Creative Director - Storyteller
SCALIS, Burbank, CA, United States
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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 job We are seeking an experienced, collaborative
Creative Director
to help advance an emerging medium for storytelling within the Sky Story industry. In this role, you will work closely with clients and partners to develop innovative, inspiring story concepts, and collaborate with our world‑class Nova Design Studio to bring those ideas to life.
Our work spans a range of industries, including theme parks, music, and fine art, but we are particularly interested in those with experience in cultural storytelling, such as tourism, heritage sites, and place‑based narratives. You will play a key role in uniting Nova’s cross‑functional teams, including engineering, operations, and finance, to push creative and technical boundaries.
The Sky Story industry is still young and growing, and so there is no one‑size‑fits‑all approach. We are open minded to finding the right individuals who can continue to grow this industry.
As a Creative Director, you will be responsible for:
Develop creative proposals for long‑term shows, installations, and residencies
Partner directly with clients to understand objectives and translate them into compelling story‑driven concepts
Collaborate with the Nova Design Studio to develop and refine creative ideas
Lead projects from initial concept through execution and delivery
Align cross‑functional teams to ensure creative vision, feasibility, and business goals are met
Contribute to sales and business development efforts through pitches, decks, and creative presentations
You’ll need to have:
10+ years of experience in storytelling, creative entertainment, cultural preservation, or a related field
Strong background in cultural storytelling, ideally with an anthropology, historical, or heritage‑based focus
Proven ability to lead projects from concept through completion
Experience creating sales collateral, including pitch materials and presentations
Open‑minded, collaborative approach with a strong sense of humility and continuous learning
What defines you:
Passionate about the creative potential of drone and emerging technologies
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate ideas
Strong interpersonal skills and a highly team‑oriented mindset
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
Agile, quick learner who adapts creatively as projects evolve
Results‑driven, "can‑do" attitude focused on innovative solutions and growth
Comfortable giving and receiving constructive creative feedback
Eager to collaborate closely with teammates, clients, and external partner
How to be successful in this role:
Enthusiastic about the creative potential of drone technology
Effective communication skills to articulate ideas and collaborate within teams
Strong interpersonal skills with a team‑oriented approach
Capacity to manage priorities, multitask, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment
Having an efficient and structured workflow
Strong drive to experiment and innovate
Quick learner with agility in adapting design approaches
A results‑oriented, "can‑do" attitude with a focus on creative solutions
Ability to provide and receive constructive, creative feedback across teams
Willingness to collaborate closely with team members, clients, and external partners
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Matching
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.
The Executive Assistant’s core mission is to enhance the executive team's effectiveness, clarity, and peace of mind by expertly managing a complex multi‑time‑zone calendar, creating structure, reducing friction, and ensuring the right priorities stay front and center. This includes:Managing time for strategic and creative work. Ensuring the Nova team feels supported, heard, and respected. Facilitating meaningful collaboration with internal partners. This is a company-focused role dedicated to helping the executive team contribute at the highest level and help the organization operate at its best. As an Executive Assistant, you will be responsible for:Executive Support & Operations Provide proactive administrative support to the executive team, ensuring company goals are met and operations run efficiently. Serve as the executive’s primary operational partner, anticipating needs, identifying solutions, and resolving issues in real time to create stability. Act as a liaison between executives and internal teams, ensuring clear, consistent communication across the organization. Maintain a database of key corporate documents, contacts, and other essential information. Scheduling, Calendar Strategy & Communication Manage complex professional and personal scheduling, including agendas, email, calls, client interactions, and other logistics. Build and maintain a strategic calendar that protects time for high‑value activities—strategic discussions, creative work, team engagement—while supporting business needs and flexibility. Facilitate strong, respectful collaboration with internal teams by managing priorities and schedules in a way that supports both the executives and the broader organization. Maintain a deep understanding of team and company priorities to ensure smooth communication and alignment. Travel & Logistics Coordinate domestic and international travel, creating seamless itineraries that integrate business and personal needs. Work with the aviation team to manage flight planning and operational requirements. Systems, Planning & Growth Support Lead administrative tasks related to client management, new geographic expansion, and other growth initiatives. Build and refine systems that improve consistency, reliability, and predictability in the executive’s workflow. Anticipate needs, remove obstacles, and create peace of mind through meticulous planning and follow‑through. Responsiveness & Adaptability Manage a dynamic calendar with frequent changes while minimizing disruption. Provide consistent, high‑quality support regardless of location and maintain responsiveness in a fast‑paced,24/7 environment. You’ll need to have:4-6 years of experience supporting senior executives or founders in fast‑paced, high‑performance environments;experience within Fortune 500 or high‑growth companies strongly preferred. Proven success in roles requiring complex logistical coordination and24/7 availability. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization. Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities. Proficiency with office productivity tools and a demonstrated ability to quickly learn new software and systems. Warm, grounded, and solutions‑oriented presence, able to remain calm and effective in high‑pressure situations. Strong relationship‑building skills and a “collaboration‑first” mindset that balances the executives needs with those of the broader team. Ability to serve as a trusted partner to senior leaders while also supporting cross‑functional teams. Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and professionalism. Flexible, adaptable, and unafraid to take on new challenges in a dynamic, evolving environment. Willingness to travel frequently—nationally and internationally—as well as undergo an extensive background check. Why This Role Is Unique Your work directly strengthens the organization’s success by enabling the executive team to operate at their highest level. Opportunity for global travel and exposure to a world‑class network. Involvement in an elite, high‑performance environment where excellence is the standard. Significant opportunity for growth and impact for someone with ambition and initiative. A chance to work closely with a visionary team whose time, focus, and creative energy directly drive the company’s trajectory.
