Managing Director
6 days ago
San Mateo
80Twenty is a boutique recruitment agency that connects high-growth companies with exceptional candidates. This is onsite, 5x a week to begin, near Noe Valley. Optional flexibility after year 1! About the Company Our client has spent more than two decades building something genuinely impressive. What started as a scrappy 2 person operation has grown into a 100+ person company and SF's leader in immersive lighting and enhanced event environments. For more than 2 decades, our client has helped their clients bring big ideas to life through lighting, audio, video, drape, staging, and creative production solutions while building a reputation for creativity, innovation, and exceptional client experiences. Their work sits at the intersection of design, logistics, and production. They are artists, engineers, producers, and problem-solvers with a culture grounded in creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to their mission: Make Art. Have Fun. Be Proud. The Opportunity They are looking for a Managing Director who can lead the next chapter of growth and evolution — growing the business, developing leaders, strengthening systems, and protecting the culture and creative DNA that got them here. Reporting directly to the Founder, this newly created role will lead long-term business performance and success, efficiency, growth, and the company's industry-leading reputation. This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a company with a strong brand, an exceptional team, and a healthy business. As an expert in the delivery of high quality event design and production, this role will connect delivery excellence to business performance. This role is equal parts business leader, event design and production champion, culture steward, team builder, and driver of the company's future. What You'll Own: Vision, Brand & Growth • Bring and maintain a deep understanding of the event production industry, market conditions, competitor activity, and trends to keep the company positioned as a premier event production company, • Identify, cultivate, and maintain strategic partnerships, venue relationships, service offerings, and growth opportunities that strengthen the company's long-term success, • Continuously improve how the company operates, serves clients, delivers work, and competes in the marketplace, • Serve as the primary steward of the company's brand, culture, values, reputation, and creative standards, ensuring the magic that makes it special is preserved and strengthened as the company grows Business Leadership • Manage, support, and hold accountable the Head of Operations, Head of Finance, and Sales Leadership team, ensuring the company is aligned and moving in the same direction, • Balance sales growth, operational capacity, and financial performance to support sustainable daily operations as well as long-term success, • Make timely, well-informed decisions regarding major business challenges, priorities, and investments Founder Partnership • Translate ideas, opportunities, and long-term vision provided by the Founder into actionable strategies and business objectives, • Lead the executive team with generative practices to ensure clear area ownership and responsibility alongside healthy collaboration, • Maintain accountability for the overall performance, health, and long-term success of the business, • Lead the continued evolution of the organization by designing the team and implementing systems and structures that reduce reliance on any single individual or point of failure, • Build and mature the organizational capacity, leadership infrastructure, and succession readiness necessary for the company to thrive independently of the Founder's day-to-day involvement Sales, Relationships & Revenue • Lead and support Sales Leadership, ensuring the team has the structure, accountability, forecasting discipline, and resources necessary to achieve revenue goals, strengthen client relationships, and improve profitability while maintaining ultimate accountability for company revenue growth and sales performance, • Build and maintain meaningful relationships with clients, venues, partners, and industry leaders while serving as an ambassador for the company's brand, • Ensure Sales and Operations work closely together so commitments made during the sales process can be delivered efficiently, profitably, and at the highest level, • Continuously evaluate and improve how the company attracts, captures, responds to, and converts business while identifying opportunities to strengthen the overall client journey and experience Finance, Forecasting & Accountability • Work in partnership with the Head of Finance to ensure strong visibility into revenue, profitability, cash flow, and long-term financial health, • Monitor reporting, forecasting, and accountability tools while regularly reviewing company performance, risks, opportunities, and trends to support informed decision-making, • Partner closely with Finance and Sales Leadership to ensure revenue goals, pricing strategies, margins, and business development efforts are aligned with the company's financial goals, • Evaluate and approve significant investments, major purchases, and other opportunities that support the company's long-term growth and operational needs, • In collaboration with the Founder, ensure accountability and oversight of financial controls, legal compliance, risk management, and overall business health Leadership, Team & Culture • Ensure the company has the leadership structure and succession planning necessary to support continued growth, • Partner with executive leadership to align staffing, organizational structure, and resources with the company's goals, • Support the Head of Operations, ensuring they have the clarity, resources, and support needed to successfully lead their areas of responsibility, • Ensure evolution of the company in necessary ways such that the organization can continue to grow without sacrificing quality delivery, culture, client experience, or profitability Required Skills • Experience leading and growing a production-driven or event industry business (managing 100+ person business)., • Experience managing a sales or client service team, • Strong understanding of finance and business operations, including experience managing budgets, P&L, forecasting, and company performance - COGS heavy industry., • Exceptional leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to build trust, develop other leaders, hold teams accountable, and maintain a healthy company culture, • Proven ability to bring new efficiencies, lead revenue growth, and contribute to client partnerships, • Care for quality creative alongside business success as the foundation of a design-led organization, • Experience in events, live production, theater, experiential marketing, hospitality, and/or design-driven companies DOE: 250-300k + bonus (can get creative on comp) + benefits