THE ROLE…

THE OPPORTUNITY

Working with the Board to optimise project workflow, deploy resources effectively, develop our freelance network and drive award-winning work, you will elevate our creative operation leading to high performance, in this newly created role. You'll be at the heart of a dynamic team, collaborating on innovative solutions and leveraging technology.

This role is ideal for...

• A seasoned Creative Operations Director with a proven track record of success in the agency world

• Passionate about delivering amazing creative

• A high-performer, who has a strong eye for detail

• Strong commerciality and ability to maintain firm boundaries and SLAs with stakeholders at all levels

• A passionate leader, eager to foster collaboration and build a future-proof operations infrastructure

JOB PURPOSE

To strategically plan and oversee the deployment of the agency’s resources to balance the maximisation of agency profitability with the creation of exceptional, award-winning work.

Main Responsibilities and Activities

• Expertly track, prioritise and drive multiple concurrent projects to success

• Partner with relevant board members to define a roadmap for the creative department focused on the efficient production of world-class creative

• Short and long-term strategic and creative needs planning

• Determine the best approach for strategic and creative development working in partnership with internal teams

• Support management of the creative team - beyond resource planning, making creative culture, career development and training a focus

• Determine and work team to develop business cases for the introduction of relevant creative tools and technology to support efficient development and automation of creative

• Partner with client services, strategic and creative leadership to ensure project timelines, budgets, and resource allocations are met

• Implement monday.com successfully to improve productivity and resource management

• Analyse and produce reports on workflow data and utilisation, develop solutions to optimise efficiency and streamline processes

• Manage and allocate agency resources strategically, maintaining optimal team utilisation

• Maintain a strong understanding of creative production processes and agency resource requirements

• Develop SLAs for creative quality standards, train and embed these in the business

• Track quality issues, report monthly to the Director of Operations and CIO on how to address them

• Be planning focused to anticipate workload spikes, ensuring creative quality and on-time delivery

• Proactively identify business-critical issues and opportunities and lead problem solving and solutions for the most optimal creative delivery

• Lead and manage all traffic meetings required

• Identify opportunities to streamline and optimise delivery timelines

• Implement resource performance metrics and reporting systems

• Manage freelance cost-efficiency and track quality ratings in our CRM

• Survey freelancers to understand their satisfaction scoring and report back on areas of improvement to our senior management and wider teams

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legal and industry regulations

• Foster a smooth and positive experience of resource planning

• Lead our agency ISO9001 accreditation efforts

• Act with the highest level of integrity and confidentiality

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a Creative Operations Director or similar leadership role (5+ years).

• Extensive knowledge of creative agency workflows and resource needs within the marketing / advertising industry

• Hands-on experience and leadership in building and optimising best in class creative operations

• Understanding of content and event production processes

• Proven experience building creative teams, identifying skills gaps, rolling out new processes globally, launching creative technology and commercial efficiency

• Able to ensure cost controls / protect agency and project specific commercial performance targets

• Demonstrated success bringing together and refining siloed operations to foster greater collaboration

• Strong understanding of resource management principles, best practices and technology

• Deep experience managing external partners alongside internal creative teams

• Excellent communication, collaboration and problem solving skills including with senior management

• A problem solver who thrives in changing and complex environments, and is efficient with limited resources

• Proficiency with data analysis and reporting tools

• Ability to motivate a team in a fast-paced environment

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and implement operational improvements

• Experience working in an agency environment with global clients

• Understanding of influencer marketing is a bonus

• Passion for sports, esports, and/or gaming is a bonus

• Ability to work in Monday.com is a bonus

Department: Operations
Location: Manchester, 5 days in the office
Reports to: Director of Operations
Hours: Full Time