Production managers are tasked with getting goods or services from concept through to end product as swiftly, efficiently and precisely as possible. They must balance cost and resources against quality control and standards " which can be a particularly difficult task in creative industries.

Planning and organisation is vital to a production managers role as they are often required to work within tight budgets and time frames. Recruitment agencies will also consider the ability of a candidate to communicate with the staff under them and manage a team to hit targets when putting individuals forward for interview. In addition to managing both people and products, some roles require production managers to have a significant involvement in product design and development.

A starting salary for production managers might be somewhere in the region of £25,000, but employment in larger organisations can often see wages rise to as much as £60,000. Location may also play a part in the rate of pay. While contracts can be fixed term or part time, this is more frequently considered to be a full-time job.

Although not traditionally associated with providing a clear progression to senior management positions, a talented production manager will be a key player in a companys decision-making. It is a role which requires an understanding of all aspects of a business and liaising with all departments, so being a team player should be a given. Candidates usually graduate to management roles through experience in more junior production positions and will typically have been educated to degree standard.