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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative processes and manage project resources for top-notch delivery.
- Company: Join McCann Birmingham, a global leader in advertising known for impactful creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, enhanced pension, life assurance, and a culture of learning.
- Why this job: Be part of a fun, collaborative team that values creativity and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in creative operations with strong leadership and problem-solving skills required.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are central to our ethos; we support all candidates.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
ID 5508
Job Description
McCann Birmingham is looking for a Creative Services Director. A dynamic leader with a passion for creativity, production, and operational excellence. This is a key role for someone who understands the rhythm of agency life and can seamlessly connect creative, client services, and production teams to deliver outstanding work. You’ll be highly organised, detail-oriented, and proactive . S omeone who thrives on structure and collaboration.
In this role, you’ll be responsible for resourcing projects with the right talent to deliver best-in-class work, on time and on budget. You’ll manage both internal and freelance resources, maintaining a clear view of all projects flowing through the agency. Strong communication across departments will be key to your success.
Who We Are: At McCann Birmingham, part of the global McCann Worldgroup network, we believe in the power of Truth Well Told. We work with brands that challenge, inspire, and push boundaries. And we do it all from the heart of the UK, where creativity meets commercial thinking.
The Role: As Creative Services Director, you will oversee the creative workflow across all departments, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and on brief. You’ll be the lynchpin between brilliant ideas and flawless execution , streamlining processes, allocating resources, and removing blockers before they appear.
Working from the office three days a week, you’ll be a key ingredient of agency culture and represent creative services to our 250-strong agency team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and optimise the end-to-end creative process across multiple clients and disciplines
- Be an operational guru. Manag ing creative resourcing, traffic, timelines, and project prioritisation
- Partner closely with Creative Directors, Project Leads, and Production to ensure smooth delivery
- Managing the commercial aspects and opportunities across Planning and Creative, monitoring team profitability, freelance budget management and completion of timesheets
- Have your figure on the pulse of the freelance market and build and manage the agencies black book
- Shape and refine internal processes for efficiency and scalability
- Support strategic capacity planning and forecasting across all creative functions
About You:
- 8+ years in creative operations, traffic, or studio management, preferably within an agency setting . Ideally with experience in managing teams of 30+
- A strong appetite for improving processes and seeing where the role of AI can play a part in the agency workflow.
- Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple complex projects
- Solutions-focused mindset with outstanding problem-solving and organisational skills
- Deep understanding of the creative and production lifecycle – from concept to delivery
- Calm under pressure, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. A trusted advocate and nurturing presence within the team, able to build strong relationships while confidently influencing and challenging when needed.
- Experienc e with project/resource management tools (e.g., Workfront, Monday, Smartsheet)
If this role is of interest and you feel you have the experience to hit the ground, please get in touch!
In addition to a competitive salary, we are committed to creating a brilliant environment for all our people. This includes benefits such as 28 days holiday, plus the opportunity to take additional fully paid leave, enhanced pension contributions, life assurance and much more.
A culture of learning and development is also central to our ethos, so you’ll have access to industry leading training and development programmes, plus you’ll get to work closely with the world’s biggest media partners to access exclusive features and products.
Most importantly, you’ll be part of a fun and collaborative team and you’ll work in an environment where you are supported and developed.
Our commitment to equal opportunities
For us, diversity is a business imperative – one that must be embedded into every aspect of how we operate in order to drive success. Simply put, we believe an encouraging and inclusive environment makes sound business sense.
As a globally integrated community that influences and shapes culture, it’s vital that the talent mix in our agencies encompasses all dimensions of diversity, and that we demand the same of the people we work with.
Conscious inclusion encompasses social, cultural and cognitive differences and cultivates an ethos of belonging, connection and shared purpose. It is the integration of this philosophy that allows us to create meaningful experiences for our employees, drive better business practices with our vendors and clients, and ultimately lead with purpose.
McCann is a disability confident committed employer and will guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets the minimum criteria for this role, so please do let us know when you apply if you are eligible, along with any adjustments you may need to the recruitment process to enable you to perform at your best.
McCann helps brands build the most meaningful brand platforms that drive exponential growth and leave a lasting impact on culture. Founded 100+ years ago with their own platform, “Truth Well Told”, McCann is the world’s leading advertising agency network, creating some of the most creatively and commercially impactful advertising globally. McCann is the founding unit of McCann Worldgroup marketing services company, part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).
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Creative Services Director employer: McCann Manchester Limited
Contact Detail:
McCann Manchester Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Creative Services Director
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the creative workflow processes commonly used in agencies. Understanding how to optimise these processes will demonstrate your operational expertise and show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the creative services field, especially those who have experience in managing teams of 30+. Building relationships with industry peers can provide insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on project/resource management tools like Workfront or Monday. Being proficient in these tools will not only enhance your application but also show your commitment to improving agency workflows.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with cross-functional team leadership. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully managed complex projects, as this will resonate well with the expectations for the Creative Services Director role.
We think you need these skills to ace Creative Services Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in creative operations, project management, and team leadership. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage multiple projects and lead cross-functional teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for creativity and operational excellence. Mention how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Creative Services Director role and how you can contribute to McCann Birmingham's success.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: Provide examples in your application that illustrate your solutions-focused mindset. Highlight situations where you've improved processes or resolved challenges within a creative environment.
Highlight Communication Abilities: Since strong communication is key for this role, emphasise your experience in stakeholder management and collaboration across departments. Share instances where your communication skills led to successful project outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at McCann Manchester Limited
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Creative Services Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and optimise creative processes. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams and projects in the past, highlighting your operational expertise and problem-solving skills.
✨Understand the Agency's Culture
Familiarise yourself with McCann Birmingham's ethos and values, especially their commitment to creativity and collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their culture and enhance team dynamics, showing that you align with their mission of 'Truth Well Told'.
✨Prepare for Resource Management Questions
Expect questions about your experience with resource management and project prioritisation. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like Workfront or Monday, and how you've effectively allocated resources to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
✨Demonstrate Your Communication Skills
Strong communication is key in this role. Prepare to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams and managed stakeholder relationships. Highlight your ability to influence and challenge ideas while maintaining a supportive presence.
