Production Lead

The Production Lead will be responsible for leading and overseeing the production of a wide range of creative projects from conception to completion. This role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented, and experienced individual with a strong understanding of creative workflows, budget management, and team leadership. You will oversee a small team of creative producers, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest creative standards, while effectively managing internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Management

Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple complex creative projects simultaneously, including, design-led ad campaigns, video content, web and email design

In partnership with producers, develop comprehensive project plans, timelines, and budgets, and track progress against these benchmarks.

Serve as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders, providing regular updates and managing expectations.

Creative Collaboration and Oversight

Collaborate closely with creative team members to translate conceptual ideas into actionable production plans.

Ensure creative vision is maintained throughout the production process while adhering to practical constraints and objectives.

Provide constructive feedback and guidance to creative teams, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Supervise production and post-production processes as needed, ensuring quality control and adherence to project specifications.

Facilitate effective communication and problem-solving among team members.

Workflow and Process Management

Implement, and maintain scalable operational processes for all creative requests, from initial brief through final delivery.

Support and guide the creative project pipeline, including intake, prioritisation, resource allocation, and tracking using project management software (e.g. Asana).

Develop and manage creative production timelines and schedules, proactively identifying and mitigating potential roadblocks.

Support with team capacity management - forecast risk in this area based on project volume and complexity.

Process Optimisation: Champion and implement efficient production workflows and best practices to improve team performance and output consistency.

Streamlining our project processes / ways-of-working and assisting with onboarding handbooks to bring new-starters up to speed quickly.

Manage project resources, including internal teams, external vendors and freelancers, ensuring optimal utilisation and performance

Budget and Vendor Management

Manage project budgets effectively, tracking expenses and ensuring all projects remain within allocated funds.

Negotiate contracts and agreements with external vendors, freelancers, and agencies.

Source, evaluate, and manage a roster of high-quality creative freelancers and vendors, ensuring competitive pricing and service delivery.

Process invoices and manage financial reconciliation for all projects.

Team Leadership and Development

Mentor and guide producers and production staff, fostering their professional growth and development.

Delegate tasks effectively and empower team members to take ownership of their responsibilities.

Promote a positive and collaborative team environment.

Contribute to the continuous improvement of production workflows and best practices.

Skills & Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

6-8 years experience in a Creative Program Manager or similar role, with a proven track record of successfully delivering complex creative projects.

Demonstrable expertise in project management methodologies and tools.

Strong understanding of creative production processes across various media (e.g., video, digital, print, experiential).

Knowledge of current industry trends and emerging technologies in creative production.

Excellent budget management, negotiation, and vendor relations skills.

Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.

Portfolio demonstrating a range of successfully produced creative projects.