Studio Manager

Main Duties:

• Work with relevant stakeholders to interrogate briefs and ensure clarity, purpose, and alignment with wider campaign or business objectives.
• Own and manage the creative studio schedule – tracking and allocating resource to projects in a fast-paced environment. Monitor workload and priorities across the team, facilitating regular check-ins and weekly status meetings.
• Act as a key liaison between stakeholders and the creative team, ensuring clarity in briefs, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Communicate updates and decisions quickly and clearly, ensuring stakeholders and creative team are aligned.
• Drive the planning and delivery of multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timelines are met and risks are flagged early.
• Coordinate with external agencies, freelancers, and suppliers to extend studio capacity and ensure consistent output.
• Build and manage a roster of trusted freelance creatives and suppliers to support peak delivery periods and specialist briefs.
• Oversee production logistics including print management, digital delivery, and quality control.
• Advise stakeholders on project feasibility against budget constraints, including recommendations for outsourcing when internal resource is at capacity. Support budget tracking, procurement, and production cost estimation for creative campaigns.
• Implement and maintain processes and tools that support efficient workflow and collaboration. Continuously look for ways to improve the operational efficiency of the studio.

Key Accountabilities:

• Embody and promote Williams Values & Behaviours within the team.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and legal requirements.
• Maintain high standards of conduct and act as a positive ambassador for the Creative team.
• Drive adherence to brand guidelines and studio protocols.
• Champion a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Core Competencies:

• Exceptional organisational and project management skills – able to manage multiple priorities calmly and confidently.
• Clear communicator and collaborator – ensuring creative and non-creative stakeholders remain aligned and informed.
• Process-driven mindset – always looking to streamline and optimise workflow across teams and tools.
• Problem-solver – anticipates issues, identifies bottlenecks, and implements solutions with minimal disruption.
• Commercial awareness – understands project budgets, resourcing models, and the cost implications of decisions.
• Team-first approach – fosters a positive and productive working environment, supporting both team wellbeing and creative excellence.

Qualifications and Experience Level:

• Proven experience in a Studio Manager, Creative Operations Manager, or Project Manager role within a fast-paced creative environment.
• Background in managing creative teams across design, content, production, or brand.
• Experience within sports, media, entertainment, or agency environments is highly desirable.
• Proficient in project and resourcing tools.
• Familiarity with creative workflows (print, digital, video, animation).
• Strong understanding of design, production, and asset delivery processes.
• Ability to work under pressure, balance priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external suppliers.