Creative Production Project Manager

Location: Arlington, Virginia Job Type: Contract Compensation Range: $40 - 44 per hour

We are seeking a Creative Production Project Manager to serve as the logistical and creative heartbeat of our high-volume events portfolio. In this role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end management of all creative and production elements for a diverse range of annual events. You aren’t just keeping track of dates; you are the central hub that connects internal creative teams, external vendors, and complex production workstreams to ensure every vision is brought to life flawlessly.

This is a high-visibility position that demands a rare blend of creative sensibility and operational rigor. You will own the responsibility of ensuring every event—regardless of scale—is executed seamlessly, on time, and strictly on budget. If you are an expert at navigating the intersection of imaginative design and technical execution in a fast-paced environment, we want you to lead our production efforts.

Responsibilities:

1. Cross-Functional Project Management

• Own the full lifecycle of creative production for events, coordinating across environmental design, creative assets, video/photo, AV, and external vendors. Manage dependencies across workstreams to ensure timelines stay on track and deliverables are aligned.

2. Production Planning & Run of Show

• Build and maintain detailed production timelines, including milestones, asset delivery schedules, and team deadlines. Develop comprehensive run-of-show documents outlining session flow, speaker transitions, technical requirements, and contingency plans to ensure smooth execution.

3. Budget & Scope Management

• Partner with stakeholders to develop and manage budgets for creative and production elements. Translate ideas into realistic scopes, identify trade-offs when needed, and proactively flag risks, scope changes, and resource constraints.

4. Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination

• Act as the primary point of contact across internal teams and external partners. Drive regular status updates, ensure alignment across all contributors, and escalate issues early to keep projects moving forward and aligned with event goals.

5. Creative Operations Support

• Enable senior leadership to focus on high-level strategy and creative direction by managing day-to-day coordination. Provide clear recommendations, surface key decisions, and ensure visibility into progress across all events.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in project management or production within live, virtual, or hybrid events.
• Background in experiential marketing, event production, or creative/agency environments.
• Track record managing complex, multi-workstream events with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating across design, video, AV, and vendor teams.
• Strong ability to build timelines, manage budgets, and oversee execution.

Core Skills

• Exceptional organization and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to translate high-level goals into actionable plans.
• Proactive problem-solving and risk management.
• Comfort operating in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.

Nice to Have

• Experience with environmental or experiential design.
• Familiarity with AV/production and technical event execution.
• Understanding of spatial planning within event environments.
• Experience working in donor-focused or highly regulated settings.