Event Production Manager

Job DescriptionWho We Are:Frieze is the worlds leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week and seven international art fairs Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, Frieze Seoul, The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago. Legacy art fair brands The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago were acquired by Frieze in September 2023. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London.At Frieze we believe art is vital to communities and cultures. Bringing together galleries, artists, institutions, and art lovers all over the world to make art flourish.Frieze is part of the IMG network. IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events, and media and is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company.About the Frieze Production DepartmentThe Production team are responsible for delivering all physical elements of the fairs and ensuring its safe, timely and successful delivery. This team is an operational one, based in London, made up of two distinct subsets, with a Head of Department for each:Exhibitor Production focuses on all production elements related to the Exhibitors at the fairs, including; booth builds, complex artwork installation, technical support, drafting, floor planning, art shipping logistics, Frieze Sculpture management, production schedules (venue builds), Health & Safety.Fair Production encompasses all other areas of the fair, including; tent builds & related infrastructure, F&B, contract management, Partnership lounge support/production, other non-gallery build, fair design, site infrastructure, security, cleaning, contractor management, production schedule (tent builds), Health & Safety.Frieze FRAME this newly formed department, although working closely with the above teams, is a stand-alone team who will act as the Frieze in-house production agency. FRAME will primarily be sold to existing and new sponsors across the Frieze Fairs portfolio, offering a turn-key production management service for their on-site brand activations.Frieze FRAME is a newly created department at Frieze, and the Production Manager role is a key one that will manage our clients event production to ensure delivery to the highest standard of quality, across client activations.Key Responsibilities and AccountabilitiesDefine project scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with clients and internal stakeholdersDevelop comprehensive project plans outlining key milestones, resource requirements, and budget allocationsManage project resources effectively - assigning tasks, tracking progress, and adjusting freelance resource allocations as needed to meet project objectives and deadlinesSupporting new business pitches and strategic planning initiatives with feasibility studies, production methodologies, and proposals to drive project successAdvising clients and internal teams on creative and practical production solutionsCollaborating with cross-functional teams on the end-to-end production process from concept, through to completionEffectively manage relationships with suppliers, negotiating contracts and agreements to secure favourable terms and pricing while maintaining the highest level of service and qualityResponsible for H&S documentation and working with contractors and stakeholders to ensure the activation complies with H&S and venue regulations.Creating briefing documents and technical specs to share with production suppliersImplement key process documentation for all production elementsBudget forecasting, management, and reconciliationEnsuring cost trackers are kept up to date and the client is kept abreast of spendProviding production leadership onsite, overseeing delivery, carrying out final technical checks ensuring that all elements are executed according to project specs and timelineReporting and evaluation across projects, with ability to confidently implement and push forward learnings and best practices across future projectsDeveloping our overall offering by staying ahead of the latest production techniques, suggesting ways in which these can be adopted and deployed across our activations.Ensure sustainability initiatives are deliveredDrawing up and managing project production schedules, with freelance producers as requiredWorking closely with the Experience Designer and Graphic Designer to ensure timelines are followed and a smooth delivery of all projectsFlexibility to work evenings, weekends, and travel as requiredWhen on-site, longer working hours will be requiredKnowledge and ExperienceMinimum of 5 years of experience as a Production Manager, with a focus on luxury brands activations and experiential marketingA working understanding of event production disciplines such as custom fabrication, AV, power distribution, rigging and logisticsExperience with writing and managing production schedulesProven track record of successfully managing projects from conception to completion, within budget and on scheduleProven strong negotiation and relationship-building skillsExcellent supplier knowledge / black book in the above areasMust have a good understanding of legal obligations, Health & Safety and the roles of all duty holders under CDMExtensive budget management experienceExperienced in balancing, and executing, creative direction vs operational realitiesDesirableExperience in the art worldExperience working with luxury brandsSkills and AbilitiesMandatoryPrevious experience includes working in an experiential production agencyExcellent communication skillsStrong negotiation skills with the ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with sponsors, suppliers, and vendorsExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish credibility with clients, stakeholders, and team members at all levelsStrong organisational and time management skills, with excellent attention to detailTeam player with the ability to foster strong relationships with cross-functional teamsAbility to work both autonomously and as a teamMulti-Lingual (English, Korean, Spanish) (Desirable)Qualifications and TrainingHealth & Safety qualification(s) e.g. IOSH (Mandatory)Previous experience working in the art world (Desirable)Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Marketing, Business Administration, or related field (Desirable)Working Conditions:Perm, London Surrey Street Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Our Diversity & Inclusion Statement Frieze unites people in our love of the arts. We understand this can only be accomplished when we harness the entirety of our company and lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do.As a global company that drives culture, we are committed to practicing anti-discrimination including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, together with artists, writers, and cultural practitioners from all backgrounds.There is still much work to be done to address systemic inequality and discrimination within the arts and culture industry, and we are dedicated to making progress to both within our own organization and the art world at large.

Created: 2025-07-03