Lead Project Manager [59 Studio]

ABOUT THE COMPANY

About 59
59 is a multi award-winning studio based in London and New York, and is part of Journey - world leaders in Multidimensional Design. We conceive, design and deliver ambitious, large-scale story-driven artworks, stage shows and immersive experiences for live audiences, grounded by a deeply interdisciplinary process incorporating  architecture, animation, video, light, sound, music and technical design.

We work in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious and ambitious clients, and with best-in-class partners globally across industries to build and deliver our projects. Current commissions  include artworks, placemaking installations, temporary and permanent buildings, stage shows, ceremonies and events. 

• Multi-year collaborative projects with Heatherwick Studio and Foster + Partners.
• The video design and  visual effects for Stranger Things: The First Shadow in the West End and on Broadway with SFP  and Netflix.
• The writing, direction, design and animation of immersive shows for our flagship immersive venue and joint venture Lightroom. Following recent collaborations with David Hockney, Bigger & Closer (Not Smaller and Further Away), with Tom Hanks, The Moonwalkers, and a new collaboration with Vogue and Anna Wintour, Inventing the Runway, will open in October 2024, with many more to follow.
• Amongst many others…

Focused collaboration, rigorous conceptual development and sensitivities to sustainability and cultural relevance are all hallmarks of our unique approach.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

We are looking for a skilled and experienced Lead Project Manager to join 59 to play a key role in the management of our most ambitious projects within our portfolio. This role will oversee and take responsibility for the mechanics of stakeholder management, workflow planning, budgets, and resourcing across a number of large-scale, complex projects, often acting as the conduit between project teams and external consultants and partners, and liaising directly with project management counterparts on the client side.

The successful candidate will have a PRINCE2 or equivalent qualification and significant experience managing project processes across a range of creative and technical disciplines, with a demonstrable track record of agility and the confidence to deliver projects in full amidst ever-changing circumstances. They will also be adept at managing work in different territories with a vast portfolio that demonstrates a range of settings, scales and art forms. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience delivering projects in the Middle East and Far East territories.

An ability to expertly forge new connections and partnerships and to build trust fast, as well as managing existing relationships with clients and collaborators, is essential to this role. The ideal candidate will have experience working within or in collaboration with architecture firms and will be excited by working within an interdisciplinary design studio and thrive on working on design-led work for multiple clients and stakeholders.

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds to apply for this role. We believe a diverse range of voices, experiences and skills will help to inform, enrich and develop our working practices.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Create and hold a clear strategic plan for how each individual project will be executed considering all the various needs of the project
• Act as the Key Account Holder for certain clients, being the main point of contact and responsible for upholding and maintaining  important client relationships 
• Meet the the needs of high profile clients and stakeholders including agreeing a clear scope, schedule, budget and contract in collaboration with the Project Director
• Confident handling of complex project delivery, including but not exclusive to timelines, milestones, stakeholder commitments, risk management, reporting and finance
• Complex budget management including monthly cashflow forecasts and reconciliations
• Clear tracking and reporting of project status through all stages of the project pipeline
• Liaise with clients to ensure all requirements are addressed in a timely manner 
• Manage and foster strong, productive relationships with consultants and contractor teams
• Manage client feedback and communicate to the Project Team effectively
• Leading, managing and galvanising the team on a project to ensure excellent results
• Work with the Assistant Producer to contract freelance staff and suppliers 
• Coordinate and archive meetings with action points and follow-ups at all stages of a project
• Act as the conduit between the various disciplines in a project process - identifying what each discipline requires in order to deliver and coordinate priorities across these disciplines
• Identify project risks and mitigate these risks in dialogue with the design team
• Work with the Technical Design team to ensure all project plans adhere to all relevant health and safety regulations
• Working with the Head of Producing to help with the strategic planning of the project pipeline and how projects feed into a wider company portfolio for Journey
• Engaging with wider company policy, discussions and decision making to inform people & teams you manage as well as wider departmental structure and decisions
• Manage travel, accommodation, visas and itineraries  in collaboration with the Assistant Producer
• Coordinate workshops and prototypes as required
• Work with 59’s Communications Manager to share communications regarding projects externally, whilst in development and at the point of final delivery
• Look for opportunities to increase efficiencies and improve processes across the business
• Work within and to 59’s Sustainability, Universal Design and Belonging & Inclusion guidelines and goals, and where possible encouraging and supporting clients to do the same

Other

• Manage team members within the Producing team
• Undertake other work as reasonably required by the company.

