Creative Operations Director

Creative Operations Director
Come join FINN Partners, a leading firm in the digital marketing space, dedicated to leveraging innovative technologies and strategies to drive growth for our clients. We are seeking an experienced Creative Operations Director to join our One IM team.
The opportunity: The hopelessly right-brained leaders of a 60-person creative department spread across seven time zones need a partner to help them make sure it runs like a well-oiled machine.
Who are we looking for: 

• A master communicator–both in writing and conversation. You know when and how to reach out, and can adapt your style to effectively manage up, down, and across.
• A crazy organized process freak. You live to figure out the best, most efficient and effective way to set things up and get things done.
• A sorting hat. You possess the wizardry to understand each department member’s talents and work styles to be able to match them with the right creative assignments.
• A juggler. You know how to multi-task and can work closely with resourcing and project management to juggle the constant flow of incoming projects and ensure the workloads of creative team members are manageable.
• A diplomat. You advocate for the creative department when collaborating with other agency departments and show a willingness to build partnerships across teams to problem solve.
• A people-person. You’re an extrovert who loves getting to know people by talking vs. strictly impersonal communication.
• A makeshift therapist. You’re an active listener, adept at handling conflicts and interpersonal issues diplomatically with tact and discretion.
•  A champion of great creative. You have a passion for and appreciate creativity. You know what great creative looks like and strive to do what it takes within your role to help us achieve creative excellence.

What you’ll be a part of: 

• An established, growing agency with a team that works hard, plays nice and strives to create work that makes a positive impact on the world around us.
• A team of talented experts in their craft, eager to support each other and our clients.
• Leadership that cares about your success and career.
• A culture that values diversity and work-life balance.
• An agency that is focused on the goal of achieving creative excellence.

Where will you work?
Wherever you are. And in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays…if you want.
We’re a remote workplace (with optional in-office days). We have offices in Boston, Nashville, New York, Vancouver, WA, Washington, DC and London.
Responsibilities:

• Support Creative Leadership in the smooth running and management of the creative department.
• Maintain a comprehensive overview of the agency’s creative team members across offices, including their skills, availability and workload. (requires learning to utilize agency software tool, Kantata)
• Align the unique talents, skills and capabilities of our creatives with a wide array of work assignments to ensure the best outcome for both.
• Serve as the creative department’s liaison to Project Managers and Chief of Staff as well as all other departments in the agency with the goal of understanding project requirements and creative resource needs to make sure they are met, and that work is assigned appropriately.
• Facilitate inter-discipline collaboration and ensure the smooth flow of information between teams.
• Understand the creative process and what steps/resources are involved in successfully completing various kinds of projects (e.g. Video, TV, Print, Social, digital, Web design, OOH, etc.).
• Review freelancer portfolios and glean capabilities/skillsets in order to create a database to streamline resourcing for creative directors. Help with recruiting full-time candidates if/when needed.
• Develop trusting relationships with creative team members and act as advocate, confidante and advisor when needed to help address/diffuse any issues or conflict.
• Attend Creative Council meetings and inform leadership of any department issues/concerns or wins.
• Work with creative leadership to assess the need for training or skill development among creative team members and coordinate relevant programs. 

Qualifications:
 

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in marketing, communications, business, management, English or similar field.
• 5-10 years of proven experience in project/resource management within a marketing or advertising agency or similar industry. Extra points for experience working within a creative department.
• Have management experience
• Advanced understanding of and experience with integrated marketing project (print, digital and video).
• Proficiency with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PPT) and/or G Suite (Docs and Sheets). Basic understanding of creative software (Adobe Creative Suite) a plus.
• Basic Knowledge of resource management software and project management tools. Proficiency with Kantata is highly valued.
• Ability to model positive energy and stay cool under pressure–calmly managing competing demands and strategically solving complex challenges.
• Demonstrated skill in scheduling, managing multiple details and priorities.
• Proven problem-solving, multitasking and organizational skill
• An outgoing nature and strong inter-personal skills.
• A passion for creativity and strong desire to work in a creative agency

Anticipated Salary: $100,000 to $120,000
Commensurate with experience and depending upon workplace.
#LI-TS1 Vancouver, WA #LI-Remote
To Apply:
Please upload your resume and cover letter, as well as indicate your desired salary in $US Dollars. While we appreciate the interest of all candidates, we will only respond to those with whom we have a greater interest.
About FINN Partners:
FINN Partners is a great place to work, but don’t take our word for it. We’ve been voted “#1 Best Agency to Work For” in the Extra-Large Agency Category by PR Week. Plus, FINN has ranked in the top five nearly every year since our founding a decade ago.
Our intrepid crew shares an entrepreneurial spirit that attracts talent from agencies large and small. Interestingly, we often welcome former colleagues back to the fold after they’ve confirmed the grass is not greener elsewhere, or they return as clients when they want to work with the best. All choose FINN because of our cause-minded approach, collaborative culture, commitment to excellence, ethical leadership and exciting roster of clients. Our people are deeply loyal to FINN because the FINN team is deeply loyal to each other. FINN is committed to representing a different breed of agency.
Will you join us?