Studio Manager

We are looking for a Studio Manager with a design skill set to lead the day to day operation of our small but growing creative studio. You’ll control the workflow between the project team and studio resource, and manage the time of our full time artworker and a pool of freelance designers, illustrators and animators,, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. The ability to carry out design work when capacity permits is a must as we grow our creative team

Reports to: Creative Production Director

Salary: £45K - £50K per annum

Routine working location: Central London, UK (with flexible from-home working 2 days a week)

__

About Audience

We are an award winning creative engagement agency that designs real-world and digital experiences. We work with brands and businesses to create experiences that spark connection and drive genuine interaction from hybrid audiences.

Since opening our doors in 2014 we have worked with some of the world’s most loved brands, companies and countries in the UK and beyond.

Our values

Impactful: strategic effectiveness, standout creativity and innovation. As a team, we are driven by finding solutions, being perceptive to client needs and sparking a connection with audiences.

United: inclusivity, teamwork, honesty, accountability and integrity. As a place of work, we strive to empower individual voices and respect each other. We invest in staff growth to promote both professional skills and nurture an inclusive environment to ensure all team members feel welcome regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

Rock solid: detail-focused execution, clear communication, memorable results In our project delivery, we ensure that we are totally dependable across strategy, creativity and production. Delighting with excellence at every stage.

__

The team

At Audience our team are versatile and hands-on, as a company we value the following skills and qualities:

● Open communication style and accountable attitude

● Proactive problem solver

● Self-motivated and comfortable working both independently and as part of a larger team

● Close attention to detail no matter what the task

● Prioritising tasks thoughtfully and assigning resources accordingly

● Comfortable working across multiple account teams, and multiple projects simultaneously

● Willing to ask questions, highlight support needs and make suggestions

__

The role

The core agency model is split into four channels:

1. Client Servicing, Strategy, Project Management

2. Delivery Operations (Production and Studio)

3. New Business Development and Marketing

4. HQ (Operations, Finance, HR)

This role is to sit in the Delivery Operations channel, which includes Studio and Production.

__

What will success look like?

● Quality - meeting client and internal expectations of the quality of creative process and deliverables

● Efficiency - your rock solid process and key eye for accountability will ensure the effective use of internal and freelance resource

● Harmony - your guidance of the team will ensure that inter-departmental relationships are built and maintained

● Commercial awareness - you’ll run a tight ship, delivering creative projects to scope, within the timeframes you’ve agreed with the project leaders.

__

How will you achieve success?

Your responsibilities will include:

● Owning and managing the creative design and artwork process across all disciplines (including: 2D, animation, 3D illustration, artworking, videography) and ensuring exemplary creative output

● Demonstrating commercial awareness, you’ll be able to efficiently scope design projects, map out design timelines and ensure great utilisation of freelance resources

● Being the key point of contact with our client brand-teams, building long lasting relationships

● Assessing design requirements and providing client teams with relevant scope, deliverables and

timelines for design work and trafficking creative studio requests

● Management of creative training and onboarding of client teams in our way of working

● Be the Agency’s brand guardian and ensure all work adheres to brand guidelines before being

presented to clients, keeping up to date with client brand application requirements and training.

● Managing and maintaining relationships with our freelance studio team members

Skill Sets

● Creative project management, you’ll be able to competently map out creative timelines including the provision of rounds of amends.

● Design skill set - you’ll undertake studio work when time permits. You’ll come from a studio background and will have a design skill set, whether it’s 2D or 3D design, artworking, illustration, animation or videography. A good knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite is a must

● Ability to intimately understand what the clients/ client teams need and ensure they communicate it efficiently to the design team members

● Ability to consider and communicate briefing requirements to freelance resources

● Attention to detail, you’ll be a stickler for detail and will ensure consistent adherence to brand guidelines

__

What we are looking for

We encourage our teams to go through consistent training and self-improvement. We encourage you to bring ideas for your own self-development, but as a start, we are looking for candidates who have industry or transferable experience working at a mid-level and who understand:

● Creative or agency setups

● Commercial billing or profit importance in the creative industry

● Recruitment experience (e.g. recruitment of design specialists or freelancers)

The following skills are desirable but not essential:

● Google Workspace and Microsoft Office

● 4D Max and other 3D design programmes

__

Expect from Us

● Supportive and friendly work environment

● The tools to do your job effectively, including your own MacBook and Pixel phone

● Give and take flexible working hours (outside core times)

● Guided career progression and sponsored training courses

● Team socials, meals, trips and experiences

● Cycle to Work scheme

● Free breakfast and generously stocked kitchen

● Relaxed dress code

● Bring your dog to work

● Lieu days when working extended hours/days

● 28 days holiday pro rata (including bank holidays) plus

○ Extra days off between Christmas and New Year (ordinarily around 3/4 days)

○ Extra day holiday per year of commitment (up to 5 years)

○ Extra day holiday for your birthday, wedding or if you’re moving house