Creative Operations

Creative Operations

Full-Time 32000 - 38000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead creative operations and ensure smooth project delivery for impactful campaigns.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing behaviour change organisation making a real difference.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Casual dress, company events, and a supportive team culture await you.
  • Why this job: Be at the heart of creativity, turning insights into real-world impact.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in creative operations or client services with strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 32000 - 38000 £ per year.

Do you excel at orchestrating creative workflow — turning complexity into clarity, momentum, and consistently brilliant delivery? Are you a client‑focused operational leader who thrives at the intersection of process, people, and purpose — ensuring great ideas become outstanding, real‑world impact? Do you bring the perfect blend of operational rigour, creative empathy, and commercial awareness — keeping teams inspired, clients confident, and projects flowing smoothly from insight to execution?

The role involves being a Creative Operations & Client Services Manager, playing a pivotal role at the heart of ICE's creative delivery — leading operational excellence while acting as a trusted partner to our clients. You are the architect of workflow, the guardian of process, and the connector between clients' ambition and creative execution.

ICE exists to help people, places, and organisations thrive. We turn behavioural insight and evidence into campaigns, experiences, and communications that improve lives. This role ensures that insight becomes impactful, accessible, beautifully executed creative, delivered on time, on budget, and aligned to client objectives.

You will work as part of a fast-paced, agile, creative organisation. You will be expected to drive and have access to a car. You will also be expected to travel to other ICE offices from time to time.

Why join ICE

  • We deliver purpose-led work that directly improves communities, health, and wellbeing.
  • Our work is evidence that we are leading behaviour change work across the UK.
  • We have a culture rooted in insight, creativity, and co-design.
  • We offer opportunities for professional development across behaviour change, design, insight, and digital innovation.
  • Offer hybrid working with trust, autonomy, and a supportive leadership team.
  • Promise a chance to shape the evolution of ICE's brand and creative capability.

Salary Range: £38,000 - £45,000 per annum.

Key elements of the day-to-day role:

The role will involve:

  • Client Services & Account Management
    • Act as the primary day-to-day contact for allocated creative services clients.
    • Build strong, trusted client relationships through proactive communication and responsiveness.
    • Lead client briefings and translate objectives into actionable studio briefs.
    • Manage expectations around timelines, scope, budget and deliverables.
    • Provide regular progress updates and status reporting internally and to clients.
    • Anticipate risks and resolve issues proactively, bringing cross-agency skills in to support solutions and identify growth opportunities.
    • Support account growth and contribute to proposals and scoping discussions.
  • Creative & Studio Operations
    • Lead end-to-end studio workflow: briefing, scoping, scheduling, traffic management, QA, and sign-off.
    • Manage capacity planning and resource allocation across design, marketing, and digital services teams.
    • Oversee timelines and delivery schedules across multiple projects.
    • Optimise project management tools and studio processes, ensuring resources and team are fully utilised and working effectively.
    • Maintain quality assurance, accessibility standards, and brand consistency.
    • Identify and implement operational improvements to increase efficiency.
  • Financial & Commercial Oversight
    • Support accurate scoping and costing of creative work.
    • Track budgets, time allocation, and profitability.
    • Ensure projects are delivered within agreed budgets and timescales, producing reports and evidence.
    • Identify efficiencies that improve margin and delivery performance.
  • Leadership & Culture
    • Line manage and support team members across Marketing, Design and Digital.
    • Empower a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing studio culture.
    • Set clear expectations and support professional development.
    • Encourage cross-team collaboration across ICE.
  • Operations & Governance
    • Act at all times within the Company's rules, policies, procedures, and financial regulations.
    • Observe and comply with employees' obligations under Health and Safety policy and law.
    • Support a progressive approach to Equal Opportunities ensuring that the Company's commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision and employment practices are present in any work.
    • Comply with all information governance policies and procedures at all times.
    • Maintain the highest standards of personal and professional integrity and conduct.

Essential existing skills/experience

  • 3 years minimum in creative agency/studio/operations or client services role.
  • End-to-end creative delivery management.
  • Managing multi-disciplinary teams (approx. 4–6+ people).
  • Client relationship ownership.
  • Budget tracking and scope management.
  • Line management and team development.
  • Performance management and expectation setting.
  • Managing freelancers/suppliers.
  • Workflow/system implementation.
  • Traffic management and capacity planning.
  • Process improvement and optimisation.
  • Strong project/programme management.
  • Prioritisation and risk management.
  • Resource forecasting.
  • Process design.
  • Confident leading client meetings.
  • Expectation and scope management.
  • Clear written and verbal communication.
  • Negotiation and influencing skills.
  • Ability to manage your own work and deliver across multiple projects.
  • Budget management.
  • Understanding of margins and utilisation.
  • Commercial judgement in delivery decisions.
  • Excellent attention to detail and time management skills.
  • A collaborative mindset and willingness to learn and grow.
  • Comfortable with a hybrid working model (a mix of office and home-based).
  • Experience in using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other digital platforms.

