THE ROLE
The Technical Production Director is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing Sleek’s technical production function, ensuring consistently high standards of delivery, strong technical governance, and best–in–class execution across all projects.
The role sits at the intersection of creative storytelling, advanced production technology, and strategic business delivery. The successful candidate will combine exceptional technical expertise, a deep understanding of how technology can translate business objectives into powerful audience experiences, and significant experience as a team leader.
We are seeking a senior professional with proven experience in live events/experiential agencies, ready to lead on the role of technical lead at a fast‑growing, award‑winning agency.
You will work closely with our Technical Innovation Director, Creative Studio, Live and Client Experience teams to translate bold creative ideas into technically flawless realities. You will have direct line management responsibility for our in‑house technical team and will own the relationships with our key technical suppliers and freelance network.
You will be accountable for the quality, safety, and commercial performance of all technical production at Sleek. The expectation is that roughly 70% of your time will be client‑billable, with 30% non‑billable, flexing in line with flagship project demands.
RESPONSIBILITIES
TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY
- Collaborate with the Technical & Innovation Director to define Sleek’s technology positioning and strategy.
- Translate this strategy into a technical production vision, setting quality standards and best practice across all productions.
- Act as a technical authority for Sleek - the go‑to voice on all matters of technical design, and technical production/delivery.
- Work at a senior level with Creative Directors and Project Leads to translate concepts into technically viable, impactful solutions.
- Develop and maintain Sleek's technical toolkit, processes, and standards, continuously raising the bar on what we deliver.
PRODUCTION & DELIVERY
- Oversee the full technical production lifecycle from brief and concept through to build, show, and strike.
- Produce and review technical drawings, specifications, and technical riders across all productions.
- Lead the technical direction of complex, large‑scale events including keynote productions, brand activations, exhibitions, and experiential installations.
- Ensure all technical elements – lighting, AV, sound, staging, LED, scenic and set – are specified, sourced, and delivered to brief and to budget.
- Attend events on‑site as the senior technical lead, acting as the primary technical point of contact for clients where required.
- Ensure all productions comply fully with health and safety legislation and best practice, leading a culture of safe working across the team.
- Work closely with our Technical Innovation Director to ensure access to the most innovative suppliers in the business.
- Quality assurance and point of escalation for all event production delivery across the whole offering.
- Create project CAD plans (covering but not limited to detailed staging, seating and site plans to ensure all attendees have a positive experience, achieving good sight lines and readability for all and a safe and swift flow of delegates around the venue).
PEOPLE LEADERSHIP & TEAM DEVELOPMENT
- Play a pivotal role in building the technical production team from the ground up; advising on what technical production roles/skills will support Sleek’s delivery and recruiting team profiles that will meet your high standards.
- Line‑manage and develop Sleek's internal technical team, fostering a high‑performance, collaborative culture in line with Sleek's people‑first values.
- Ensure direct reports are clear on their role expectations and priorities.
- Ensure direct reports take and hold accountability for their work.
SUPPLIER & BUDGET MANAGEMENT
- Set the department standard for supplier relationship management – assisting Operations & Finance with vetting the technical supply chain, managing supplier tender process, briefing and negotiations to ensure quality, deadlines and budgets are met.
- Help the resources team build a trusted network of specialist production freelancers and crew to scale capacity on large or concurrent productions, providing freelancer oversight where required.
- Prepare accurate technical budgets across productions, managing spend and identifying efficiencies without impacting delivery standards.
- Maintain oversight of technical inventory, equipment, and asset management.
- Ensure projects are reconciled and information is passed in a timely fashion to finance for billing.
- Actively participate in internal and external debriefs for the purposes of review and continual improvement.
- Share learnings with the team from an operational, technical, content and supplier perspective.
CLIENT & COMMERCIAL CONTRIBUTION
- Support new business and client services teams by contributing to pitches, proposals and client presentations from a technical perspective.
- Build trusted, long‑term relationships with key clients, acting as a credible and reassuring senior technical advisor.
- Partner with Client Experience Directors and delivery teams to understand project outcomes and translate them into improved technical processes and capabilities.
- Identify opportunities to develop Sleek's technical service line as a commercial differentiator and driver of growth.
SUSTAINABILITY
- Actively implement accessible and sustainable approaches within the technical production department.
- Accountable for integrating, measuring & reporting of Sustainability & Accessibility goals and practices across technical production, ensuring all technical procurement aligns with Sleek's sustainability commitments wherever possible.
- Maintain a foundational awareness of current best practices and commit to ongoing self‑education.
- Work with colleagues to identify and implement company‑wide improvements.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
- Consistently exceptional technical delivery: Sleek’s events are delivered to a consistently high technical standard, with robust planning, minimal reactive escalation and strong on‑site leadership.
- Strong technical governance, safety and risk management: Clear technical standards, processes and quality controls are embedded across the business, resulting in safe, compliant productions and effective risk management.
- High‑performing and scalable technical production team: A capable, motivated technical production team is built and developed, with clear roles, accountability and progression, enabling Sleek to scale delivery without compromising quality or culture.
- Commercially sound technical production: Technical budgets are accurately scoped, well controlled and delivered to margin, with strong supplier relationships, effective cost management and informed commercial decision‑making across all productions.
- Positive client impact and business growth: Clients view Sleek as a trusted technical partner, with the Technical Production Director contributing to client retention, repeat business, successful pitches and the evolution of Sleek’s technical offering as a competitive differentiator.
ABOUT YOU
- Likely 8+ years in technical production roles within a live event, experiential marketing, or exhibitions agency environment.
- Deep expertise across AV systems, lighting design, sound, staging, rigging, LED and scenic production.
- Proven track record of leading complex, high‑budget technical productions from concept to delivery (e.g. 5,000+ delegate keynote, multi‑stream breakouts, and large‑scale exhibition builds).
- Comfortable switching between strategic leadership and hands‑on production direction.
- Strong people‑leadership skills with experience managing and developing in‑house technical teams.
- Excellent working knowledge of PROCIM finance software & technical design software (e.g. Vectorworks, AutoCAD).
- Commercially minded – confident building and managing technical budgets and delivering to cost.
- Sound understanding of health and safety regulations relevant to global live events (e.g. IOSH, CDM regulations).
- Organised and able to work under pressure managing multiple productions simultaneously.
- A natural relationship builder, able to inspire confidence with clients, suppliers and colleagues alike.
- Balances exceptional attention to detail with a clear view of the overall production objectives.
- Familiarity with immersive technologies such as projection mapping, interactive installations or XR is advantageous.
- Previous years’ experience managing a technical production team.
- Highly competent managing complex, multi‑currency budgets of £1m+, with strong commercial judgement and financial discipline.
- Willing and able to travel within the UK and internationally for site visits and event delivery.
BENEFITS
- 27 days holiday (plus UK public holidays) + 3 additional days per year of service (capped).
- Week‑day birthdays off, charity day, and Pay Day early finish Fridays (15:00).
- Standard pension plan.
- Fitness membership or gym contribution.
- Tech, cycle to work, and EV schemes.
- Private health care after 1 year’s service.
- Learning and development programmes, including £250 personal learning budget, Sleek Academy, new joiner buddies, and external coaching programme.
- Company social events including weekly office drinks and annual offsite.
- Opportunity to experience new destinations through Fam Trips and overseas familiarisation trips in luxury accommodation.
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