Production Manager, UK & EU

As the world’s largest producer of groundbreaking live entertainment, and a leading force in the themed entertainment industry, RWS Global creates meaningful connections and customized experiences spanning from theatrical productions to events, multimedia and more. In 2024, the entertainment leaders expanded capabilities into live sporting events with the introduction of RWS Global Sports.   

Headquartered in New York, London, Cincinnati, Orlando, Sydney, and Riyadh, with dedicated RWS Studios in NYC and the UK to serve its vast talent pipeline and client base, RWS Global serves major brands and corporations, theatres, cruise lines, sports properties, live venues, parks, resorts and more. Offering end-to-end services from ideation to operations, RWS Global’s team of world-class designers, creators, producers and visionary talent provide unrivaled scale, producing over one million live moments every day and employing over 8,000 individuals worldwide.   

The RWS Global roster of clients includes Apple, Azamara, The Coca-Cola Company, Commonwealth Games, Crayola,  Europa-Park Resort, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS™ Experience by Original X Productions, Hard Rock  Resorts, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Holland America Line, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, International Cricket  Council, Invictus Games, Lionsgate, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Roompot, Rugby World Cup, Six Flags, Space Center Houston, TUI Group, Vera Wang, Warner Bros., Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, Chicago the Musical, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes and more. For more information, visit www.rwsglobal.com.  

Job Title:   Production Manager, Merlin

Reports To:   Director, Production & Operations 

Place of Work:  UK, Germany or Italy 

Other:  Full Time     

The Production Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of live entertainment productions in theme parks across Europe and the UK, including coordinating logistics, managing production schedules, and overseeing all technical and operational aspects. This role requires a detail-oriented professional who can efficiently manage resources, cast, crew, and equipment to ensure seamless execution of projects. The Production Manager will collaborate closely with producers, project managers, directors, technical teams, vendors and clients to deliver high-quality content that aligns with the creative vision and budgetary constraints. The Production Manager will also communicate closely with and have direct accountability for the client relationship. 

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  Relationship Management: Provides world-class customer service, prioritizing client satisfaction at all times. 

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  Production Planning & Scheduling: Develop detailed production schedules, timelines, and workflows for various projects, ensuring all elements are planned, organized, and executed on time and within scope. 

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  Resource Management: Oversee the allocation of resources, including crew, equipment, vendors and site location logistics to ensure optimal use of assets for each production. 

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  Budget Management: Day to day management of the production budget, tracking costs, managing expenses, and negotiating with vendors and suppliers to ensure cost-effective operations. 

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  Vendor & Contractor Management: Manage relationships with external vendors, freelancers, talent and contractors, including negotiating contracts, managing deliverables, and ensuring compliance with production standards. 

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  Crew Coordination: Hire, schedule, and manage production crews and technical personnel, ensuring they are fully briefed and equipped for each production. 

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  Logistics & Operations: Coordinate all site logistics, including venue coordination, permitting, transportation, equipment and production asset installation. 

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  Technical Oversight: Work with technical teams to oversee the setup, operation, and strike of production equipment, including video, lighting, sound, scenic, SFX and other technical systems. 

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  Quality Control: Ensure all productions meet the highest standards of quality and safety, conducting site checks and troubleshooting issues in real time. 

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  Health & Safety Compliance: Implement and enforce health and safety protocols on site, ensuring all crew members adhere to guidelines to maintain a safe working environment. 

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  Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with production activities, developing contingency plans to address technical, operational, or scheduling challenges. 

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  Documentation & Reporting: Maintain detailed production records, including call sheets, daily progress reports, expense logs and equipment inventories, providing clear and accurate documentation of all production activities. 

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  Flexible Schedule: Project locations span the globe and may require extended hours which include work over weekends and holidays and include international travel to project site locations as needed. 

• Degree in Arts Administration, Production, Film, Media, Sports, Communications, or a related field; equivalent professional experience considered. 

• 5+ years of experience in production management within sports, entertainment, or live event industries. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Strong knowledge of live entertainment experience production processes, equipment, logistics and programming. 

• Proficiency in project management software and tools, such as Wrike, Microsoft Project, Asana, Trello, or equivalent. 

• Familiarity with health and safety regulations and best practices in production environments. 

• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required 

• Leadership: Enables project team members to achieve collective results through planning, collaboration, and confident decision making.  

• Strong Communicator: Able to provide clear direction to team members, crew, talent, vendors, and stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding and alignment across all project activities.  

• Highly Organized: Exceptional at planning and managing complex schedules and resources.  

• Detail-Oriented: Attentive to all parts of the project process.   

• Team-Oriented: Works collaboratively with diverse teams, fostering a positive working environment that encourages cooperation and communication.  

• Proactive Problem Solver: Anticipate potential challenges and develop thoughtful contingency plans to quickly address project challenges to client satisfaction.  

• Decisive: Confident in making quick, informed decisions.  

• Adaptable: Flexible to last-minute changes, unforeseen challenges, or evolving project needs.  

• Professional Attitude: Effectively navigate high-stress situations. Representing yourself, the project and RWS in the most positive way.  

• Resourceful: Finds creative solutions to optimize resources, manage costs, and maintain quality, within budget parameters.  

• Budget-Conscious: Ability to create and track budgets, expenses, P&L, negotiate with vendors and find cost effective solutions to project challenges.  

• Safety-Focused: Prioritizes health and safety of all project team members, enforcing protocols and ensuring compliance with industry regulations & codes  

• Time Management: Capable of handling multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring all project deliverables are completed on schedule.  

• Flexible Schedule: Project locations span the globe and may require extended hours which include work over weekends and holidays and include international travel to project site locations as needed. 

• Ethical & Professional: Upholds high standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability  

DIVERSE IS WHO WE ARE  

Way more than a box to check, diversity is core to RWS Global culture. We value it, promote it, protect it and hire it. All differences are welcome here. We know for a fact that each employee’s individual background, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, and capabilities are a contribution to our culture, as well as our reputation and achievements. So, bring all of who you are, no questions asked.