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- Tasks: Lead High Stakes Films, driving creative film and stills production for top brands.
- Company: Join ZAK Media Group, a dynamic independent creative business with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, generous leave, and perks like cultural events and wellness memberships.
- Why this job: Be part of a fresh, culturally relevant agency making waves in the industry.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in agency leadership with a focus on production and team growth.
- Other info: Work from anywhere up to 2 weeks a year and enjoy a supportive, fun environment.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 100000 £ per year.
MANAGING PARTNER: HIGH STAKES FILMS
WHAT WE\’RE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for an Agency Leader to run and lead High Stakes Films, our Culture Driven Film & Stills Production Agency. This role would join the Board of ZAK Media Group Ltd, which includes ZAK and SELFHOOD agency brands.
The role would report into our group Co-Founder & CEO and would be the 4th and final position in our Board Commercial team, alongside our other Managing Partners in ZAK and SELFHOOD.
High Stakes Films is a start-up and will play a very important role in our business plan for the next 5+ years.
The work is fresh and culturally relevant, ranging from traditional TV and OOH productions to social content, product shots and storytelling documentaries, predominantly for fashion, sport, alcohol and FMCG brands and their agencies.
We need someone who matches the energy and ambition of the team, working as ride or die with our Board Commercial team, as well as our High Stakes Films core team of Creative Partner, Creative Production Director and Executive Producer, who were all honoured with Production Agency of the Year at the Brand Film EMEA Awards.
ABOUT YOU
You must have at least 15 years’ experience growing and running an agency and/or agency team with production at its core.
You will set the Vision, own the Business Strategy & Plan and deliver against our commercial targets.
You will have proven experience winning new business, growing accounts and developing relationships, (agency and brand).
You thrive in building and leading teams in the production, advertising and/or creative agency space.
You are an excellent communicator and highly organised, with huge career hunger and drive.
You are entrepreneurial by nature, a great team player, who thrives in developing teams and driving agency growth.
ABOUT US
We are an independent creative business with c25 permanent staff and a vast range of freelancers and consultants who support us on live jobs, across 3 agency brands:-
ZAK: Cultural Capital for Brands
Creative Strategy Partners, who create and build dynamic cultural universes for brands.
SELFHOOD: Global Culture & Insight Community
https://www.thisisselfhood.com/
37K strong Gen Z-Gen X community, offering Research & Insight and Community & Cultural Activation services to clients.
High Stakes Films: Culture Driven Film & Stills
https://www.highstakesfilms.com/
Working with a mixture of brand and agency clients, High Stakes Films are agile, commercially smart and hyper creative, capturing content all over the world.
We recruit against our own values of Courageous & Confident; Curious & Conscious; Spirited & Positive. Our culture is dynamic, fast-moving, supportive, down-to-earth, fun and professional.
We are entrepreneurial by nature and are committed to creating the best work environment and packages for agency staff. We do this by investing in every single team member via our ZAKademy training and development programme, which we run in consultation with the IPA.
We believe in work/life balance and giving staff the autonomy and trust to work wherever they need to, to get the job done.
With that in mind, we operate a hybrid working model of 2 days per week in our London offices on Wed and Thu (White City / Wood Lane tubes), 3 days WFH with the ability to work up to 2 x 5-day weeks abroad across the year (WFW / Work From Wherever).
