Event Production Manager

Summary

The Field Production Manager is responsible for bringing best-in-class Chobani and La Colombe consumer activations to life across the United States. This hands-on role leads the planning, logistics, transportation, warehousing, setup, execution, and breakdown of consumer sampling programs and brand experiences.

Working across Consumer Activation, Field Operations, Brand, Sales, warehouse partners, vendors, and field teams, this role owns the operational lifecycle of assigned activations—from initial planning through onsite execution, asset return, inventory reconciliation, and post-event reporting.

The ideal candidate is an experienced production leader who can anticipate operational needs, and solve problems in fast-paced field environments. This position requires extensive travel, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays based on the event schedule.

Responsibilities

Event Production and Execution

• Lead the onsite execution of sampling programs, mobile tours, retail activations, and national events.
• Develop production plans, schedules, site maps, equipment lists, packing lists, and readiness checklists.
• Assess venue requirements, including access, storage, refrigeration, power, parking, security, and consumer flow.
• Oversee load-in, setup, event operations, breakdown, and load-out to ensure premium brand execution.
• Serve as the primary onsite production lead, resolving issues related to safety, timing, budget, product quality, and consumer experience.

Logistics, Product, and Inventory Management

• Coordinate the movement of product, vehicles, equipment, and branded assets between warehouses, markets, and events.
• Manage carriers, drivers, delivery schedules, shipment tracking, refrigerated transportation, and venue requirements.
• Maintain cold-chain integrity and oversee product handling, storage, replenishment, rotation, and disposition.
• Reconcile product, equipment, supplies, shrink, and waste following each activation.

Warehouse and Asset Management

• Partner with the field teams to receive, store, stage, deploy, and return activation materials.
• Maintain accurate inventory and asset records, including location, condition, assignment, and maintenance needs.
• Standardize packing, labeling, storage, check-in/check-out, and event-kit processes.
• Conduct quality-control inspections to confirm assets are clean, functional, properly branded, and deployment-ready.
• Coordinate cleaning, repairs, preventive maintenance, rewrapping, replacement, and redeployment of field assets.

The Field Production Manager is not expected to serve as a mechanic or licensed electrician but should have sufficient technical knowledge to inspect equipment, identify common issues, coordinate repairs, and determine whether an asset can be operated safely.

Budget and Vendor Management

• Work with their manager to develop and manage budgets across production, transportation, warehousing, equipment, labor, and travel.
• Review estimates, negotiate rates, track purchase orders and invoices, and reconcile actual expenses.
• Identify cost efficiencies through improved routing, inventory controls, asset utilization, and standardized processes.
• Develop clear vendor scopes covering deliverables, schedules, staffing, equipment, responsibilities, and costs.
• Manage vendors and partners against established expectations for quality, safety, service, timing, and budget.

Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with applicable food-safety, transportation, venue, health, and company requirements.
• Inspect vehicles, refrigeration units, power equipment, and production assets before deployment.
• Identify and address risks related to weather, loading, equipment operation, electrical systems, public access, and consumer flow.
• Maintain required permits, temperature logs, inspection records, incident reports, and safety documentation.
• Develop contingency plans for weather, medical incidents, power loss, refrigeration failure, and equipment issues.

Requirements

Required Professional Experience

● 5+ years of progressive experience in experiential production, mobile marketing, event operations, field logistics, or large-scale consumer activation.

● At least three years of experience serving as the primary production or operational lead for complex programs.

● Demonstrated experience managing activations from initial scoping and budgeting through production, execution, breakdown, reconciliation, and reporting.

● Experience leading production crews, vendors, drivers, warehouse partners, field teams, and concurrent operational workstreams.

● Strong project-management, financial, communication, organizational, problem-solving, and documentation skills.

● Valid driver’s license and driving record that meets company requirements.

Preferred Experience

● Experience within CPG, food and beverage, consumer sampling, or experiential marketing.

● Experience managing national tours, sporting events, festivals, retail activations, or cultural tentpoles.

● Experience with refrigerated products, cold-chain logistics, food safety, and third-party warehouse operations.

● Experience managing branded vehicles, trailers, mobile sampling units, generators, refrigeration, and commercial event equipment.

● Familiarity with DOT requirements, inventory systems, asset-management programs, and operational standard operating procedures.

● Food-handler, ServSafe, first-aid, CPR, DOT, or other relevant safety certifications are a plus.

Travel and Physical Requirements

● Ability and willingness to travel up to 75% throughout the United States.

● Availability to work early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays based on the activation calendar.

● Ability to drive rental vehicles, cargo vans, or company vehicles when authorized.

● Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds and participate directly in setup and breakdown, with or without reasonable accommodation.

● Ability to work for extended periods in warehouses, loading areas, outdoor venues, and varying weather conditions.

The salary range for this full-time position is $85,000.00 - $134,200.00, + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.