Studio Manager - Creative Services

Leo Burnett is a communications agency powered by its HumanKind operating system, with the belief that creativity, data and technology work together to transform human behavior and drive prosperity for clients.

Part of Publicis Communications, Leo Burnett Worldwide is one of the world's largest agency networks with 85 offices and more than 8,000 employees.

The global agency works with some of the world's most valued brands including Aldi, Bank of America, Campbell's, Dunkin, Firestone, Jim Beam, Kellogg's, Nintendo, Tillamook and UnitedHealthcare among others.

Job Description

Responsibility and Focus

The Studio Manager will lead the work on some of the most popular consumer brands in the world and be responsible for the output of the studio. He/she should be hands-on in creating artwork, photo editing and manipulation, and final production of work created within the agency, including (but not limited to) print, OOH, collateral pieces, web banners, online content, television storyboards, PowerPoint and keynote presentation decks, annual reports and internally produced documents and books.

Main Tasks

Technical & Product

• Act as a gatekeeper and point of contact for the inflow of all work coming to the studio

• Work in full partnership with the production and creative departments to maintain the integrity of design and ensure adherence to specifications

• Able to take the creative concepts through the final artwork by managing visual direction that works with overarching brand or campaign

• Photo and illustration editing and retouching, manipulation, and composting

• Final mechanical builds of creative concepts to match vendor and production specifications

• Work closely with fellow staff to implement direction and changes

• Works within departmental and agency best practices for file construction and storage

• Knowledge of print and online medium and its requirement

• Well versed with all types of file formats and guidelines

Business Acumen & Operational Efficiency

• Ability to manage and encourage a team of people

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of employees

• Exceptional initiative and follow-through skills

• Ability to follow through in delivering time-sensitive and fast-paced advertising materials

• Sensitive to the creative process, and able to work within creative mandates

• Self-starter and should be able to motivate the team

• Work and manage the busy team comfortably

• Gatekeeping weekly timesheets in a timely and efficient manner

• Excellent team player

• A ‘can do’ attitude

Innovative & Analytical Mindset

• Should be able to lead by example

• Quality control and troubleshooting as needed

• A passion for creativity and a thirst for knowledge

• Seeks others' feedback to develop self-awareness, strengths and address development area.
• Is able to proactively raise issues to improve effective team working and collaboration.
• Is able to communicate confidently in a clear, concise and articulate manner.
• Collaborates with stakeholders and embraces an inclusive based environment.
• Is able to make valuable contributions to discussions and brainstorming sessions, providing insight and point of view.
• Able to build relationships quickly with others and engages personally with peers and clients.
• Treats others with respect, listens to other perspectives, especially when they are different from own.
• Able to tackle problems in a timely manner and develop contingency plans that focus on problem resolution.
• Drives a culture of trust with Peers, clients and all other stakeholders.

Self

• Is able to take ownership for actions and deals with consequences in a mature manner.
• Able to adjust performance based on experiences and feedback and showcases agility and flexibility.
• Displays openness to the ideas of others and leverages them when beneficial for the business.
• Showcases curiosity and open mindset towards new ways of doing things.
• Is able to set high impact objectives and goes above and beyond to exceed performance.
• Demonstrates the Growth Mindset and is able to take ownership of personal development and growth.
• Capable of constructively challenging the status-quo and takes risks to challenge internal and external perspectives.
• Approaches situations and individuals with honesty, integrity and humbleness.
• Displays resilience and maintains drives and a positive outlook when faced with challenges.

Qualifications

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Fine Arts, Multimedia Design, or Advertising preferred

• Preferred 4-5 years' experience in a creative advertising agency or production firm and out of which at least 2 years as a leading the studio

• Advanced knowledge and experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote and PowerPoint is a must

• A proven track record of gaining trust and respect by consistently demonstrating sound critical-thinking skills and maintaining composure in stressful situations

• An eye for detail with exceptional organizational skills

• Able to work on multilingual artworks

Core Attributes

Analytical Thinking

Breaks down problems and issues into sub-components and then assesses the costs, benefits and risks of various options prior to selecting a particular approach.

Strategic Thinking

Can analyze organizational strengths and weaknesses and then combine these with knowledge of the industry, market and organization to develop long-term strategy.

