Senior Project Manager

TAIT is the Market Leader in designing, constructing and delivering world-class solutions for live experiences

Whether it's creating awe-inspiring spectaculars, complex touring stages, theatre engineering solutions, brand activations or cruise ship installations, TAIT delivers world-class solutions for live experiences. With its proprietary entertainment automation platform, custom-made products, and creative engineering, TAIT's cutting-edge offerings continue to advance industry standards and exceed client expectations. As a global network of over 900 employees in 14 office locations, TAIT has worked on projects in over 30 countries, all 7 continents and even outer space. TAIT's diverse group of clients include Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, The Metropolitan Opera House, NASA, National Geographic, Beyoncé and The Olympics.

Position Purpose

The primary role of a Senior Project Manager (SPM) is to lead a team of Project Managers (PM) and Associate Project Managers (APM) in delivering projects successfully. The SPM oversees project execution, while supporting and developing the PM team, and collaborates on assigning new projects. They possess expertise in specific markets or submarkets and actively contribute to Bidding and Estimating efforts.

In addition to their leadership responsibilities, SPMs may also contribute to Business Development/Sales efforts and act as Account/Relationship Managers, leveraging their existing relationships. They may take on the role of Lead PM for large or complex projects.

As a team leader, SPMs prioritize both project success and the individual development and growth of their team members. They also play a role in maintaining interdepartmental relationships and actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives within the organization.

Essential Responsibilities/Accountabilities

• Lead and grow a team, ensuring successful project execution from start to completion.
• Coach and mentor PMs and APMs to excel in their roles and within the organization.
• Identify training and skills gaps within the team and develop personalized plans to address them.
• Create individualized career development paths based on skills gaps and personal interests.
• Facilitate opportunities for PMs and APMs to gain new experiences by participating in projects with other senior project managers and taking on leadership, mentoring, or coaching roles.
• Work collaboratively with project team members, stakeholders, and vendors to ensure project success
• Continuously monitor and optimize project processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including project plans, reports, and communication materials
• Provide strategic guidance to project teams, while balancing project needs with organizational priorities and goals
• Proactively identify project risks and issues, and develop and implement mitigation strategies
• Lead cross-functional project teams to achieve project goals and objectives while maintaining high levels of quality and customer satisfaction
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and resource allocation to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery
• Manage project scope, ensuring that deliverables are clearly defined and aligned with project goals
• Facilitate project meetings and communication, including status updates, issue resolution, and risk management
• Mentor and coach project team members to build expertise and enhance project delivery capabilities.
• Represent Project Management in all assigned bids, collaborating with team members when necessary.
• Maintain consistency in bids based on estimate levels.
• Contribute experience and technical knowledge to project development, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and budget.
• Act as Account Manager and/or Business Development for assigned clients or market segments.
• Align with commercial leadership to ensure unified efforts and communication
• Keep the team informed on the latest sales efforts and updates through effective communication and reporting
• Foster positive relationships with Project Performance and Operations leaders.
  • Facilitate proactive, open, and transparent communication.
  • Attend (or organize) regular check-in meetings.
  • Identify key stakeholders for strategic conversations.
• Utilize your relationships to intervene and solve disputes between competing projects or individuals when necessary
• Proactively seek opportunities to improve processes leveraging the SPM position.
• Facilitate "Lessons Learned" discussions for projects, celebrating positive outcomes and reflecting on opportunities.
• Manage time-sheet approvals and track time-off requests to ensure compliance with scheduling and regulatory guidelines
• Conduct regular "1-on-1s" with team members to provide guidance, support, and tailor-made coaching
• Host regular team meetings to promote shared learning and feedback
• Serve as a mediator for disputes between team members, working to resolve issues in a productive and respectful way.
• Perform assigned duties according to the policies and expectations prescribed by the company.

To perform this position successfully, each essential responsibility/accountability must be fulfilled satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the responsibilities and accountabilities outlined above.

