At Nova Sky Stories, we empower artists and producers to bring awe and wonder to live audiences around the world. As the global leader in drone entertainment, we’ve been redefining live shows for over a decade—merging cutting-edge drone technology with imaginative artistry.
With a veteran team of engineers and creatives, we design and operate lightweight, small, precise, and safe drones that perform in the most demanding environments—urban centers, extreme temperatures, and high winds. The result: Sky Stories that inspire, captivate, and transform the sky into a canvas of imagination.
Headquartered in the U.S. With teams across Europe and the UAE, Nova Sky Stories works with the world’s leading brands, venues, and events. Follow us: @NovaSkyStories
About the jobAs a Senior Production Manager, you are a show owner accountable for the end-to-end success of Nova’s most complex, high-profile, and non-repeatable productions—including marquee global events and brand activations.
This role leads productions from early concept development and client alignment through final delivery and closeout, serving as Nova’s primary production authority across creative, operational, logistical, financial, and client-facing dimensions. Senior Production Managers lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor and direct Junior Production Managers, and serve as the ultimate escalation point for production execution. They also act as Remote Production Owners for touring shows, providing strategic oversight while Junior Production Managers lead onsite execution.
As a Senior Production Manager, you will be responsible for:
Marquee Show Ownership- Own end-to-end delivery of complex, one-off, marquee productions from concept through closeout.
- Serve as Nova’s primary production counterpart to clients, venues, and partners.
- Establish scope, expectations, schedules, and success criteria with senior client stakeholders.
- Build, manage, and close multi-six-figure to seven-figure production budgets.
- Track estimates vs. Actuals and ensure cost control, financial accuracy, and margin discipline.
- Partner with Finance and leadership on approvals, reconciliations, and post-show financial reporting.
- Partner with Creative, Design, Flight Operations, and Engineering to translate creative intent into executable production plans.
- Balance creative ambition, safety, cost, and schedule in production trade-off decisions.
- Oversee technical integration of drone choreography with audio, lighting, staging, broadcast, and experiential elements.
- Coordinate with Nova & Client Logistics on international and domestic logistics, including shipping, customs, power, labor, and vendor coordination.
- Lead risk planning and contingency strategies for weather, airspace, regulatory constraints, safety, and site complexity.
- Ensure compliance with aviation regulations, permitting requirements, and Nova safety standards.
- Direct Junior Production Managers and onsite teams on marquee productions.
- Serve as escalation point for touring and Fever productions as needed.
- Lead internal and external production planning meetings (PPMs), kickoffs, and debriefs.
- Own post-show reporting, lessons learned, and after-action reviews.
- Ensure production data, documentation, and reporting are completed accurately and on time.
- Contribute to the evolution of Nova’s production systems, standards, and global best practices.
- 8+ years of experience in large-scale event production, live entertainment, or experiential production.
- Proven ability to deliver complex, non-repeatable, client-facing productions from concept through close.
- Demonstrated experience managing senior creative and brand stakeholders.
- Strong operational expertise across logistics, permitting, vendor management, and onsite execution.
- Advanced production budgeting and financial management experience.
- Comfortable operating in high-pressure, high-visibility environments.
- Ability to travel extensively (domestic and international) and work flexible schedules.
- Valid international driver’s license.
- A calm, decisive leader who thrives in complexity.
- Equally fluent in creative, technical, and operational conversations.
- Highly organized, systems-minded, and accountable.
- Collaborative, clear communicator with strong client presence.
- Willing to roll up your sleeves while maintaining strategic oversight.
- Health Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
If you’re ready to play a key role in supporting the operational backbone of a company redefining storytelling in the sky, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to help keep Nova Sky Stories flying high.
Nova Sky Stories
Utrecht, Netherlands
Nova Sky Stories is seeking an experienced Creative Director to advance an emerging medium for storytelling within the Sky Story industry...
You will lead creative proposals for long-term shows, installations, and residencies; partner with clients; collaborate with the Nova Design Studio; and align cross-functional teams to meet creative, feasibility, and business goals.
What you’ll need: 10+ years in storytelling or creative entertainment; strong background in cultural storytelling; proven ability to lead projects; ability to create sales collateral; open-minded, collaborative approach.
What defines you: passionate about drone technology, excellent communication, teamwork, multitasking, and adaptability.
How to be successful: effective communication, strong interpersonal skills, structured workflow, rapid learning, and collaborative mindset.
3D Cinema 4D Expert / Drone Show DesignerAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Nova Sky Stories
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
As part of Nova Sky Stories we work with designers to design and orchestrate drone light shows. You will design and animate 3D graphics for drone shows, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and recruit/manage external resources.
You’ll need: 3+ years in 3D asset creation with Cinema 4D; proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects; ability to craft low-poly assets; MoGraph experience.
How to be successful: strong communication, teamwork, priority management, structured workflow, willingness to innovate.
Audio Engineer / Producer - Drone Show AudioNova Sky Stories
Utrecht, Netherlands
We are seeking an experienced Audio Engineer / Producer to lead audio production for drone shows and outdoor experiences. Responsible for delivering show-ready audio that integrates with show control systems and outdoor playback.
You’ll need: Proven experience in audio production, with Pro Tools; Ableton/Logic depending on role; SMPTE/LTC workflows; outdoor PA knowledge.
How to be successful: teamwork, clear communication, structured workflow, and ability to adapt.
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
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