Production Solutions Manager - Chicago​/Virtual

Production Solutions Manager - Chicago/Virtual

#LE21-2409

Virtual

Position Summary:

The Production Solutions Manager is a consultative, client-facing individual contributor who bridges business development and production delivery. This role translates client business challenges into compelling, executable production solutions during the pre-sales cycle - enabling the sales team to position Event Production as a strategic driver of event impact and business ROI. The Production Solutions Manager does not carry a sales quota, does not manage staff, and does not execute programs post-award.

They operate exclusively in the pursuit and solution-design phase, handing off to the production delivery team upon contract signing.

Essential Functions:

• Partner with Business Development to participate in discovery calls, understanding client business challenges, communication objectives, and audience engagement goals.
• Translate client objectives into production solution recommendations - articulating how staging, content delivery, lighting, AV, LED, scenic, event technology, media create strategic impact beyond basic technical execution.
• Work with the Director of Production to design production approaches, scopes of work, and budget frameworks during the pursuit phase that are feasible, profitable, and aligned with client goals.
• Develop and deliver compelling capability presentations and production-focused proposal content that position Creative Group's production services as a strategic differentiator.
• Serve as the production subject matter expert during client pitches, answering technical and capability questions with confidence and clarity.
• Identify risks, constraints, and alternative approaches during the scoping phase to ensure solutions are executable within the client’s timeline and budget.
• Collaborate with the Director of Production to validate proposed solutions against team capacity, available resources, and operational feasibility.
• In partnership with the Director of Production, assess market trends, competitor activities, and client feedback to inform go-to-market positioning and pricing strategies for production services.
• Support the development of effective and profitable pricing strategies that inform SOW and budget parameters during pursuits.
• Contribute production-specific content to RFP responses, ensuring technical accuracy and strategic positioning.
• Track win/loss outcomes on pursuits involving production services; analyze patterns to refine solution approaches and value messaging.
• Identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities where production services can expand scope or deepen client engagement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration (Pre-Sale)

• Partner with Business Development team members in relationship building and discovery conversations to present Creative Group's Production capabilities, understand client needs and identify areas of alignment.
• Partner with Event Strategists to ensure Production solutions align with the program’s strategic narrative and audience journey.
• Collaborate with Creative Designers to understand visual and environmental concepts, then validate technical feasibility and recommend production methods to bring designs to life.
• Partner with the Strategic Sourcing Manager to ensure venue selections incorporate production needs, on budget entry in order to capture all line items and maximize spend.
• Work alongside the Production delivery team (Technical Directors, Production Managers) to ensure proposed solutions reflect current capabilities and best practices.
• Create clear handoff documentation for the delivery team upon contract award, including scope, assumptions, technical approach, and risk considerations.

Thought Leadership & Production Positioning

• Evangelize the strategic value of Production services internally and externally - reframing production from "AV support" to "content delivery strategy that brings an event's communication strategy to life."
• Stay current on emerging production technologies, techniques, and industry innovations to inform solution recommendations.
• Contribute to the development of Production service collateral, case studies, and…