Studio Manager
Job Description
Music is Universal
It’s the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world’s leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does.
Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation.
We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for you from application onwards, including alternatives to the online form or to disclose a neurocognitive condition, please email UniversalMusicCareers@umusic.com.
The A Side: A Day in The Life
Since Chris Blackwell first started Island Records in Jamaica in 1959, it has remained one of the world’s most legendary record labels and a coveted destination for new and established artists across genres. Today, Island is home to a varied roster across the US and UK. It’s unique ethos has provided the platform for launching some of the most pioneering and influential global artists from across the musical spectrum, including Bob Marley, U2, Grace Jones, Cat Stevens, Amy Winehouse, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Specials, Sparks, Dermot Kennedy, Sigrid, MEDUZA, Jamie Cullum, Hozier and Ben Howard. Artists joining the Island UK roster in recent years include FLO, ArrDee, Dylan, Nia Archives, Unknown T, James Hype, easylife, The Lathums, Jazmin Bean, Yard Act, Sam Tompkins and Lola Young. From the US, the Island UK team work with some of the biggest global superstars on the planet, including Drake, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Post Malone.
Studio Island is the creative department within Island Records. We pride ourselves in working together collaboratively, each bringing different skills and experience to the table. We are looking for a Studio Manager with great communication and organisational skills who thrives in a fast paced working environment. The applicant should have skills in project management as well as experience in managing budgets and people.
Previous Studio Manager experience / Shoot production within the creative industry or in house label experience is a plus. The Studio Manager will report to the Creative Director at Island Records and will work closely with the Creative Director to develop best and most efficient work practices to help manage capacity and output across the team.
This is an ever-evolving role, which requires attention to detail, ability to juggle a range of projects, strong interpersonal skills and a positive can-do attitude.
The B Side: Skills & Experience
Be Operational
Oversee timelines and delivery of all projects running through Studio Island
Be across the detail in each project from conception to delivery and flag any issues to the Creative Director in real-time
Make sure new projects are briefed in properly prior to confirming the job
Make sure Island / Studio Island brand guidelines are upheld across all creative projects
Make sure Studio Island lead times are upheld and understood by teams internally and externally
Make sure Studio Island equipment is checked in and out correctly
Make sure hard drives with music video rushes are returned to us and catalogued correctly
Help implement maintain an ordered and professional studio work space
Manage freelancers on a daily basis, keeping in regular contact and checking in when needed
Experience with creative processes and timeframes involved in creative production and output
Be Strategic
Assist the Creative Director with building a fully functional and professional studio environment
Implement a project management system across the team to manage deadlines and creative processes
Create a Studio Island Database of contacts with input from across the team on trusted collaborators
Identify lead times across the creative process and implement them into a project manager timeline
Communicate regularly with Heads Of Departments across the business about anticipated projects to anticipate future workflow
Identify areas of growth within the studio and how we can run even more efficiently
Be innovative in everything you do to help build on the efficiency of Studio Island
Be Collaborative
Help encourage and contribute to an honest, creative and collaborative working environment at Studio Island
Communicate seamlessly across the label and identify new collaboration opportunities with teams across the business
Person Specification
Essential
Outstanding organisational and interpersonal skills
Enthusiastic with strong collaboration and communication skills with a desire to problem solve
Innovative and always looking out for new ways to improve processes
Experience coordinating large teams
Experience working on cross functioning projects
Experience within a creative studio
Knowledge of G suite/ Apple (particularly slides/ppt/keynote)
Knowledge of project management system (Monday.com, Asana etc)
Strong written communication skills
Confident communicator with the ability to push back when needed
Entrepreneurial spirit
A clear passion for music & future technologies
Desirable
Experience working within a Label
Experience working with Artists
Bonus Tracks: Your Benefits
Group Personal Pension Scheme (between 3% and 9%)
Private Medical Insurance
25 paid days of annual leave
Interest Free Season Ticket Loan
Holiday Purchase scheme
Dental and Travel Insurance options
Cycle to Work Scheme
Salary Sacrifice Cars
Subsidised Gym Membership
Employee Discounts (Reward Gateway)
Just So You Know…
The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.