Product Knowledge

Has a good understanding of product line features and benefits and uses that knowledge to optimize sales with each client. Understands the product market and uses this knowledge to increase personal credibility and product sales. Keeps abreast of competitors' activities and typically responds quickly to what the competition is doing.

Planning

Develops the steps necessary to accomplish long-term goals. Identifies long and short-term goals and establishes realistic plans to reach them. Allocates required resources, allows for contingencies and ensures that plans fit with the larger needs of the organization. Sets milestones to measure progress along the way.

Presentation Skills

Comes across as confident and well-prepared when making group presentations. Makes effective use of visual aids or presentation software and looks at ease while handling questions from the audience. His/her presentations hold the audience's attention and tend to be the right length for the amount of information covered.

Productivity

Meets or exceeds productivity standards that have been established for his/her organizational level or position. Has successfully combined skills, ability and effort level to ensure that expectations related to results/output are achieved.

Teamwork

Is an effective team player who adds complementary skills and contributes valuable ideas, opinions and feedback. Communicates in an open and candid manner and can be counted upon to fulfill any commitments made to others on the team.

Negotiation Skills

Demonstrates the ability to negotiate compromises that leave various stakeholders feeling that their interests and positions have been understood and that the resulting solution is even-handed and fair to all parties. Accomplishes this through listening to differing points of view and taking each view into account. Looks for common interests and helps parties explore and reach middle-ground solutions.

Interpersonal Skills

Shows genuine sensitivity to the needs, feelings and capabilities of other people. Deals with others in a pleasant manner. Treats others with respect and consideration.

Leadership

Articulates a vision that others choose to follow. Models behaviors expected of others and inspires others to undertake challenging tasks and projects (leading by example).

Time management

Prioritizes tasks and manages time to ensure that deadlines are met. Plans his or her time and sticks to those plans. Prevents or manages interruptions until the highest priority tasks are accomplished. As well as, keeping a work / life balance in perspective.

Communication

Communicates effectively and appropriately. Uses good judgment as to what to communicate to whom as well as the best way to get that accomplished. Speaks in a clear and credible manner, selecting the right tone for the situation and audience. Listens to others and allows them to make their point.

Education and Self Development

Makes it a practice to take charge of self-development by soliciting feedback, setting priorities, and then acquiring or strengthening skills and knowledge through coursework or other methods.

Initiative (Employees)

Recognizes opportunities and initiates actions to capitalize on them. Looks for new and productive ways to make an impact. Demonstrates this characteristic when it comes to generating new ideas or processes, capitalizing on new business opportunities, seeking out and taking on increasing responsibility or resolving problems as they occur. Uses sound judgment about when to take action and when to seek guidance or permission. This is in contrast to those who fail to notice opportunities, wait to be asked or instructed before taking action, seldom offer new ideas or express reservations about taking on additional responsibilities.

Quality of Work (Employees)

Has established a track record of producing work that is highly accurate, demonstrates attention to detail and reflects well on the organization. Is personally committed to high quality work and encourages others to have similar standards.

Creativity (Employees)

Applies creativity and originality in the work setting, when appropriate. Suggests or applies new ways of addressing ongoing work issues and challenges. Sees possibilities that others have not yet seen, or combines ideas and approaches suggested by others in a unique manner that results in breakthroughs and improvements. Understands when to be creative and when to stick with what exists now.

Meeting Targets (Manager)

Meets or exceeds financial goals while selling an appropriate product mix. The product mix reflects both a broad knowledge of the product line as well as successful efforts to educate customers or prospects.

Takes an active role in identifying new business opportunities, assessing the risks involved and comparing these to the potential advantages of taking action. Influences decisions by examining financial costs and potential benefits and by providing realistic risk-assessments. This is in contrast to those who fail to look for new business opportunities or do an inadequate assessment of risks and benefits and/or either tend to avoid opportunities or embrace ventures that fail to produce the expected payback on the resources invested.

Encouraging Client Focus (Managers)

Consistently conveys that clients are the highest priority. Respects clients’ needs and expectations and lets clients know if their expectations cannot be met. Refrains from complaining about (or speaking negatively about) client behavior or expectations. Communicates in a manner that promotes and sustains client satisfaction and encourages others to do the same. Achieves these outcomes by ensuring that client needs and deadlines are realistic and that they are met. Publicly recognizes those who deliver excellent client services.