ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Director Physical Production Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Fifth Season

Assistant, Physical Production

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$23 - $25/hr

... directed by Michael Bay, Destin Daniel Cretton's Just Mercy, the Book Club franchise, the Sundance ... As a dynamic studio with a soul, we're seeking a Physical Production Assistant to play a vital role ...

Fifth Season

VP, Physical Production

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$200K - $215K/yr

... directed by Michael Bay, Destin Daniel Cretton's Just Mercy, the Book Club franchise, the Sundance ... Lead the physical production of FIFTH SEASON film projects across development, pre-production ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPhysical Production JobsDirector Physical Production Jobs

Director Physical Production information

See salary details

$24K

$107.5K

$189.5K

How much do director physical production jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for director physical production in the United States is $107,478.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $129,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Director of Physical Production do?

A Director of Physical Production oversees the logistical and operational aspects of film, television, or media projects. They are responsible for budgeting, scheduling, hiring key crew, and ensuring that productions run smoothly from pre-production through post-production. This role acts as a bridge between creative vision and practical execution, making sure that projects stay on track and within budget. They also handle problem-solving on set and coordinate with various departments to ensure all production needs are met.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of Physical Production when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

A Director of Physical Production frequently oversees several film or television projects at once, which can present challenges in resource allocation and timeline coordination. Balancing budgets, crew schedules, and location logistics across multiple productions requires strong organizational skills and the ability to anticipate and mitigate potential conflicts. Effective communication with producers, department heads, and vendors is essential to ensure that each project stays on track and meets quality standards. Additionally, adapting quickly to unexpected changes, such as weather delays or supply shortages, is a critical part of the role.

What kind of jobs in media bring in $150,000 a year?

In media, roles such as Director of Physical Production, Senior Producers, and Executive Producers often earn $150,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, strong industry networks, and leadership skills. These positions typically require managing large budgets, teams, and complex projects in film, television, or digital media environments.

What jobs make $500,000 a year?

In California, high-level executive roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite executives often earn $500,000 or more annually. Additionally, specialized professions like top-tier surgeons, successful entrepreneurs, and certain technology executives can reach or exceed this income level, especially with bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced skills, and often involve leadership responsibilities or ownership stakes.

Who is higher, a director or a producer?

In the film and television industry, a producer generally holds a higher position than a director. Producers oversee the overall project, including financing, hiring, and management, while directors focus on the creative vision and execution of individual episodes or films. Both roles require strong leadership and collaboration skills, but the producer has broader responsibilities and authority over the production process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Physical Production, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Physical Production, you need extensive experience in film or television production management, budgeting, scheduling, and a deep understanding of union regulations. Familiarity with production management software like Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting, as well as knowledge of industry-standard workflows, is essential. Strong leadership, negotiation, problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate effectively under pressure make someone stand out in this role. These skills are crucial to ensuring productions stay on schedule and within budget while maintaining high creative and safety standards.

What is the difference between Director Physical Production vs Production Manager?

AspectDirector Physical ProductionProduction Manager
CredentialsExperience in film/TV production, industry knowledgeSimilar experience, often with project management certifications
Work EnvironmentCreative sets, studio lots, production officesOn-location, studio, and post-production sites
Industry UsageUsed in film, TV, and large-scale productionsCommon across film, TV, theater, and commercials

The Director Physical Production oversees the entire physical aspects of a production, focusing on budgeting, scheduling, and logistics. The Production Manager handles day-to-day operations, coordinating resources and managing staff. While both roles require industry experience and similar credentials, the Director Physical Production has a broader strategic focus, whereas the Production Manager is more involved in operational execution.

What is the hardest job in film?

The Director of Physical Production is often considered one of the most challenging roles in film, as it involves managing budgets, schedules, and logistics for complex productions. This position requires strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations throughout filming. The role demands coordination of multiple departments and adherence to tight deadlines, making it physically and mentally demanding.
More about Director Physical Production jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Physical Production jobs? Cities with the most Director Physical Production job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Production jobs? The most popular types of Physical Production jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Director Physical Production jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Physical Production jobs are:
Director Physical Production jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Physical Production job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,478 per year, or $51.7 per hour.
Director of Physical Production

Director of Physical Production

TubeScience

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$120/day

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

Director of Physical Production
Los Angeles, California, United States
Role: Director of Physical Production
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Daily studio presence required)
Compensation: $120-150K
Reports to: Head of Production
The Role
We're looking for a Director of Physical Production to lead TubeScience's on-the-ground production operation. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can walk a studio floor, run a tight schedule, transform a production team, and build the operational infrastructure that lets a high-volume creative machine scale.
You'll own everything that happens between a production brief and wrapped footage: studios, equipment, crews, freelancers, vendors, schedules, and the team that makes it all run. You'll work cross-functionally with Strategy, Post-Production, and Casting to make sure physical production never becomes a bottleneck.
This is perfect for someone who's run physical production at scale before: managed studios, led production teams, built processes that actually stick, and done it all in an environment where speed and volume are the norm. You're equal parts production leader, systems builder, and people developer - and you know the difference between being busy and being effective.
You also believe the best production orgs are built around doers - people who own the work end-to-end and stay close to the craft. You're excited about a world where automation, remote teams, and AI absorb the meta-work so the team can spend more of its time on the work itself.
What You'll Do
Own physical production end-to-end - studio shoots, location work, multi-environment productions - ensuring every shoot is planned, staffed, and executed on time
Help shape what the production org looks like as we scale - investing in talent close to the craft, and leaning into automation, remote teams, and AI to absorb the work better suited to them
Drive production throughput and cycle time improvement across all teams - set expectations, build reporting, diagnose bottlenecks, and hold teams accountable to delivery standards
Manage studio operations including facility readiness, equipment inventory and lifecycle, and scheduling across simultaneous shoots - gear and space should never be the reason a production stalls
Lead and develop the production team - coaching for autonomy, raising the bar on craft, and building a team that reflects how we want to operate at scale
Own the freelance crew pipeline and vendor relationships - sourcing, vetting, rate management, and maintaining a reliable bench of on-call production talent and specialized services
Build the operational systems - processes, documentation, and reporting - that make the operation consistent, scalable, and not dependent on any one person's institutional knowledge
Manage production spend with discipline - balance quality and speed with cost awareness across crew, equipment, vendors, and facilities
You'll Need to Have
7+ years in production operations, with 3+ years managing teams in a high-volume environment - broadcast, digital media, daily programming, or high-cadence ad production. Not feature films or one-off commercials.
Hands-on experience managing studios, equipment operations, and freelance crew pipelines - not just schedules, but the physical infrastructure.
Zero tolerance for loose schedules, unclear ownership, and "we'll figure it out day-of."
A track record of building operational processes that outlive individual team members - not just running what exists, but making it meaningfully better.
A systems-first mindset - preventing problems rather than fighting fires, with a clear instinct for what automation, AI, and remote teams can take on, and the judgment to decide what they can't.
A bias toward craft and doers. You've built or worked in orgs where the best operators stay close to the work itself - not just coordinating it - and you build teams that reflect that.
A proven ability to make people better - through clear expectations, direct feedback, and genuine investment in their growth.
Strong planning discipline, real business judgment, and fluency with production management tools
An energy for volume and velocity - our pace should be exciting, not overwhelming.
• Why TubeScience
Join a company in rapid growth mode - bootstrapped, profitable, and scaling
Work with category-leading brands and see your leadership directly impact production output
Build from the ground up - this is a new role with a mandate to shape how physical production operates
Massive growth opportunity for the right operator

Apply