As 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 owns 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. Senior Production Managers also act as Remote Production Owners for touring shows, providing strategic oversight and guidance while Junior Production Managers lead onsite execution. As a Senior Production Manager, you will be responsible for:Marquee Show OwnershipOwn 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. Budget & Commercial Accountability 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. Creative & Technical Leadership Partner with Creative, Design, Flight Operations, and Engineering to translate creative intent into executable production plans. Lead production trade‑off decisions balancing creative ambition, safety, cost, and schedule. Oversee technical integration of drone choreography with audio, lighting, staging, broadcast, and experiential elements. Logistics, Risk & Compliance 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. Team Leadership & Oversight 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. Reporting & Continuous Improvement 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. Required Qualifications: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. What Defines You: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.
We are seeking a skilled Person Manipulating the Controls (PMTC) to operate our large‑scale drone light show systems under the authority of a designated Pilot in Command (PIC). The PMTC is the hands‑on flight operator responsible for executing launches, monitoring the drone fleet in real time, and responding to aircraft and system behavior throughout the show. While the PIC retains full legal and safety authority, the PMTC plays a critical role in live execution and operational performance. This role sits at the intersection of aviation, robotics, and live entertainment, supporting synchronized fleets of hundreds to thousands of aircraft at some of the world’s most high‑profile events. As a PMTC, you will be responsible for:Serve as a pilot responsible for flying shows and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations, guidelines, and best practices. Prioritize the safety of spectators, crew members, and surrounding airspace. Operate Nova’s drone fleet during live shows as the Person Manipulating the Controls. Execute launches, holds, aborts, and recoveries under the direction of the PIC. Monitor aircraft health, telemetry, GNSS, and communications during flight. Operate Nova’s ground control systems, networking, and flight software. Load, verify, and execute flight plans and show content. Respond in real time to system alerts, aircraft faults, or degraded conditions. Helps lead load‑in and load‑out of the entire airfield & pilot system setup. Conduct pre‑flight checks on drones, batteries, ground infrastructure, and control systems. Assist with post‑flight inspections, logging, and maintenance reporting. Coordinate closely with ground crew, technical staff, and event organizers to communicate flight plans, timing cues, and any operational considerations prior, during, and after shows. Supply continuous feedback and evaluation of performance metrics to identify areas of improvement and optimization. Fly large scale drone light shows: 200-2000 drone light shows using our system. Assist with drone repairs. Required Qualifications Proficient in interpreting several incoming streams of data and managing time‑critical activities. Able to stay focused and decisive during high‑pressure live operations. Basic understanding of engineering / electronics / software engineering to perform basic maintenance and troubleshooting on drones. Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal. Proactive communication is highly valued. It’s a plus if you have:Experience flying large fleets or synchronized UAS systems Background in aviation or robotics or live technical production familiarity with regulatory frameworks (FAA, EASA, GCAA, etc.)Experience working in touring or event‑based operations Willing to travel up to several weekends per month, to various states/countries, and remain there for 2-3 nights and support a show. Opportunities may exist for extended periods, in the case of drone residencies. Willing to lift loads up to 20kg/44lb, work outdoors, and set up equipmentWhat Defines YouHighly reliable, organized, and execution‑focused. Calm under pressure and effective in an onsite operating environment. A clear, proactive communicator who escalates issues early and appropriately. Team‑oriented, humble, and eager to learn. Motivated by operational excellence, consistency, and continuous improvement. Interested in growing into increased production ownership over time.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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 job We are seeking an experienced, collaborative
Creative Director
to help advance an emerging medium for storytelling within the Sky Story industry. In this role, you will work closely with clients and partners to develop innovative, inspiring story concepts, and collaborate with our world‑class Nova Design Studio to bring those ideas to life.
