Project Director

Job summary

The Project Director will provide senior leadership across Oaken Events' portfolio of corporate events, conferences, launches, experiential activations,celebrations, exhibitions, private events, and bespoke event productions. The role carries end-to-end responsibility for translating client briefs and creative concepts into execution.

Min Qualification: Degree Experience Level: Executive level Experience Length: 8 years Language Requirement: English Working Hours: Full Time - 8 to 5 Applicant Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Job descriptions & requirements

Responsibilities:

Group Project Leadership:

• Translate client objectives into comprehensive project and execution plans.
• Establish project scope, timelines, milestones, budgets, deliverables, and responsibilities.
• Lead project kick-offs, production meetings, rehearsals, event-day operations, and post-event reviews.
• Maintain overall control of project progress, quality, cost, and delivery.

Client Management:

• Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients.
• Understand client objectives, expectations, priorities, and constraints.
• Translate client requirements into actionable internal briefs.
• Manage client approvals, revisions, expectations, and scope changes.
• Provide proactive project updates and recommendations.
• Build strong relationships that drive repeat business and long-term accounts.

Creative & Production Integration:

• Work closely with creative teams to translate concepts into executable productions.
• Assess the feasibility, cost, timeline, and operational requirements of creative ideas.
• Ensure the final production remains faithful to the approved concept.
• Identify opportunities to elevate the event experience without compromising commercial objectives.

Budget & Commercial Ownership:

• Lead project budgeting and cost planning.
• Review supplier quotations and negotiate where appropriate.
• Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets.
• Protect project margins and commercial performance.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.
• Manage scope changes and ensure additional requirements are appropriately costed.
• Work closely with management and finance on project financial performance.

Team Leadership:

• Build and lead high-performing project teams.
• Allocate responsibilities across project managers, coordinators, creatives, production teams, freelancers, and vendors.
• Establish clear expectations and deadlines.
• Monitor team performance and intervene when delivery is at risk.
• Develop project managers and junior team members.
• Create a culture of ownership, urgency, professionalism, and excellence.

Event-Day Command:

• Take senior operational leadership during major events.
• Ensure all teams and suppliers are fully prepared before event commencement.
• Oversee setup, technical checks, rehearsals, guest arrival, programme execution, and breakdown.
• Make rapid decisions when unexpected issues arise.
• Coordinate with clients, production leads, technical teams, venue management, security, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure the event is delivered seamlessly from the audience's perspective.

Risk & Crisis Management:

• Identify operational and production risks during planning.
• Develop appropriate contingency plans.
• Conduct site and production risk assessments.
• Anticipate technical, logistical, financial, safety, and reputational risks.
• Take decisive action when issues arise.
• Escalate critical matters early with recommended solutions.

Quality Control:

• Establish and enforce Oaken's event delivery standards.
• Conduct quality checks across all event workstreams.
• Ensure production elements are delivered according to approved specifications.
• Identify gaps before event day.
• Conduct post-event reviews and implement lessons learned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Project Management, Business Administration, Hospitality, Communications, or related discipline.
• 8–12 years of experience, with substantial experience in event production and project leadership.
• Proven track record managing high-value corporate events, conferences, experiential activations, launches, awards, or large-scale productions.
• Strong experience managing budgets, clients, vendors, creative teams, production crews, and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with premium corporate clients and brands is highly desirable.
• PMP, PRINCE2, or other recognised project management certification is an advantage.