Description

Role Summary

The Manager, Scenic Production & Fabrication (Scenic Technical Director) serves as Precon's bridge between creative vision and production execution. This role is responsible for evaluating creative concepts, build plans, estimating, and coordination required to bring them to life. Working closely with Creative, Sales, Project Management, and the Scenic & Production Services team, this individual ensures that ideas are transformed into practical, buildable solutions. From custom scenic elements and branded environments to exhibits, graphics, and live event installations, this role provides the production leadership that balances creativity, constructability, quality, budget, and execution.

Reporting to the Director, Scenic & Production Services, this is a hands-on leadership role that serves as Precon's authority on production feasibility, estimating, scenic and fabrication planning, and concept-to-execution decision-making. Success requires someone who naturally thinks like a builder, enjoys solving complex production challenges, and wants to deliver exceptional experiences through thoughtful planning and technical leadership.

This is an on-site position with hours that vary based on production schedules, event timelines, and client needs. When not supporting on-site installations, this position works from the Precon offices during normal business hours. This position requires travel.

What You'll Lead

This role serves as a strategic partner across Precon, helping shape how projects are conceived, planned, built, and delivered. Success requires balancing creative vision with production reality while collaborating across departments to deliver exceptional client experiences.

• Production Strategy, Planning & Concept Development
  • Serve as Precon's production authority during concept development by evaluating creative ideas for feasibility, constructability, budget, schedule, logistics, and overall execution.
  • Serve as the primary bridge between Creative, Sales, Project Management, and the XXX team, translating creative concepts into practical production solutions.
  • Recommend production approaches, materials, fabrication methods, and value-engineering opportunities that improve quality, efficiency, profitability, and execution.
  • Identify production risks early and develop alternative solutions before projects move into fabrication or execution.
• Estimating & Production Planning
  • Lead production estimating for scenic, fabrication, exhibit, and custom production elements, ensuring estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with project objectives.
  • Develop production plans that define fabrication methods, materials, labor, equipment, vendors, logistics, installation requirements, and production timelines.
  • Support the Scenic & Production Services team in developing scalable processes, workflows, and operational standards as Precon continues to grow.
  • Support Project Managers throughout the project lifecycle by providing production expertise, technical guidance, and execution planning.
• Scenic, Fabrication & Technical Leadership
  • Provide technical leadership for scenic fabrication, exhibits, branded environments, custom displays, graphics, and other production elements.
  • Collaborate with internal fabrication teams and external vendors to determine the most effective construction methods, materials, and production techniques.
  • Create production drawings, fabrication details, and technical documentation to ensure projects are practical, buildable, and aligned with design intent.
  • Stay current on production technologies, fabrication methods, materials, and industry trends to continuously improve Precon's capabilities.

Preferred Location & Travel Requirements

This is a full-time, onsite role based at Precon's Rockville, Maryland office. Because this position is closely connected to production planning, scenic fabrication, logistics, and live event execution, regular collaboration within Precon's production environment is essential. Candidates should expect to travel to fabrication facilities, warehouses, venues, and event sites as needed to support project planning, installation, and execution. Flexibility is important, as production schedules and live events may occasionally require evening, weekend, and travel commitments.

Requirements

What You Bring to the Table

We're looking for someone who naturally thinks like a builder, someone who enjoys solving complex production challenges, asking how ideas can be built more effectively, and helping teams transform ambitious creative concepts into exceptional real-world experiences.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in scenic fabrication, exhibit production, theater, branded environments, museum exhibits, custom fabrication, or a related production environment, including experience leading complex projects from concept through execution.
• Demonstrated expertise evaluating production feasibility, constructability, estimating, scenic planning, fabrication methods, materials selection, and production workflows.
• A strong understanding of how creative concepts are translated into practical, buildable, and profitable production solutions.
• Proficiency with production drawings, fabrication documentation, estimating tools, Microsoft Office, and other production planning software. Experience with CAD or 3D visualization tools is a plus.
• Experience collaborating with creative teams, project managers, fabricators, vendors, and installation crews to successfully deliver complex projects.
• Proven leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence decisions, mentor team members, and build strong cross-functional partnerships.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, with a passion for improving processes, solving production challenges, and continuously raising the quality of execution.
• A valid driver's license with the ability to travel to fabrication facilities, warehouses, client sites, and event venues as needed.

You'll stand out if you have experience with:

• You have experience leading production planning for live events, exhibits, branded environments, scenic fabrication, museum exhibits, themed entertainment, theater, or custom fabrication projects.
• When presented with a creative concept, your instinct is to ask how it will be built, what materials should be used, how it will be installed, and whether there's a better way to execute it.
• You have developed or reviewed production estimates and understand how production decisions impact budgets, schedules, labor, and profitability.
• You enjoy partnering with creative teams to find practical solutions that preserve the creative vision while improving buildability, efficiency, and execution.
• You have experience building strong relationships with fabricators, vendors, production partners, and installation teams and are comfortable making technical production decisions.
• You are passionate about continuous improvement and enjoy developing better production processes, estimating tools, standards, and workflows.