architects is a creative production company specialising in immersive environments, scenic builds, fabrication, commercial interiors, festivals, hospitality projects, and large scale experiential installations across the UK and Europe. We deliver technically challenging and visually impactful projects for brands, venues, agencies, and live events, combining creativity with operational excellence across design, production, fabrication, logistics, and installation.
As the business continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced and highly organised Head of Production from a fabrication, scenic build, events, exhibitions, commercial interiors, or experiential production background who understands how to manage complex builds, fast moving deadlines, workforce coordination, procurement, workshop scheduling, and operational delivery at scale.
The Role
The Head of Production is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and operational delivery of all production and fabrication projects across the business. This role is heavily focused on:
- Production planning
- Build scheduling
- Workforce allocation
- Procurement coordination
- Operational oversight
- Workshop scheduling
- Ensuring projects are built and delivered on time and to a high standard
The successful candidate must come from a hands on production, fabrication, scenic, exhibitions, or live events environment and understand the realities of workshop operations, fabrication timelines, supplier management, labour planning, logistics coordination, and live project delivery. Strong planning, communication, and organisational skills are absolutely essential for this role.
The successful candidate will initially work closely with the current production leadership team and company directors to learn internal workflows, systems, supplier networks, operational structures, and company processes before gradually taking ownership of the department. This role would suit someone who thrives in a fast paced production environment and is capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining high operational standards.
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Project Delivery
- Oversee the full production and build schedule across all projects
- Create realistic production timelines and ensure projects are delivered on time
- Coordinate fabrication schedules, production priorities, and operational planning across multiple departments
- Ensure projects move efficiently from approved concept through to final delivery and installation
- Monitor build progress daily and proactively resolve delays, risks, or operational issues
- Work closely with Project Managers, Creative Producers, Designers, and Workshop Managers to ensure smooth project execution
- Manage multiple large scale builds and live projects simultaneously while balancing operational capacity
- Review technical build approaches, fabrication feasibility, and production costings to ensure projects are commercially viable and achievable before entering production
Workforce Planning & Resource Allocation
- Plan and coordinate workforce allocation across workshop, fabrication, scenic, logistics, and installation teams
- Ensure labour requirements are planned correctly across all active projects
- Support recruitment and onboarding within the production department where required
Procurement & Materials Coordination
- Oversee material requirements across all active projects
- Work closely with the materials, stock control, and procurement function to manage material ordering, stock levels, forecasting, and procurement requirements
- Liaise with suppliers and subcontractors regarding lead times, deliveries, availability, and costs
- Ensure materials are ordered and delivered in line with production schedules to avoid delays
Workshop & Build Oversight
- Work in direct collaboration with the Workshop Manager, who oversees the day to day operation of the workshop and fabrication floor
- Ensure workshop schedules and production priorities remain aligned with project deadlines
- Oversee build progress and fabrication timelines across all active projects
- Ensure builds are completed to the required quality standards and technical specifications
- Support practical problem solving and build solutions throughout the production process
- Ensure safe, organised, and efficient working practices across all production areas
Operational Leadership & Communication
- Lead and support the wider production department in a fast paced operational environment
- Maintain clear communication across all departments regarding timelines, delays, operational risks, and production updates
- Attend planning and operational meetings to support company wide coordination
- Help create a positive, accountable, and solutions focused production culture
- Help improve production systems, workflows, scheduling processes, and operational efficiencies as the company continues to scale
Skills & Experience Required
- Proven experience within fabrication, scenic build, exhibitions, live events, production, commercial interiors, construction, or experiential environments
- Strong understanding of build environments and workshop operations
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Experience managing production schedules, build timelines, and operational delivery
- Strong understanding of materials, fabrication processes, and logistics coordination
- Experience managing workforce allocation and operational resources
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Commercial awareness and ability to work within budgets and timelines
- Proactive and solutions focused mindset
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be someone who:
- Understands the realities of production and build environments
- Can confidently manage fast paced build schedules
- Is highly organised and operationally strong
- Can balance multiple moving projects simultaneously
- Understands technical fabrication and production processes
- Can help ensure projects are commercially viable before entering production
- Knows how to keep teams aligned, accountable, and delivering under pressure
This role would suit someone currently working as:
- Production Manager
- Senior Production Coordinator
- Workshop Manager
- Build Manager
- Scenic Production Manager
- Technical Production Manager
- Operations Manager
Head of Production employer: Visual Architekts
Visual Architects is an exceptional employer located in Manchester, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and operational excellence. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company provides opportunities for professional development within the fast-paced production sector, while promoting a collaborative culture that values innovation and teamwork. Employees benefit from working on technically challenging projects that make a significant impact across various industries, ensuring a rewarding and meaningful career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Production
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, workshops, and meet-ups to connect with people in the production world. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or be looking for someone just like you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work in production, fabrication, and event management. Make it visually appealing and easy to navigate, so potential employers can see what you bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Visual Architects, and express your interest in working with them. A personal touch can go a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in managing complex builds and tight deadlines. Show them you’re the perfect fit for the Head of Production role!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Production
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your background in production, fabrication, or events. We want to see how your hands-on experience aligns with the role of Head of Production, so don’t hold back on those relevant projects!
Be Organised:Since this role is all about planning and coordination, demonstrate your organisational skills in your application. Use clear headings and bullet points to make it easy for us to see how you manage complex builds and timelines.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for Visual Architects.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Visual Architekts
✨Know Your Production Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Visual Architects' past projects and their production processes. Familiarise yourself with their approach to immersive environments and large-scale installations. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your understanding of the role and how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your planning and organisational abilities. Discuss specific instances where you've successfully managed complex builds or tight deadlines. Use metrics to quantify your success, like how you improved efficiency or reduced costs in previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Strong communication is key for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing technical aspects of production and fabrication. Be ready to explain how you would keep teams aligned and informed throughout a project.
✨Be Solutions-Focused
During the interview, be prepared to discuss challenges you've faced in past projects and how you overcame them. Emphasise your proactive mindset and ability to find solutions under pressure. This will show that you're not just aware of potential issues but also equipped to handle them effectively.
