Creative Services Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Services Manager

🔹 Company: Jones Knowles Ritchie

🔹 Location: London, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Fixed Term Contract (FTC)

🔹 Category: Advertising Services

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-18

🔹 Experience Level: 0-2 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to support creative work delivery
• Managing project schedules, timelines, and budgets
• Building relationships with freelancers, collaborators, and production partners
• Ensuring creative quality and upholding brand values

ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong organizational skills, proactive communication, and a creative mindset to thrive in a fast-paced agency environment.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Collaborate with internal teams (account, strategy, and creative) to scope projects and allocate resources

✅ Manage project schedules, timelines, and budgets across multiple projects

✅ Keep momentum going by ensuring smooth transitions through each stage of creative development

✅ Proactively problem-solve resourcing challenges and flag risks

✅ Build relationships with external contributors and ensure they uphold creative quality and brand values

✅ Understand brand nuances to match talent to briefs and maintain project flow

ASSUMPTION: This role involves managing multiple projects simultaneously, requiring strong multitasking and prioritization skills.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Communications, or Design)

Experience: 0-2 years in a production support role, such as studio assistant, traffic coordinator, or resourcing assistant

Required Skills:

• Organized and proactive
• Collaborative and a natural connector
• Creative-minded and passionate about creative processes
• Commercially aware and understands balancing creativity with deadlines and budgets
• Brand-savvy and eager to learn about brand dynamics

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, or Monday.com)
• Familiarity with the advertising or branding industry

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, having experience with project management tools and knowledge of the advertising/branding industry would be beneficial for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £25,000 - £35,000 per annum (Estimated based on industry standards for the role and location)

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package
• Opportunity to work on exciting brand projects
• Collaborative team environment
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Working Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for a Creative Services Manager role in London. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and skills.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Jones Knowles Ritchie is a global branding agency specializing in design strategy, packaging design, and visual brand identity. They work with clients across various industries, including FMCG, retail, and finance.

Company Size: 201-500 employees (Mid-size agency with a collaborative and creative work environment)

Founded: 1990 (Established agency with a rich history and extensive industry experience)

Company Description:

• Jones Knowles Ritchie is a global branding agency that helps brands be distinctive everywhere
• The agency offers a range of services, including design strategy, packaging design, and visual brand identity
• They are committed to building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace

Company Specialties:

• Design Strategy
• Packaging Design
• Visual Brand Identity
• Creative Strategy
• Branding and Identity

Company Website: http://www.jkrglobal.com

ASSUMPTION: Jones Knowles Ritchie is a well-established agency with a strong reputation in the branding industry. They value creativity, collaboration, and progress, making it an attractive place for creative professionals to grow their careers.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Junior to Mid-level (This role offers an opportunity for candidates with 0-2 years of experience to step up and grow in their careers)

Reporting Structure: The Creative Services Manager will report directly to the Creative Operations Director and work closely with internal teams, such as account, strategy, and creative teams, as well as external contributors

Work Arrangement: On-site (The role is based in the agency's Shoreditch/London studio)

Growth Opportunities:

• Learning and developing skills in creative operations and project management
• Gaining experience working with high-profile brands and clients
• Potential career progression within the agency's creative services team or other departments

ASSUMPTION: This role offers excellent opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic and creative agency environment.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Creative agency office (The agency's London studio is located in Shoreditch, a vibrant and creative neighborhood)

Office Location(s): Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JJ, GB

Geographic Context:

• London is a major global city with a thriving creative industry
• Shoreditch is a popular district known for its vibrant arts scene, trendy cafes, and independent boutiques
• The office is easily accessible by public transportation

Work Schedule: Full-time (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with flexibility for project demands)

ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Jones Knowles Ritchie is collaborative, creative, and fast-paced, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality work for clients.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR team
• In-person or virtual interview with the Creative Operations Director and other team members
• Final decision and offer

Key Assessment Areas:

• Organizational skills and project management abilities
• Collaboration and communication skills
• Creative mindset and passion for the creative process
• Commercial awareness and understanding of brand dynamics

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Demonstrate your understanding of the agency's values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Prepare examples of your organizational skills and problem-solving abilities

ATS Keywords: Creative Services, Project Management, Branding, Advertising, Creative Operations, Resourcing, Freelancers, Production Partners, Brand Savvy, Commercial Awareness

ASSUMPTION: The application process at Jones Knowles Ritchie is designed to assess candidates' skills, experiences, and cultural fit for the role and the agency.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, or Monday.com)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with project management tools and Microsoft Office Suite is beneficial for this role, as they are commonly used in creative agency environments.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Be Distinctive Everywhere
• Curiosity
• Courage
• Collaboration

Work Style:

• Creative and innovative
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Proactive and solution-oriented
• Adaptable and responsive to change

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you embrace the agency's value of being distinctive everywhere, and how would you demonstrate this in your role?
• How do you approach collaboration and working with diverse teams?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in a project or work environment?

ASSUMPTION: Jones Knowles Ritchie values candidates who align with their core values and can thrive in a creative, collaborative, and dynamic work environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects simultaneously with tight deadlines
• Balancing creativity with commercial constraints
• Adapting to a fast-paced agency environment with changing priorities
• Working with external contributors and ensuring they uphold brand values

ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to the creative services role in an agency environment and can be overcome with strong organizational skills, proactive communication, and a creative mindset.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike other creative services roles, this position offers an opportunity for candidates with 0-2 years of experience to step up and grow in their careers
• Jones Knowles Ritchie is a well-established agency with a strong reputation in the branding industry, offering excellent opportunities for professional growth and development
• This role is focused on creative services, while similar roles in other agencies may have a broader scope, such as account management or project management

ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic and creative agency environment.

📝 Sample Projects

• Managing the production of a high-profile branding project for a global FMCG client
• Collaborating with external production partners to deliver a complex packaging design project
• Facilitating a creative brainstorming session with internal teams to develop innovative brand concepts

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and challenges that a Creative Services Manager at Jones Knowles Ritchie may face.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into the agency's overall creative operations strategy?
• What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how have previous incumbents approached them?
• How does the agency support the professional growth and development of its employees?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does the agency foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to provide insight into the role's responsibilities, the agency's culture, and the opportunities for professional growth and development.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Workable link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare examples of your organizational skills and problem-solving abilities
• Follow up with the HR team one week after submission to confirm receipt of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.