Desirable:

  • Public sector/NHS/health sector experience.
  • Bid support and proposal development.
  • Behaviour change or purpose-led campaigns.
  • Scaling teams or implementing structural change.
  • Advanced reporting dashboards and utilisation tracking.
  • Familiarity with CMS platforms and creative software ecosystems.

About us

ICE is one of the fastest growing behaviour change organisations in the UK. We bring courage, energy, and ambition to equip & enable more organisations & people to move our world forward. To grow our significance as a leading behaviour change practice. By energising organisations & people to find the clarity, courage, & commitment needed to realise their full purpose & potential.

Our Mission

We are social activists driven to unlock your power, purpose and possibility, we are for people and planet. We Make Better Happen. We are a purpose-driven organisation; our ethos and beliefs are important to us. As a team we hold and practice three core character traits and set around those character traits are the behaviours that matter to us as a team for our work together.

  • Whole Heartedness: Bring passion and energy to our work, our colleagues and ourselves.
  • Trust: Trust and intent to do the right thing.
  • Being Curious and Creative: Bringing our ideas to add value to what we do.

Training for all roles will be provided along with a programme of continued professional development. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £38,000.00-£45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

  • Casual dress
  • Company events
  • Company pension
  • Enhanced maternity leave
  • Free flu jabs
  • Health & wellbeing programme
  • On-site parking
  • Paid volunteer time
  • Sick pay
  • Work from home

Licence/Certification: Driving Licence (preferred)

Location: Birkenhead CH41 5LH (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Birkenhead CH41 5LH

Creative Operations employer: ICE Creates Ltd.

ICE is an exceptional employer that champions a purpose-driven work culture, dedicated to improving communities and wellbeing through innovative behaviour change initiatives. With a strong emphasis on professional development, hybrid working options, and a supportive leadership team, employees are empowered to thrive in a collaborative environment that values creativity and insight. Located in Birkenhead, the company offers unique opportunities to shape impactful projects while enjoying a flexible work-life balance.
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Contact Detail:

ICE Creates Ltd. Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Creative Operations

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially since we’re all about making a positive impact. Tailor your responses to show how you can contribute to their goals.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences align with the role of Creative Operations. Keep it concise but impactful, highlighting your ability to manage workflows and client relationships effectively.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decisions.

We think you need these skills to ace Creative Operations

Client Relationship Management
Creative Workflow Orchestration
Operational Excellence
Project Management
Budget Tracking
Scope Management
Team Leadership
Cross-Agency Collaboration
Process Improvement
Traffic Management
Capacity Planning
Communication Skills
Negotiation Skills
Attention to Detail
Time Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Creative Flair: When you're crafting your application, let your creativity shine through! Use engaging language and examples that reflect your unique style. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can turn complexity into clarity, so make sure your application is clear yet captivating.

Tailor Your Experience: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your experience to match the job description. Highlight your operational skills and client management experience, and show us how you’ve successfully led projects from insight to execution. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!

Be Client-Focused: Since this role is all about client services, make sure to emphasise your ability to build strong relationships. Share specific examples of how you've managed client expectations and delivered outstanding results. Show us that you understand the importance of being a trusted partner!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to be part of our mission to make better happen!

How to prepare for a job interview at ICE Creates Ltd.

✨Know Your Creative Workflow

Before the interview, brush up on your understanding of creative workflows. Be ready to discuss how you’ve turned complexity into clarity in past roles. Think of specific examples where you’ve managed projects from insight to execution, as this will show your operational excellence.

✨Build Client Relationships

Since this role involves client services, prepare to talk about how you've built strong, trusted relationships with clients. Share stories that highlight your proactive communication and responsiveness, as well as how you’ve managed expectations around timelines and budgets.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Be ready to discuss your experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams. Highlight how you empower team members and foster a collaborative culture. Prepare examples of how you’ve set clear expectations and supported professional development within your team.

✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen

Understanding budget tracking and scope management is crucial for this role. Come prepared with examples of how you’ve successfully managed project budgets and identified efficiencies that improved margins. This will demonstrate your commercial awareness and ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Creative Operations
ICE Creates Ltd.
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