Director, Production - Live Events

Blavity, Inc. is a venture-funded media and technology company, founded in 2014 around a simple idea: enable Black millennials to tell their own stories. Today, we are home to the largest network of platforms and lifestyle brands serving the multifaceted lives of Black millennials & Gen Z through original content, video, unique experiences, and product solutions. Blavity Inc. has evolved into a market leader for Black media, reaching 250 million users per month through our growing brand portfolio, including Blavity, Blavity360º, AfroTech, Talent Infusion, 21Ninety, Travel Noire, Home & Texture, and Blavity House Party. Our Blavity, Inc. employee community is composed of passionate, energetic, and culturally conscious individuals working together to deliver value to each other, the company, and our clients. We are always searching for new additions to our community that will help us continue to scale, contribute meaningfully to our culture, and advance our strategic direction.

Job Summary:

Blavity Inc. is seeking a Director of Production, Live Events to lead the end-to-end production and logistics for our growing portfolio of live events, including AfroTech Conference, Blavity Fest, AfroTech Meet Ups, and more. This role is responsible for ensuring seamless event execution, overseeing production elements such as AV, venue logistics, and experiential activations.

As the right hand to the VP of Live Events, the Director of Production will develop scalable systems, manage vendor relationships, oversee budgets, and lead a team to deliver high-quality, impactful event experiences. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, solutions-driven production leader with deep experience in large-scale event logistics, Audio Visual, and operational execution. They should thrive in a fast-paced environment, be able to problem-solve in real-time, and ensure that every event is executed flawlessly from start to finish.

This role will report directly to the VP of Live Events and will manage an Event Producer and contractors as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Event Production & Execution
  • Lead the planning, production, and execution of all Blavity live events, ensuring high-quality attendee experiences.
  • Manage event logistics, including venue coordination, permits, vendor contracts, staffing, and security compliance.
  • Oversee AV production, staging, lighting, and technical execution, ensuring seamless integration of all production elements.
  • Act as the primary on-site lead, troubleshooting issues and ensuring smooth event operations.
  • Create event planning templates and scalable systems to enhance efficiency across multiple events.
  • Develop and implement risk management strategies and contingency plans.
• Financial Management & Reporting
  • Manage event budgets, ensuring all costs align with financial goals and event profitability.
  • Track expenses, reconcile invoices, and provide leadership with financial insights to inform event strategy.
  • Analyze event performance metrics (ROI, attendee engagement, cost per attendee, etc.) to optimize future productions.
• Vendor, Audio Visual & Experiential Management
  • Source, vet, and manage production vendors, AV teams, fabrication partners, and experiential agencies.
  • Lead negotiations for venues, technical services, and production contractors, ensuring top-tier execution while optimizing costs.
  • Oversee experiential activations, sponsorship fulfillment, and custom brand integrations at events.
• Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Directly manage an Event Producer and contractors providing strategic leadership and hands-on mentorship.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, content, creative, and sponsorship teams to align event execution with Blavity’s broader brand and business objectives.
  • Lead production and logistics meetings with internal teams, vendors, and stakeholders.
  • Ensure effective communication and coordination between all event stakeholders, vendors, and team members.

Qualifications: 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in event management, business, marketing, hospitality, or a related field.
• Required Experience:
  • 10+ years of experience in live event production, event operations, or logistics, with a focus on large-scale conferences or festivals
  • Extensive experience managing event production teams, AV, staging, logistics, and vendor relations.
  • Strong budget management and financial planning expertise for high-profile events.
  • Experience working with convention centers, hotels, special event venues, and large-scale event spaces.
• Preferred Experience:
  • Experience in sponsorship fulfillment and branded integrations at events.
  • Prior experience managing B2B or culturally focused events in media, tech, or entertainment industries.
• Additional Qualifications:
  • Strong leadership, team management, and mentorship abilities.
  • Exceptional problem-solving, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with tight deadlines.
  • A deep understanding of Black culture and the importance of culturally relevant experiences.
  • A healthy appreciation of GIFs and Black culture.

Details: 

• This is a fully remote, U.S.- based role. Occasional travel may be required. 
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Candidates must be available to work in alignment with Eastern Time Zone 75% of the time. 
• The annual salary range for this role is $120k-$140k and company equity