
Senior Director of Experiential Marketing & Live Activations
Sony Music
Los Angeles, CAThis is a Full Time Job
The Senior Director of Production is our senior operational leader, responsible for delivering projects from initial opportunity through final execution. This role combines operations, project management, production leadership, and client partnership.
You join early conversations with Sony stakeholders and clients as the operational expert, assessing feasibility, timelines, budgets, staffing needs, and risks. You help turn opportunities into executable plans and support leadership in securing new work.
Once approved, you own delivery. You serve as the primary client contact, lead internal teams, freelancers, vendors, contractors, and creative partners, and oversee projects through completion with minimal leadership involvement. We are a lean team, so success requires both strategic leadership and hands-on execution.
This role is especially critical to our permanent retail and hospitality buildouts, while also overseeing pop-ups, activations, events, and tours.
What You'll Do:
Client Partnership & Planning
• Partner with leadership and stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, timelines, and success metrics.
• Evaluate feasibility, operational requirements, risks, resources, and financial viability.
• Develop budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and execution strategies.
• Build accurate estimates by validating costs directly with vendors and partners.
• Support pitches, proposals, and business development efforts with realistic project plans.
• Build trusted relationships and identify opportunities for future work.
Project & Production Leadership
• Own the full project lifecycle from kickoff through delivery.
• Manage schedules, budgets, critical paths, and production plans across multiple projects.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day client contact once projects are underway.
• Lead internal teams, freelancers, and vendors while ensuring accountability and quality.
• Provide clear updates, recommendations, and risk assessments to stakeholders.
Construction, Permitting & Logistics
• Oversee permanent retail and hospitality buildouts from design through opening.
• Direct architects, contractors, engineers, permitting consultants, and inspectors.
• Lead site walks, punch-list completion, and project closeout.
• Manage permitting strategy and hold partners accountable for approvals and timelines.
• Oversee vendor relationships and execution of temporary activations and events.
Budget & Commercial Management
• Own project budgets from estimate through final reconciliation.
• Approve vendor proposals, contracts, and invoices.
• Manage scope changes and change orders proactively.
• Protect project profitability while balancing budget, timeline, and quality.
Creative Oversight
• Manage external creative partners and internal rendering resources.
• Translate client objectives into actionable creative briefs.
• Ensure creative quality and alignment with budget and production realities.
Team Leadership
• Lead and develop producers and technical production staff.
• Build project teams from internal resources, freelancers, and specialized partners.
• Create scalable systems and processes that enable efficient delivery across a growing portfolio.
Who You Are
• Extensive experience leading production, construction, or experiential project delivery.
• Proven success managing permanent buildouts, retail environments, hospitality projects, or themed entertainment.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to advise senior stakeholders on feasibility, risk, and execution.
• Skilled in project scoping, estimating, budgeting, and vendor management.
• Deep project management expertise with the ability to oversee multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Experience leading architects, contractors, fabricators, and specialty vendors.
• Strong understanding of permitting and construction approval processes.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage outsourced creative partners.
• Comfortable operating strategically while remaining hands-on when needed.
• Exceptional judgment, communication skills, and a solutions-oriented leadership style.
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Salary/Benefits
$140,000 - $170,000 /year USD
The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors.
Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Voluntary benefits including identity theft protection, mental health resources, and fertility coverage
• Paid leave for childbirth, bonding, and caregivers
• Tuition assistance and student loan reimbursement
Perks
• Inclusive and collaborative community
• Modern office environment
• Investment in professional growth and development
• Time off for winter recess
Additional Information
Black Sky Creative is a boutique experiential agency and part of Sony Music Entertainment. We design and build permanent retail and hospitality environments and produce pop-up activations for leading brands. Our work ranges from ground-up flagship buildouts to fast-moving mobile experiences, requiring both creative ambition and operational rigor.