Loyola Marymount University is hiring: Creative Operations Lead in Los Angeles

Position Summary

The Creative Operations Lead oversees best-in-class execution of creative projects that support the university's marketing, branding, and visibility initiatives. Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, the Creative Operations Lead is responsible for developing and implementing systems and workflows supporting MarComm's integrated, multidisciplinary creative and production team whose oversight includes creative and production of signature, award-winning campaigns and publications in support of the university's most visible external marketing and communications efforts. The Creative Operations Lead tracks all aspects of the production process including but not limited to: project intake; client communication; pre-production planning; project team oversight; visual asset management; vendor management; creative development; reviews and approvals; production, delivery, and archiving. With multiple projects in motion at once-each with distinct schedules, deadlines, goals, and stakeholders-the Creative Operations Lead coordinates and streamlines workflows, ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned to LMU's brand standards.

Position Specific Responsibilities/Accountabilities

• Workflow Optimization: Develop and maintain efficient workflows and systems to traffic a high volume of projects and initiatives on competing, parallel timelines. Identify and implement best practices to support team creativity, collaboration, and efficiency. Perform regular reviews of the creative team's workflow and provide solutions to ensure quality, efficiency and effectiveness of tools and processes.
• Project Coordination: Act as the key point of contact between cross-functional teams, internal stakeholders, leaders, and external vendors to ensure clear communication and smooth project flow. Direct department production utilizing Smartsheet project management software. Traffic all projects from intake to archive, ensuring alignment with the university's brand and visual standards. Act as department point person for production support of marquee campus events. Assemble project teams, attend site visits, track all creative projects and tactics, and facilitate team meetings.
• Scheduling & Traffic Management: Create and maintain an annual calendar for planning and executing campaigns and marquee publications, making adjustments as necessary to accommodate shifting priorities. Evaluate and schedule multiple concurrent creative tactics, including copy, design, photography, video, and others. Manage timelines, deliverables, and resources to ensure timely completion of all tasks.
• Resource Management: Work with the Executive Creative Director to allocate and manage creative resources (agencies, graphic designers, copywriters, artists, etc.) based on visibility, project demands, funding, and team capacity. Manage vendor contact resources; communicate with freelancers to determine availability as needed; and connect resources with clients and project leads. Ensure resources are utilized effectively to meet deadlines and maintain quality standards. Manage Creative and Production project archives. Manage university's graphic identity assets and templates; train clients, colleagues, external partners, and other end users to deploy brand identity system correctly and with consistency. Oversee and administer brand architecture system. Maintain visual identity web pages.
• Budget Monitoring: Work with the Executive Creative Director to track budgets and ensure projects are completed within allocated funding. Provide estimates, manage costs, obtain budget approval for scope changes, and facilitate vendor fulfillment.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with stakeholders across MarComm and the university to gather input, provide regular updates, and assess expectations throughout the production process.
• Problem Solving: Proactively address potential roadblocks or challenges in the production process, offering solutions to keep projects on track and maintaining positive team dynamics.
• Reporting: Maintain archives of campaign presentation decks that provide a comprehensive overview of creative visuals, assets, and placements.

Salary range $80,000- $85,000 Salary commensurate with education and experience.

Loyola Marymount University Expectations

Exhibit behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the university. Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable and ethical conduct. Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Project Management, or a related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of experience managing creative projects, ideally within a fast-paced marketing, advertising, or design-focused environment.
• Experience working with design teams, understanding creative processes, and managing complex production timelines.
• Familiarity with project management tools (Smartsheet, Basecamp, Asana) and workflow management.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects with different timelines, budgets, and stakeholders

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to liaise with various stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and work in a deadline-driven environment.
• Detail-oriented with a strong eye for design and brand consistency.
• Knowledge of Loyola Marymount University's brand guidelines and marketing strategies is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented culture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education marketing, nonprofits, or a similar industry.
• Familiarity with design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) is a plus.
• Familiarity with Project management tools (e.g., PMP or Agile) is a bonus.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Staff Regular

Salary range
$66,600.00 - $86,600.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.