Our work spans a range of industries, including theme parks, music, and fine art, but we are particularly interested in those with experience in cultural storytelling, such as tourism, heritage sites, and place‑based narratives. You will play a key role in uniting Nova’s cross‑functional teams, including engineering, operations, and finance, to push creative and technical boundaries.
The Sky Story industry is still young and growing, and so there is no one‑size‑fits‑all approach. We are open minded to finding the right individuals who can continue to grow this industry.
As a Creative Director, you will be responsible for:
Develop creative proposals for long‑term shows, installations, and residencies
Partner directly with clients to understand objectives and translate them into compelling story‑driven concepts
Collaborate with the Nova Design Studio to develop and refine creative ideas
Lead projects from initial concept through execution and delivery
Align cross‑functional teams to ensure creative vision, feasibility, and business goals are met
Contribute to sales and business development efforts through pitches, decks, and creative presentations
You’ll need to have:
10+ years of experience in storytelling, creative entertainment, cultural preservation, or a related field
Strong background in cultural storytelling, ideally with an anthropology, historical, or heritage‑based focus
Proven ability to lead projects from concept through completion
Experience creating sales collateral, including pitch materials and presentations
Open‑minded, collaborative approach with a strong sense of humility and continuous learning
What defines you:
Passionate about the creative potential of drone and emerging technologies
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate ideas
Strong interpersonal skills and a highly team‑oriented mindset
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
Agile, quick learner who adapts creatively as projects evolve
Results‑driven, "can‑do" attitude focused on innovative solutions and growth
Comfortable giving and receiving constructive creative feedback
Eager to collaborate closely with teammates, clients, and external partner
How to be successful in this role:
Enthusiastic about the creative potential of drone technology
Effective communication skills to articulate ideas and collaborate within teams
Strong interpersonal skills with a team‑oriented approach
Capacity to manage priorities, multitask, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment
Having an efficient and structured workflow
Strong drive to experiment and innovate
Quick learner with agility in adapting design approaches
A results‑oriented, "can‑do" attitude with a focus on creative solutions
Ability to provide and receive constructive, creative feedback across teams
Willingness to collaborate closely with team members, clients, and external partners
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Matching
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.
The Executive Assistant’s core mission is to enhance the executive team's effectiveness, clarity, and peace of mind by expertly managing a complex multi‑time‑zone calendar, creating structure, reducing friction, and ensuring the right priorities stay front and center. This includes:Managing time for strategic and creative work. Ensuring the Nova team feels supported, heard, and respected. Facilitating meaningful collaboration with internal partners. This is a company-focused role dedicated to helping the executive team contribute at the highest level and help the organization operate at its best. As an Executive Assistant, you will be responsible for:Executive Support & Operations Provide proactive administrative support to the executive team, ensuring company goals are met and operations run efficiently. Serve as the executive’s primary operational partner, anticipating needs, identifying solutions, and resolving issues in real time to create stability. Act as a liaison between executives and internal teams, ensuring clear, consistent communication across the organization. Maintain a database of key corporate documents, contacts, and other essential information. Scheduling, Calendar Strategy & Communication Manage complex professional and personal scheduling, including agendas, email, calls, client interactions, and other logistics. Build and maintain a strategic calendar that protects time for high‑value activities—strategic discussions, creative work, team engagement—while supporting business needs and flexibility. Facilitate strong, respectful collaboration with internal teams by managing priorities and schedules in a way that supports both the executives and the broader organization. Maintain a deep understanding of team and company priorities to ensure smooth communication and alignment. Travel & Logistics Coordinate domestic and international travel, creating seamless itineraries that integrate business and personal needs. Work with the aviation team to manage flight planning and operational requirements. Systems, Planning & Growth Support Lead administrative tasks related to client management, new geographic expansion, and other growth initiatives. Build and refine systems that improve consistency, reliability, and predictability in the executive’s workflow. Anticipate needs, remove obstacles, and create peace of mind through meticulous planning and follow‑through. Responsiveness & Adaptability Manage a dynamic calendar with frequent changes while minimizing disruption. Provide consistent, high‑quality support regardless of location and maintain responsiveness in a fast‑paced,24/7 environment. You’ll need to have:4-6 years of experience supporting senior executives or founders in fast‑paced, high‑performance environments;experience within Fortune 500 or high‑growth companies strongly preferred. Proven success in roles requiring complex logistical coordination and24/7 availability. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization. Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities. Proficiency with office productivity tools and a demonstrated ability to quickly learn new software and systems. Warm, grounded, and solutions‑oriented presence, able to remain calm and effective in high‑pressure situations. Strong relationship‑building skills and a “collaboration‑first” mindset that balances the executives needs with those of the broader team. Ability to serve as a trusted partner to senior leaders while also supporting cross‑functional teams. Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and professionalism. Flexible, adaptable, and unafraid to take on new challenges in a dynamic, evolving environment. Willingness to travel frequently—nationally and internationally—as well as undergo an extensive background check. Why This Role Is Unique Your work directly strengthens the organization’s success by enabling the executive team to operate at their highest level. Opportunity for global travel and exposure to a world‑class network. Involvement in an elite, high‑performance environment where excellence is the standard. Significant opportunity for growth and impact for someone with ambition and initiative. A chance to work closely with a visionary team whose time, focus, and creative energy directly drive the company’s trajectory.