Management Responsibility

The Senior PM will have oversite of Associate Project Managers, Project Managers, and Tour Support team members, which will involve responsibility as follows:

• Encourage an inclusive culture that embraces TAIT Traits and Standards of Care.
• Promote a culture of safety and compliance within the organization, ensuring a safe and organized work
  environment.
• Foster team members by guiding Projects and supporting individualized growth and development plans.
• Seek opportunities to provide PM and APM with new experiences, including participation in Projects with
  other SPM.
• Assess and evaluate employee performance, providing constructive feedback and coaching support
  career advancement opportunities.
• Organize and manage workflows to ensure employees understand their duties and tasks.
• Actively engage in process development and optimization to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with Functional Leaders
• Attend and/or organize regular check-in meetings.
• Regular team and 1-on-1 meetings to provide focused support and development.
• Timesheet approval.
• Time-off approval and tracking.
• Perform assigned duties according to the policies and expectations prescribed by the company.

Competencies

• Leadership: SPMs need to demonstrate strong leadership skills, including the ability to inspire and motivate their team, provide clear direction and guidance, and foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Communication: Effective communication is crucial for an SPM. This includes strong verbal and written communication skills, active listening, and the ability to convey information clearly and concisely to team members, clients, stakeholders, and other departments within the organization.
• Problem Solving: SPMs should be adept at identifying and solving problems that may arise during projects. They should be able to think critically, analyze situations, and make informed decisions in a timely manner to keep projects on track and overcome obstacles.
• Collaboration: Collaboration and teamwork are essential for an SPM. They should be able to work effectively with cross-functional teams, build relationships, and leverage the expertise of team members to achieve project goals.
• Adaptability: The entertainment industry is dynamic and ever-changing, so SPMs need to be adaptable and flexible in their approach. They should be able to navigate ambiguity, adjust plans when necessary, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic Thinking: SPMs should possess strategic thinking skills to contribute to the overall organizational strategy, identify opportunities for growth, and align projects with the company's long-term goals.
• Relationship Building: Building and maintaining relationships with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders is crucial for success. SPMs should be skilled at cultivating and managing these relationships to ensure smooth project execution and long-term partnerships.
• Time Management: SPMs need to effectively manage their time and prioritize tasks to meet project deadlines and deliverables. Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask are important to ensure efficient project management.

To perform the essential responsibilities, individuals must have the following level of education and experience, or equivalent combination. Additionally, the following certifications, knowledge, skills, or physical requirements are necessary for the position.

• Degree: Engineering, Technical Theatre or Live Event related field
• Years of Experience: 7+ years' of experience in Entertainment or Construction industry
  • Live Entertainment: experience managing large-scale events such as concerts, music festivals, and theatrical productions. Knowledgeable about the unique challenges of working in the entertainment industry, such as dealing with talent, handling last-minute changes, and ensuring safety and security. Strong communication skills to liaise with clients, vendors, and production teams.
  • Permanent Installs: experience overseeing the construction, installation, and commissioning of complex systems such as audiovisual installations, lighting rigs, and themed environments. Technical expertise in areas such as engineering, architecture, as well as project management skills to keep the project on schedule and within budget.
  • Opera: experience managing the production of large-scale theatrical performances with an emphasis on music, singing, and acting. They would need to understand the unique requirements of opera productions, such as working with live orchestras, coordinating complex stage designs, and staging intricate choreography. Able to work collaboratively with directors, designers, and performers to ensure the artistic vision is realized on stage.
    
    
• Preferred Experience:
  • Project Management, Construction Management
  • Technical theater
  • Live Event Production
  • Commercial/Accounting/ contractual responsibilities
  • Proven track record of managing profitable projects
  • Proven ability to prioritize across multiple projects
  • Intermediate (or higher) proficiency with Microsoft Office
  • Familiarity with Slack (Internal communication platform)
  • Familiarity with Box (Internal document platform)

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Physical demands for a senior project manager may vary depending on the job environment and industry. However, some of the common physical demands for the role include:

• The ability to sit and stand for long periods of time while conducting meetings or working on a computer.
• The ability to move around and travel to different work sites or client locations.
• The ability to lift and carry moderate weight items like project materials or equipment.
• The ability to communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and clients through verbal and written means.
• Work conditions may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements such as dirt, dust, fumes, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises
• Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks which require following basic safety precautions
• Must be able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to work within or visit areas where required. This includes, safety glasses, reflective vest, ear plugs, steel toed shoes, and other PPE as required by the location

Outcomes

• 75% focus on Project delivery, between direct Project participation and oversight of PMs
• 25% focus on team growth, organizational initiatives, personal growth goals

By achieving these outcomes, you will play a crucial role in the overall success of projects, the growth and development of your team, and the strategic advancement of the organization in the entertainment industry.

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