Project Manager - Automotive & Production (9-12 Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Job Title: Project Manager – Automotive & Production (9-12 Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Location: London and Brackley – Hybrid (plus travel as required)

We are Strata!

Imagine being part of a fast and exciting brand experience agency whose clients include specialists in new technology, creators of some of the most stunning electric vehicles on the planet, financial institutions, and global leaders in pharmaceutical solutions. As an agency, we elevate these brands and make them heard through immersive and memorable virtual and face 2 face experiences.

As a people-first business, we encourage ambition, support and reward. We’re always listening and open to your ideas, just as we do with our clients.

Our name? It’s Strata, an agency on a mission to be the very best. This means we always want to hear from the very best creative and intelligent souls who genuinely believe that every moment matters.

Job Overview

The Project Manager – Automotive & Production is responsible for planning, managing and delivering automotive events and experiences from initial brief through to live delivery and reconciliation.

Acting as the day-to-day client lead, the role owns project plans, budgets, suppliers, venues, logistics and cross-functional coordination. The role also coordinates the creative development and production of event graphics, branding and associated printed and digital materials.

Please only apply if you have a minimum of three years' experience working within an events agency, delivering automotive events, and are available to start in January 2027.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of automotive events and experiences, from initial brief and planning through to live delivery, reconciliation and post-event evaluation.

• Develop and manage project plans, schedules, critical paths, production timelines and delivery milestones.

• Coordinate internal teams, clients, venues, suppliers and event partners to ensure deadlines and deliverables are achieved.

• Maintain project documentation including briefing documents, schedules, contact reports, artwork trackers and operational plans.

• Identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies and changes, escalating where appropriate.

• Lead onsite delivery, ensuring operational excellence, consistent quality and effective issue resolution.

Client Management

• Act as the day-to-day client lead across assigned projects.

• Lead client meetings, planning sessions, project updates and status reviews.

• Understand client objectives and translate them into practical, creative and commercially viable solutions.

• Manage client expectations through clear communication, proactive updates and recommendations.

• Secure client approvals, purchase orders, content and project information in line with agreed timelines.

• Identify opportunities to add value and introduce relevant wider Strata services.

Creative & Production Coordination

• Coordinate the development and production of event graphics, signage, branding and associated printed and digital materials.

• Write clear creative and production briefs based on client requirements, event objectives and brand guidelines.

• Work with Creative, Content, Production and suppliers from concept and artwork development through to approval, manufacture, delivery and installation.

• Manage feedback, artwork approvals, specifications, version control and production schedules.

• Liaise with printers, fabricators, stand builders and venues to confirm measurements, materials, finishes, fixing methods and delivery requirements.

• Coordinate proofs, colour references, samples and prototypes where required.

• Monitor quality throughout production and conduct onsite checks to ensure graphics and branded assets are correctly installed and finished.

• Ensure creative solutions are practical and achievable within budget, timeline and venue constraints.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Create and manage accurate project budgets, forecasts and cashflows in Procim.

• Track revenue, committed costs, actual spend, mark-up, margin and profitability.

• Manage purchase orders, supplier invoices, client approvals and project reconciliation.

• Control scope changes and budget variations, ensuring approvals are secured and recorded.

• Identify efficiencies and value-engineering opportunities without compromising quality or the client experience.

Supplier, Venue & Logistics Management

• Source, brief and manage venues, suppliers and event partners.

• Develop clear scopes of work and obtain, review and negotiate quotations.

• Manage supplier performance against agreed budgets, timelines and quality standards.

• Coordinate venue access, deliveries, installation, removal and storage requirements.

• Manage delegate, accommodation, travel, catering, transport and vehicle logistics where required.

• Support the planning of automotive activity including vehicle movements, test-drive operations and EV charging requirements.

Risk, Compliance & Quality

• Coordinate project health and safety, risk management and contingency planning in line with company and client processes.

• Ensure supplier risk assessments, method statements, insurance and compliance documentation are obtained and approved by the relevant competent lead.

• Maintain accurate project records and support ISO9001 quality management requirements.

• Uphold brand, production and service standards throughout planning and live delivery.