As 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 owns 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. Senior Production Managers also act as Remote Production Owners for touring shows, providing strategic oversight and guidance while Junior Production Managers lead onsite execution. As a Senior Production Manager, you will be responsible for:Marquee Show OwnershipOwn 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. Budget & Commercial Accountability 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. Creative & Technical Leadership Partner with Creative, Design, Flight Operations, and Engineering to translate creative intent into executable production plans. Lead production trade‑off decisions balancing creative ambition, safety, cost, and schedule. Oversee technical integration of drone choreography with audio, lighting, staging, broadcast, and experiential elements. Logistics, Risk & Compliance 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. Team Leadership & Oversight 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. Reporting & Continuous Improvement 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. Required Qualifications: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. What Defines You: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.
We are seeking a skilled Person Manipulating the Controls (PMTC) to operate our large‑scale drone light show systems under the authority of a designated Pilot in Command (PIC). The PMTC is the hands‑on flight operator responsible for executing launches, monitoring the drone fleet in real time, and responding to aircraft and system behavior throughout the show. While the PIC retains full legal and safety authority, the PMTC plays a critical role in live execution and operational performance. This role sits at the intersection of aviation, robotics, and live entertainment, supporting synchronized fleets of hundreds to thousands of aircraft at some of the world’s most high‑profile events. As a PMTC, you will be responsible for:Serve as a pilot responsible for flying shows and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations, guidelines, and best practices. Prioritize the safety of spectators, crew members, and surrounding airspace. Operate Nova’s drone fleet during live shows as the Person Manipulating the Controls. Execute launches, holds, aborts, and recoveries under the direction of the PIC. Monitor aircraft health, telemetry, GNSS, and communications during flight. Operate Nova’s ground control systems, networking, and flight software. Load, verify, and execute flight plans and show content. Respond in real time to system alerts, aircraft faults, or degraded conditions. Helps lead load‑in and load‑out of the entire airfield & pilot system setup. Conduct pre‑flight checks on drones, batteries, ground infrastructure, and control systems. Assist with post‑flight inspections, logging, and maintenance reporting. Coordinate closely with ground crew, technical staff, and event organizers to communicate flight plans, timing cues, and any operational considerations prior, during, and after shows. Supply continuous feedback and evaluation of performance metrics to identify areas of improvement and optimization. Fly large scale drone light shows: 200-2000 drone light shows using our system. Assist with drone repairs. Required Qualifications Proficient in interpreting several incoming streams of data and managing time‑critical activities. Able to stay focused and decisive during high‑pressure live operations. Basic understanding of engineering / electronics / software engineering to perform basic maintenance and troubleshooting on drones. Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal. Proactive communication is highly valued. It’s a plus if you have:Experience flying large fleets or synchronized UAS systems Background in aviation or robotics or live technical production familiarity with regulatory frameworks (FAA, EASA, GCAA, etc.)Experience working in touring or event‑based operations Willing to travel up to several weekends per month, to various states/countries, and remain there for 2-3 nights and support a show. Opportunities may exist for extended periods, in the case of drone residencies. Willing to lift loads up to 20kg/44lb, work outdoors, and set up equipmentWhat Defines YouHighly reliable, organized, and execution‑focused. Calm under pressure and effective in an onsite operating environment. A clear, proactive communicator who escalates issues early and appropriately. Team‑oriented, humble, and eager to learn. Motivated by operational excellence, consistency, and continuous improvement. Interested in growing into increased production ownership over time.
#J-18808-Ljbffr