Creative Studio Lead

Established in 2004,

Inside Ideas Group

is a rapidly growing global agency network that helps clients drive their businesses forward from the Inside. We partner with over 300 clients in 40+ countries and counting. Our unique model drives creativity and efficiency, allowing us to deliver tailored solutions that resonate deeply with audiences.

As a part of

The Brandtech Group , we're at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to revolutionise how we create and deliver work. Our

AI solutions

enhance efficiency, spark creativity, and drive insightful decision-making, empowering our teams to produce innovative and impactful results.

Role : Creative Studio Lead

Location : Chicago, IL

About the role : For this

Creative Studio Lead

position, you will work closely with one of

OLIVER's

Managing Partners, as well as a number of OLIVER's other Senior Leaders, to oversee a key account. We are looking for someone who has extensive prior experience across multiple accounts in different categories / industries. Our ideal candidate is passionate about creativity in all its many forms - they have a clear mastery of brand and marketing strategy and activation, the ability to guide agency creative and production processes, a deep appreciation for digital, integrated, and social media marketing best practices, and an understanding of reporting and analytics and how to make recommendations based on that data. They are thought leaders with a clear point-of-view on what "great" looks like, obsess over "what's next," excited at how technology and creativity come together, and are endlessly curious about emerging creative best practices from across the brand spectrum. They are passionate about culture, internal and otherwise, and are comfortable shaping both.

The purpose of this role is to provide genuine partnership and a strong creative perspective to our clients, serve as guardian and rocket fuel for their brands, provide leadership and mentoring to on-site teams in every position, grow business and ensure the smooth operation of the account in tandem with account and program leaders. This role will require travel, overseeing teams located both within the U.S. and to Canada.

This is a 3-day-a week on-site role, located in Chicago.

What you will be doing :

The Creative Studio Lead works in tandem with the Managing Partner to oversee a portfolio of clients and brands within the client's organization; serves as day-to-day client partner for seniormost marketers (including the CMO), guiding the intersection of strategy and creativity, and representing OLIVER in integrated agency teams

You'll have a very close relationship with the client-side Studio lead, who views the Creative Studio Lead as their "right hand," able to represent them in meetings and build confidence in the studio among client stakeholders

You'll use your skills to lead (and sometimes push) clients and the onsite agency, creatively and strategically, to achieve solutions that positively impact the business, and of which both client and agency are proud

Partner with Managing Partner, who serves as the business lead, on managing the financial relationship with the client, including oversight of scoping and pricing, annual / monthly budget oversight, development of monthly / quarterly Management Information Pack (MIP) reporting / analysis and review with clients, management of scope, recommendations on investments and new services or capabilities

Responsible for leading the relationship with client brand / marketing teams, overseeing and actively managing the delivery of creative projects and programs involving cross-functional teams, from initiation through delivery

Partner with each client's internal OLIVER team to ensure best practices are adhered to, and provide a single, reliable point of contact and escalation for projects, and perspective and guidance to overcome barriers to world-class execution

Help the onsite teams to manage overall capacity utilization and workload

Interface with all areas involved in the project which may include strategists, project managers, creatives, external suppliers, clients and various other supporting departments or functions, providing decisive leadership and collaborative problem-solving for the broader group

Works with studio teams to help define project scope and objectives, resources and capabilities, based on marketing plans, objectives and strategies

Creates and prioritizes both individual and multiple, conflicting projects, and communicates this information clearly to stakeholders

Assess project / agency issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction goals, overseeing and coaching the team on responsiveness and professionalism in client interactions

Schedules and conducts regular status and business review meetings with key clients

Evaluates / manages / contracts 3rd-party relationships as needed

Supports efforts to expand existing client relationships, and participates in other growth / business development opportunities

Conducts annual and as-required performance appraisals and ongoing coaching of direct reports, approves work schedules / time off, participates in hiring decisions for new team members

What you need to be great in this role :

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent work experience)

Strong portfolio of breakthrough creative contributions across all media, including social activation

Ability to travel within the U.S. and Canada

Ability to work onsite 3 days a week in Chicago (downtown / loop)

Experience in (and passion for) GenAI technologies a strong plus

Experience in a similar account or creative leadership role, ability to build relationships from managers to C-level executives

Ability to communicate clear, compelling, actional points of view that move our client's brands forward in innovative, and responsible, ways - balancing breakthrough work and accountability to business performance

10+ years of experience in managing diverse, complex client organizations and creative projects, involving multiple forms of media and deliverables, which may include video and photography productions, print and digital media assets, social media campaign, brand activations, physical displays and POS, packaging, etc., and understanding the interrelations and dependencies of multiple projects occurring simultaneously

Keen attention to detail and budgetary requirements, experience with client-level P&L oversight. An understanding of Management Information Reporting, and able to lead conversations with client stakeholders on agency performance.

Ruthlessly organized, conscientious, and detail-oriented

Ability to listen to, and work closely with, both creative teams and clients to solve problems and prioritize needs effectively

Demonstrate a high level of initiative, the ability to identify and manage risk, and be a proactive solution seeker

Must be extremely resourceful and enthusiastic, patient and diplomatic, able to successfully work with a range of personality types

Display a capacity to learn quickly and respond well to changes and opportunities

Focus and understanding of client needs and requirements, translating the demands of multiple, differing priorities into a single executional plan, and managing all aspects of delivery of that plan

Ability to lead teams across multiple, diverse clients, developing and sharing best practices across the OLIVER clients and their brands

Possess strong verbal and written communication skills

Comfortable leading meetings and engaging with business leads

Proven ability to remain cool while multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment, delegate with a clearly defined responsibility, and organize work well. Can be relied upon the meet schedules and deadlines.

Devote appropriate attention to all responsibilities, follow through consistently and be willing to accept ultimate responsibility

Create effective teamwork and an environment conducive to developing cross-functional working groups

At the time of this posting, the base salary for this position may range from $255,000.00 to $285,000.00. Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. The range listed is just one component of OLIVER's total compensation package.

Req : 14323

#LI-director #LI-FD1

Our values shape everything we do :

Be

Ambitious

to succeed

Be

Imaginative

to push the boundaries of what's possible

Be

Inspirational

to do groundbreaking work

Be

always learning and listening

to understand

Be

Results-focused

to exceed expectations

Be

actively pro-inclusive and anti-racist

across our community, clients and creations

Inside Ideas Group, part of the Brandtech Group, is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All applicants shall be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, neurodivergence, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.

Inside Ideas Group has set ambitious environmental goals around sustainability, with science-based emissions reduction targets. Collectively, we work towards our mission, embedding sustainability into every department and through every stage of the project lifecycle.'