Teamwork, Pitches & Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate cross-functional teams and maintain clear ownership of actions and deliverables.

• Support Project Coordinators and junior team members through clear delegation, guidance and feedback.

• Contribute operational and production content to pitches, proposals and presentations.

• Lead project reconciliation, internal reviews and client debriefs.

• Capture project learnings, support case-study development and share recommendations for future improvement.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first 12 months you will:

• Independently deliver automotive projects on time, within budget and to a consistently high standard.

• Build trusted day-to-day relationships with clients, suppliers and internal teams.

• Coordinate graphics and branded materials accurately from briefing through production and installation.

• Maintain accurate budgets, forecasts and reconciliations while protecting project margin.

• Demonstrate confident onsite leadership and effective management of risk, logistics and changing priorities.

• Support consistent project processes and contribute useful learnings to future delivery.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the below experience:

• Proven experience managing live events, experiential activations or automotive programmes within an agency environment.

• Experience working with automotive clients and managing projects from brief through live delivery and reconciliation.

• Experience coordinating creative development, artwork, print production and event graphics.

• Strong project planning, organisational and stakeholder-management skills.

• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, purchase orders, supplier invoices and reconciliations.

• Understanding of revenue, mark-up, margin, profitability and scope control.

• Experience sourcing and managing venues, suppliers and event partners.

• Practical knowledge of event logistics, vehicle movements, health and safety and onsite delivery.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, with experience of Procim and project management platforms advantageous.

• Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends during live delivery periods.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and detail oriented.

• Commercially aware and financially responsible.

• Confident and professional with clients, suppliers and internal teams.

• Proactive, decisive and solutions focused.

• Collaborative and able to coordinate creative, production and operational specialists.

• Calm and adaptable in a fast-paced agency environment.

• Passionate about automotive brands, live events and creative delivery.

Role Boundary

This role owns the end-to-end project and coordinates creative and production workstreams, including graphics, branding and event materials. Where specialist technical production is required, including staging, AV, lighting, sound, rigging, power or complex scenic construction, the role works alongside an appointed Producer, Production Manager or Technical Director who retains responsibility for technical design, compliance and delivery.

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus usual Bank Holidays

• Birthday day off

• Private Health Insurance*

• Workplace pension scheme

• Death in service scheme

• Cycle to work scheme

• Hybrid working arrangement

• Regular social events

*Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period

Our Principles

We are a people-first brand experience agency with a set of core principles that guide our every action by measuring:

A win for the client
Client success is at the forefront of everything we do. We measure our success by the impact we make for our clients. We strive to exceed your expectations, delivering moments that matter with results that matter.

A win for the company
We believe in long-term partnerships and sustainable growth. When your business prospers, so does ours. Our commitment to excellence and innovation means we’re always ahead of the curve, offering you the best brand experiences.

A win for the team
Our team is the lifeblood of our agency. We celebrate diversity, promote collaboration, and foster an inclusive culture where every team member feels valued and empowered. When our team thrives, their passion and dedication is reflected in everything we deliver.

A win for you
Whether you’re engaging us for your events, already fostering a career at Strata, or considering one, our goal is to create a win for you. We’re dedicated to providing our employees with an enriching workplace that supports their growth and well-being. For our clients, a win means achieving your objectives and making your brand shine.

A win for the planet
We are committed to making environmentally responsible choices in our work. We recognise our responsibility to minimise our impact on the planet and contribute to a sustainable future. From eco-friendly event practices to conscious resource management, we aim to create events that are a win for the environment.

Diversity at Strata

At Strata, people are at the heart of who we are.

We recognise and value the diverse and unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that each individual brings.

We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and empowered. We strive to create an innovative, creative, and inclusive environment where all employees and applicants can thrive.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and business needs.

Embracing diversity isn't just our goal, it's our strength, driving us towards a more inclusive future.

At Strata, we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone can thrive. We actively promote equal opportunities and support individuals with disabilities throughout their careers. As part of our recruitment process, we encourage candidates to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments - our team is committed to ensuring a fair, supportive, and inclusive experience from application through to employment.

https://stratacreate.com/