Director of Sales & Production - Job Description
Classifications:
Position Summary:
The Director of Sales & Production provides day-to-day leadership for OPAV's client-facing teams, including Account Managers, Production Managers, and Specialized Technicians. Serving as the operational leader of the department, this role translates the strategic direction established by the Vice President of Business Development into consistent daily execution by developing employees, strengthening accountability, improving communication, and ensuring exceptional client experiences through operational excellence and cross-functional collaboration.
The primary focus of this role is to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and team management to ensure the successful execution of company objectives, client satisfaction, and departmental performance. While the role supports business development and client relationship efforts, its primary responsibility is leading people, processes, and operational excellence.
Essential Functions:
The Director of Sales & Production is responsible for the following duties, including but not limited to:
Lead, mentor, coach, and develop Account Managers, Production Managers, and Specialized Technicians.
Establish clear performance expectations and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, coaching sessions, and performance evaluations.
Identify staffing, training, and employee development opportunities.
Ensure the consistent delivery of exceptional client experiences across all projects and events.
Lead Account Managers to strengthen client relationships and proactively address service opportunities.
Resolve escalated client concerns while maintaining OPAV's service standards.
Oversee event execution to ensure alignment between client expectations, project objectives, timelines, and operational resources.
Monitor event quality, service consistency, and operational effectiveness.
Develop, implement, and reinforce departmental processes, workflows, and performance standards.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, communication, accountability, and resource utilization.
Monitor departmental KPIs, project profitability, and overall team performance.
Collaborate with Operations, Finance, Business Development, and Executive Leadership to ensure seamless execution across all departments.
Support departmental planning, organizational initiatives, forecasting, and long-term growth objectives.
Provide recommendations regarding staffing, process improvements, and operational effectiveness.
Serve as the primary communication bridge between Executive Leadership and client-facing teams while ensuring departmental priorities are effectively implemented.
Leadership & Employee Development – Builds high-performing teams through coaching, accountability, performance management, and professional development.
Client Experience Leadership – Creates and maintains exceptional client relationships while ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery across all projects and events.
Communication & Collaboration – Builds productive relationships across departments while communicating clearly and effectively with clients, employees, vendors, and leadership.
Operational Excellence – Develops and improves processes, workflows, and systems that increase efficiency, accountability, and team performance.
Strategic Thinking – Understands business goals, profitability, client retention, and key performance metrics while making sound decisions that support long-term growth.
Project & Event Leadership – Successfully manages multiple priorities while ensuring alignment between client expectations, project execution, and company objectives.
Accountability & Professionalism – Demonstrates ownership, follows through on commitments, makes timely decisions, and holds self and others accountable for delivering results.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Leadership – Proven ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold teams accountable.
Communication – Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
Project Management – Strong organizational, prioritization, and decision-making abilities.
Industry Knowledge – Understanding of live event production, client service, and project execution.
Business Acumen – Ability to interpret performance metrics and make sound business decisions.
Technology – Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM platforms, and project management software.
Qualifications:
Education & Credentials – Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
Industry Experience – Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in live events, production management, client services, or a related industry.
Leadership Experience – Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive leadership experience managing multiple teams or departments.
Client-Facing Leadership – Demonstrated success leading client-facing teams in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.
Physical Requirements:
Work Environment – Ability to work effectively in office, warehouse, client-site, and live event environments.
Mobility – Ability to remain in a stationary position and move throughout various work environments as needed.
Technical Equipment – Ability to frequently operate a computer, telephone, and other standard office equipment.
Communication – Ability to communicate effectively with clients, employees, vendors, and leadership in person, by telephone, and through electronic communications.
Documentation – Ability to review, prepare, and maintain electronic and physical documents and records.
Physical Effort – Ability to occasionally bend, reach, kneel, and lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Travel – Ability to travel to client sites, meetings, and event locations as business needs require.
Schedule Flexibility – Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on operational and event requirements.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Direct supervision of:
Responsible for employee selection, coaching, performance management, scheduling, disciplinary recommendations, professional development, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Leadership Expectations:
Core Values – Demonstrate OPAV's Core Values and "Ride for the Brand" philosophy.
Professionalism – Lead with professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
Team Building – Build high-performing teams through coaching and development.
Collaboration – Promote collaboration across departments.
Strategic Execution – Translate strategic initiatives into measurable operational results.
Continuous Improvement – Foster a culture of continuous improvement and exceptional client service.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
Performance in this role may be evaluated using, but is not limited to, the following measures:
Client Success – Client satisfaction and retention
Quality Assurance – Event execution quality and consistency
Financial Performance – Department operational efficiency and profitability
Operational Results – Project delivery performance
Human Capital – Employee engagement, retention, and development
Interdepartmental Alignment – Cross-functional collaboration
Strategy Implementation – Achievement of departmental objectives and strategic initiatives
Continuous Improvement – Process improvement and operational effectiveness
Work Environment:
This position is primarily office-based and requires the majority of working time to be spent in a professional office environment. While the majority of duties are performed in a professional office environment, regular interaction in warehouse, client-site, and live event settings is required as needed.
The role requires frequent collaboration with leadership, employees, clients, and vendors to ensure effective communication, team alignment, and successful event execution. The position may also involve exposure to moderate noise levels, equipment movement, loading and unloading activities, and varying environmental conditions while supporting events or visiting warehouse and production facilities.
Periodic travel to client meetings, event sites, and company functions is expected. Work schedules may include evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business and event requirements.
Full-Time Employee Benefits:
Work Schedule:
Standard hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM.
This position regularly requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and additional hours as necessary to support client events and business operations.
EEO & ADA:
OPAV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. OPAV provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. Applicants or employees requiring accommodation should contact Human Resources to engage in the interactive process.
At-Will Employment Disclaimer:
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an employment contract and does not alter the at-will employment relationship. OPAV reserves the right to modify job duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements at any time.
