Head of SFX - Live Entertainment & Special Effects

Hybrid working - 4 days in office - An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a leading international live events company delivering award-winning spectaculars across world tours, stadium productions, festivals, ceremonies and large-scale entertainment events.

We're looking for an experienced Head of SFX - Live Entertainment & Special Effects who can imagine, develop and deliver unforgettable live experiences using pyrotechnics, flames, smoke, CO₂, water effects, lasers and other show technologies.

This is a role for someone who understands live entertainment from the inside out. You may currently be a Senior Crew Chief, Head of Special Effects, Production Manager, Technical Director or Show Designer working on major touring productions, stadium concerts, opening ceremonies or large-scale live events. Whatever your background, you'll have a passion for creating spectacular moments and the practical knowledge to turn ambitious creative ideas into safe, achievable productions.

Working alongside Creative Directors, Project Managers and Technical Specialists, you'll take projects from initial concept through planning, rehearsals and live delivery, ensuring every special effects sequence enhances the audience experience while meeting the highest technical and safety standards.

The Role

You'll play a leading role in the creative development of our live productions, designing and planning special effects that become defining moments within each show.

From explosive pyrotechnic finales and dramatic flame sequences to immersive atmospheric and water effects, you'll work collaboratively with clients and production teams to develop creative concepts before translating them into practical show plans and technical documentation.

Visualisation software such as Depence, Vectorworks or similar will be used to communicate and refine ideas, but your ability to create engaging, technically achievable live experiences is far more important than expertise in any one software platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop creative concepts for special effects across concerts, tours, festivals, ceremonies and live entertainment productions.
• Design and plan integrated sequences featuring pyrotechnics, flames, smoke, CO₂, water effects, lasers, confetti and other atmospheric effects.
• Collaborate with creative teams, lighting designers, video, audio and production departments to ensure effects are fully integrated into the overall show.
• Produce visualisations, layouts and technical documentation to communicate creative intent using Depence, Vectorworks or similar software.
• Ensure all effects are practical, safe, compliant and deliverable within production and venue constraints.
• Support rehearsals, programming and live delivery, refining show concepts as productions evolve.
• Lead creative problem solving throughout the design process and help develop innovative approaches to live special effects.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the continued evolution of the company's creative capabilities.

The Candidate

We're looking for someone with a passion for creating spectacular live experiences and a strong understanding of how special effects contribute to storytelling and audience engagement.

Ideally you'll have:

• Significant experience working on major live entertainment productions, touring concerts, festivals, stadium shows, ceremonies or immersive experiences.
• A strong understanding of live special effects including pyrotechnics, flames, smoke, CO₂, water effects, lasers or atmospheric technologies.
• Experience planning and integrating SFX into complex live productions from concept through rehearsals and show delivery.
• The confidence to collaborate with creative directors, clients and production teams, developing ideas into fully realised live experiences.
• Strong technical knowledge and an appreciation of production logistics, safety and operational planning.
• Experience using visualisation or design software such as Depence, Vectorworks, Finale3D or similar would be advantageous, but is not essential.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire both clients and project teams.

In Return

Our client offers flexible working, outstanding career progression, company-wide bonuses and tailored professional development, giving you the opportunity to help create some of the world's most ambitious live entertainment productions.

Live Recruitment specialises in all disciplines (and at all levels) across events, experiential and exhibitions. If this position isn't quite what you're looking for, please visit live-recruitment.co.uk to view all of the opportunities we're recruiting.

As a specialist events recruitment agency, we help our clients build the most talented and diverse teams in the UK. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, embracing diversity across all intersecting dimensions, including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, wellbeing, abilities and neurodiversity. We are dedicated to ensuring a supportive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or accommodations for any reason, please let us know.

Vacancy Ref: RD18291B