PERKS & BENEFITS
Salary: £TBC, dependent on experience
Bonus: discretionary bonus for 2025 (performance related)
Octopus Electric Car Scheme: salary sacrifice for tax efficient car ownership
Pension: up to 3% contributory pension
Travel Loan: to help spread the cost of commuting
EOT Scheme: to go live 2026/27 (tax efficient management buy-out where the current business owners are bought out by the profits over time, assume 5 years, and the \”new\” team share equity and ownership ongoing)
CULTURE
Culture Club: monthly tickets to interesting cultural events and exhibitions
Film Club: quarterly tickets to the latest Hollywood blockbuster or cult classic
Birthday: £75 voucher of choice
Most Valuable Player: £100 cash prize every month for the agency winner
ZAKMAS: our annual Christmas knees-up
ZAKMAS Annual Awards: cash prizes for winners of our 5 categories
ZAKROCK: 2 days,1 night out of the City to reset and recharge
Socials: monthly department breakfasts or lunches for team bonding
LONG SERVICE RECOGNITION
Anniversary: £100 cash every year
Extra hols: 1 extra day off for every year worked from year 4 to year 8
Sabbatical: 1 month’s paid sabbatical once you’ve hit 5 years’ service
WELLBEING
Paid Leave: up to 41 days paid leave annually (1 day birthday / \”U Day\”, 7 days Christmas Close, 21 days holiday, 8 days UK Bank holidays, 4 days Passion Projects – see below)
White City House Membership: gym, pools, sauna, steam room
BUPA
1pm Fridays: work allowing, staff can finish work at 1pm on a Friday with no reduction in pay
Work From Wherever (WFW): the flex to work up to 2 x 5 days consecutively abroad
ZAKROCK: 2 days,1 night out of the City to reset and recharge as a team (as above)
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Appraisals: bi-annual 360 appraisals
Check-ins: bi-monthly line manager check-ins
Passion Projects: 1 day per quarter paid leave to pursue a passion project, side hustle or charity endeavour
ZAKademy: ZAK’s personalised training and development plan
IPA membership: access to ongoing learning and development
PROCESS
30min chemistry call with Co-Founder & CEO
45min interview with CFO & HR Partner
1.5hr interview with Co-Founder & CEO, Co-Founder & CCO, CFO, HR Partner, Managing Partner ZAK, Creative Partner HSF to present task
Start date: ASAP
High Stakes Films | Managing Partner HSF / Board Director ZAK employer: High Stakes Films
Contact Detail:
High Stakes Films Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land High Stakes Films | Managing Partner HSF / Board Director ZAK
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to showcase your extensive experience in agency leadership and production. Highlight specific projects where you successfully led teams and drove growth, as this aligns perfectly with what we're looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Network within the creative industry, especially with professionals who have experience in film and advertising. Building relationships can help you get insights into our culture and values, which is crucial for fitting into our dynamic team.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your entrepreneurial spirit by sharing examples of how you've innovated or adapted in previous roles. We value creativity and agility, so showing that you can think outside the box will set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarize yourself with our agency brands—ZAK, SELFHOOD, and High Stakes Films. Understanding our mission and the type of work we produce will help you articulate how you can contribute to our vision during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace High Stakes Films | Managing Partner HSF / Board Director ZAK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your extensive experience in agency leadership and production. Focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to grow accounts and win new business.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for the role and the culture of High Stakes Films. Emphasize your entrepreneurial spirit and how you align with their values of being courageous, curious, and spirited.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your application, provide examples of past projects that showcase your leadership in creative production. Highlight any work with fashion, sport, or FMCG brands to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions about your vision for High Stakes Films and how you plan to drive growth. Be ready to discuss your approach to team building and your strategies for achieving commercial targets.
How to prepare for a job interview at High Stakes Films
✨Show Your Leadership Experience
Make sure to highlight your extensive experience in leading and growing agency teams. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed production at its core and driven agency growth.
✨Demonstrate Cultural Relevance
Since High Stakes Films focuses on culturally relevant content, be prepared to discuss your understanding of current trends in film and advertising. Bring examples of past projects that align with the cultural themes they value.
✨Communicate Your Vision
Articulate a clear vision for High Stakes Films and how you plan to achieve the business strategy and commercial targets. This will show your entrepreneurial spirit and alignment with their goals.
✨Emphasize Team Collaboration
Discuss your approach to building and leading teams, especially in a fast-paced environment. Highlight your ability to work collaboratively with creative partners and other stakeholders to deliver outstanding results.
