Creative Studio Manager (6-month contract)

We are looking for a Creative Studio Manager to join us here at Cheil UK on a secondment contract (6-months) with our client, Samsung Ads. Samsung Ads, a division of Samsung Media Services, harnesses the power of data, technology and scale to create a seamless advertising experience that amplifies brand stories across an ecosystem of devices.

The required working pattern for the Studio Manager is three days per week on-site in our offices located at 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0BP, two days per week at home.

Samsung Ads is seeking a highly organized and experienced Creative Studio Manager to own and optimize our design project management workflows within the marketing design team. This role will be critical in managing our project management platform, marketing cloud, design queue, asset libraries, design resource, and creative project timelines to ensure seamless delivery of work aligned with brand standards.

• Platform Ownership & Management: Own the project management platforms and marketing cloud systems, ensuring smooth workflow and resource allocation. Oversee design platforms, systems, and tools used by the team to maintain operational efficiency.
• Workflow & Resourcing Management: Own and manage the design queue, including leading weekly queue check-in meetings to track progress, prioritize tasks, and balance workload. Allocate incoming work across the design team based on team capacity, timeline, and skillsets. Monitor team bandwidth and manage freelance resources as needed. Manage multiple projects simultaneously, overseeing each end-to-end to ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
• Creative Project Management: Own and create comprehensive project trackers mapping out tasks, delivery dates, formats, and specifications. Ensure all specs are accounted for, including digital and print requirements, and proactively manage delivery timelines. Monitor project progress and identify potential risks or delays, ensuring all team members stay aligned and accountable.
• Stakeholder Liaison & Communication: Act as the primary point of contact between the design team and internal and external partners, facilitating clear communication and brief clarifications. Proactively identify and resolve blockers by engaging stakeholders and team members. Confidently manage stakeholder expectations.
• Asset Management & Library Hygiene: Maintain accurate, up-to-date asset libraries for internal and external collaboration. Ensure assets are correctly labelled, stored, and accessible.
• Brand Guardian & Quality Control: Perform final quality checks on all creative outputs to ensure compliance with Samsung brand guidelines and brief requirements. Verify accuracy of content including spelling, imagery, and consistency before delivery. Serve as the final gatekeeper for brand integrity and creative excellence.
• Creative Support & Hands-on Editing: Utilize proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and PowerPoint to make minor tweaks and edits to final assets, reducing the need for rework and speeding up delivery.

• Proven experience in a senior studio management or similar role within an advertising, marketing, or design environment.
• Expertise in project tracking, resource planning, and delivery scheduling for digital and print campaigns/activations.
• Strong background in managing creative production workflows, asset management, and stakeholder collaboration.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with print production processes and vendor coordination.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a strong eye for brand consistency and quality control.
• Outstanding organizational skills, capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Proactive problem solver with a collaborative mindset. Highly adaptable and agile, able to pivot priorities quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable leading meetings, escalating issues, and managing complex timelines and expectations.