Owing to the nature of our work, this job will require in-person attendance at our London studio and occasional work on-site in the UK and internationally.  At times it will require evening, weekend and overnight work, and may involve extended trips away from the UK to deliver projects. 59 operates a TOIL policy and a package of other wellbeing initiatives to bring balance to what is at times a very demanding workload.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Approximately 10 years experience as a Senior Project Manager on multiple, large-scale, complex projects
• PRINCE2 qualification or equivalent
• Experience coordinating complex timelines, budget and deadlines across multiple stakeholders including clients and project collaborators
• Comfortable negotiating complex contracts
• An ability to multitask effectively and handle multiple workflows at any one time
• Experience working in other global contexts, particularly in Middle East and Far East territories
• Expert administration and organisation skills
• Confident representing the company at the highest level to key stakeholders
• A willingness to work on weekends and evenings as required
• A commitment to championing representation and inclusion at every level, with a proven ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds

Desirable:

• Experience working in a design studio across a range of design specialisms including some or all of: spatial design & architecture, video design & animation and technical design
• Experience with communications and sharing the narrative of a piece of work publicly

KEY DATES & DEADLINES

Webinar:  - please use the link here at the date and time listed

Application Deadline: Thursday 18th June, 10am

Interviews:
Round 1 - Wednesday 2nd July
Round 2 - Friday 4th July

The interview panel will include 59’s Head of Producing and the Director of People. They will be joined by colleagues from the Producing and Design teams, across the two rounds of interviews.

Our interviews are built as two way conversations to better understand each other’s work and aspirations, and may include  a task to better understand the candidate's process. We operate equal opportunity interviews and typically share the opening interview questions in advance with candidates. Interviews are held in-person at our London Studio in order for candidates to meet some of the team, however they can be arranged online if there are geographical considerations.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a comprehensive CV and a cover letter (maximum two A4 sides) or up to three minutes of audio describing your suitability for the position and how your skills and experience match the person specification, via the online form only. 

If you would like to arrange a chat with the Head of Producing, to discuss the role in more detail in advance of applying, please contact us at jobs@fiftynineproductions.co.uk - we’re very happy to facilitate this. 

Applicants should provide contact details for two references. We will seek your permission before making direct contact with any referees. 

All applicants must be eligible to work within the UK.

59’s RECRUITMENT APPROACH 

At 59 we carefully consider how we meet new people through our recruitment and how a process like this can instil breadth and diversity in our projects teams. Our work is cross-cultural, and we collaborate globally so we know diversity in our teams undoubtedly strengthens our portfolio and our work. We dedicate time and resources to creating a creative working environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

If you feel that you do not see yourself represented either in the creative industries, or in this particular professional area because of any part of your identity that makes you special, we would especially like to hear from you.

Under the Equality Act 2010, a disabled person is someone who has – or has had in the past – a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out standard day-to-day activities.

As an inclusive organisation, we actively encourage applications from people who consider themselves to have a disability falling within that broad definition. We will guarantee an interview for applicants living with a disability, provided they meet the essential criteria. Where relevant, this should be indicated on your equal opportunities form which will be anonymised and attached to your redacted application. 

We have made steps to remove barriers to our workplace, including working to create a fully physically accessible studio. If it is helpful or reassuring to discuss your access needs ahead of applying so you can gauge if this is an accessible place for you to work, please get in touch with our Operations team at  jobs@fiftynineproductions.co.uk 

Acknowledging the resources that go into attending interviews, we are very happy to reimburse expenses for extensive travel incurred through travelling to/from your interview with us.

About Journey: