POSITION OVERVIEW & DESCRIPTIONThe Mexican Heritage Plaza (MHP) is seeking a motivated Production Manager to oversee all technical and logistical aspects of live events, theater productions, and venue operations. This role ensures seamless execution from planning through strike, coordinating across departments, managing production schedules and resources, and leading diverse crews with confidence. The ideal candidate remains calm under pressure, resolves issues in real time, and translates creative concepts into practical production plans, with proficiency in budgeting, safety protocols, vendor coordination, and equipment maintenance. As MHP advances its strategic plan to activate vibrant community spaces and cultural programming, the Production Manager plays a key role in strengthening the infrastructure that supports this work.
Schedule: Expected to work onsite, but will have the flexibility for work-from-home days once a week or upon approval from the Manager.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIESStaff Management and Capacity-Building- Recruits, schedules, and supervises production staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality events.
- Ensures that all staffing schedules, timekeeping, attendance, meal and rest periods, overtime, and time-off practices are accurately administered in accordance with MHP policies and procedures, and promptly addresses or escalates concerns as appropriate.
- Identifies skill gaps and provides training opportunities to strengthen staff technical capacity.
- Sets clear expectations, evaluates performance, provides ongoing coaching and feedback, addresses performance issues as appropriate, and supports professional development to build a highly effective and adaptable team.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Production, Project, and Event Management- Serves as the technical lead and primary client contact for assigned events and projects, overseeing areas including IT setup, audio, video, lighting, rigging, staging, furniture setup, and projection.
- Ensures that all events are delivered on scope, on budget, and on time, aligning technical execution with client expectations and MHP's quality standards.
- Clearly communicates the value of MHP's services and facility offerings, including how any changes may affect event quality or cost.
- Provides post-event debriefs to supervisors and leadership as needed to support ongoing process improvement.
- Assists the Events and Production teams with curatorial tasks, talent booking, and administrative support as needed.
Operations, Budget and Resource Management- Implements processes and procedures to strengthen departmental organization, including systems for document storage and workflow management.
- Develops and monitors production budgets and manages departmental resources to support operational and event needs within approved budgets.
- Coordinates and oversees contractors and vendors, including defining scopes of work, monitoring performance and deliverables, and ensuring services are completed in accordances with agreements, timelines, budgets and MHP standards
- Coordinates with appropriate departments on contractor/vendor selection, agreements, purchasing, invoicing, and other administrative requirements.
- Oversees the Production Department's equipment inventory, including acquisition, maintenance, repair, and replacement planning.
- Identifies equipment and resource needs and recommends purchases, repairs, replacements, and other investments based on operational priorities and available budgets.
Client Stewardship and Customer Service - Prospects new and returning clients, negotiates service elements, and maintains strong client relationships throughout event planning and execution.
- Collaborates with Events and Production teams to assess project feasibility, set clear expectations, and deliver accurate scopes of work, quotes, and invoices in a timely manner.
- Maintains a proactive approach to keeping events on scope, on budget, and on schedule, identifying gaps and proposing solutions when needed.
Software and Systems Management- Manages the department's use of Tripleseat event management software to document client communications, scopes, timelines, and internal workflows.
- Trains staff on Tripleseat best practices and ensures the system is used consistently to support efficient event operations.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Theater Production, Technical Theater, AV Systems, or related degrees.
- Strong organizational abilities, including project management, planning, and event management.
- Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong written and public speaking communication skills.
- Experience with Google Suite, Dropbox, and events management software.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Some proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator; and working knowledge of Canva for teams, as well as OBS.
- Conversational proficiency in Spanish.
- Commitment to the importance and values of community development and empowerment.
- Cultural sensitivity and awareness of the unique challenges and opportunities of the East San Jose community.
- Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
- Ability to work collaboratively with organizations in the Mayfair Neighborhood.
- An optimistic and collaborative work style.
- Comfort with a high-paced, multi-tasked work environment.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS- Physical Demands: Ability to assist in stage building or equipment setup/breakdown as needed. Ability to work in a dynamic environment with occasional weekend events and community engagement commitments.
- Work Environment: Hybrid work environment with regular in-person engagements at MHP and offsite meetings with partners and stakeholders.
- Acknowledgment: This job description is designed to outline the essential job functions and qualifications of this position. It is not an employment contract between MHP and the employee. The information contained in this document may or may not be used in performance reviews, salary reviews, or promotion considerations. Job duties, responsibilities, and/or qualifications of this job may change throughout employment as directed by MHP management.
The pay range for this role is:
89,000 - 95,000 USD per year (San Jose)