Loyola Marymount University, a Carnegie classified R2 institution in the mainstream of American Catholic higher education, seeks outstanding applicants who value its mission and share its commitment to inclusive excellence, the education of the whole person, and the building of a just society. LMU is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment as defined by federal, state and local law. We invite all persons in the full diversity of their being, life experience, and beliefs to apply. (Visit www.lmu.edu for more information.) In Summary: The Creative Operations Lead oversees best-in-class execution of creative projects that support Loyola Marymount University's marketing, branding, and visibility initiatives . Reporting to the Executive Creative Director is responsible for developing and implementing systems and workflows supporting MarComm's integrated, multidisciplinary creative and production team . With multiple projects in motion at once-each with distinct schedules, deadlines, goals, and stakeholders-the Creative Operations lead coordinates and streamlines workflows . En Español: Resumen de posición El líder de operaciones creativas supervisa la mejor ejecución en su clase de proyectos creativos que apoyan las iniciativas de marketing, marca y visibilidad de la universidad. Informando al director ejecutivo creativo, el jefe de operaciones criativas es responsable del desarrollo e implementación de sistemas y flujos de trabajo que respaldan a un equipo integrado, multidisciplinario creativo y productivo de MarComm cuya supervisión incluye creación y producción de firmas, campañas premiadas y publicaciones para apoyar los esfuerzos más visibles de mercadeo externos y comunicación de la Universidad. Realizar revisiones regulares del flujo de trabajo del equipo creativo y proporcionar soluciones para garantizar la calidad, eficiencia y efectividad de las herramientas y procesos. Coordinación de proyectos: Actúa como el punto clave de contacto entre equipos interfuncionales, partes interesadas internas, líderes y proveedores externos para asegurar una comunicación clara y un flujo suave del proyecto. Producción directa del departamento utilizando software de gestión de proyectos Smartsheet. Trafica todos los proyectos desde la entrada hasta el archivo, asegurando la alineación con la marca y los estándares visuales de la universidad. Gestionar los recursos de contacto con proveedores; comunicarse con freelancers para determinar la disponibilidad según sea necesario; y conectar los recursos con clientes y prospectos del proyecto. Asegurar que los recursos se utilizan efectivamente para cumplir con las fechas límite y mantener los estándares de calidad. Administrar archivos de proyectos creativos y de producción. gestionar activos e modelos de identidad gráfica de la universidad; entrenar a clientes, colegas, socios externos y otros usuarios finales para implementar el sistema de identificación de marca correctamente y con consistencia. Supervisar y administrar un sistema de arquitectura de marca. Mantener páginas web de identidades visuales. Monitoreo presupuestario: Trabajar con el Director Creativo para rastrear presupuestos y garantizar que los proyectos sean completados dentro de la financiación asignada. Proporcionar estimaciones, gestionar costos, obtener presupuesto para cambios en el alcance de aprobación y facilitar el cumplimiento del vendedor. Loyola Marymount University Expectations Muestran un comportamiento que apoye la misión, visión y valores de la universidad. Comunicar y emplear acciones interpersonales que modelen altos estándares de conducta profesional, responsable, responsable y ética. Demostrar un compromiso con el servicio al cliente sobresaliente. Calificaciones: Educación: Licenciatura en Marketing, Comunicación, Diseño Gráfico, Gestión de Proyectos o un campo relacionado. Experiencia: 5 años de experiencia administrando proyectos creativos, idealmente dentro de un entorno de marketing rápido, publicidad o enfocado en diseño. Qualificaciones preferidas: Experiencia en marketing de educación superior, organizaciones sin fines de lucro o una industria similar. Familiarización con el software de diseño (por ejemplo, Adobe Creative Suite) es un plus. Familiaridad con las herramientas de gestión de proyectos (p.ej., PMP o Agile) es una ventaja. Las declaraciones anteriores están destinadas a describir la naturaleza general y el nivel del trabajo que se realiza. No están diseñadas para ser interpretadas como una lista exhaustiva de todas las responsabilidades, deberes y habilidades requeridas del personal clasificado así. Personal Salario regular rango $66,600.00 - $86.60000. Salario proporcional a la educación y experiencia. Loyola Marymount University, una institución clasificada R2 Carnegie en la principal enseñanza superior estadounidense, busca solicitantes destacados que valoran su participación y su compromiso con la excelencia, la educación integral, y la construcción de una sociedad católica.