The Sr. Manager, Creative Operations – Live Action & Character Art will manage a high volume of deliverables for the creative and character art teams, including design guides, packaging guides, retail and marketing guides and character art generation and submission reviews. The role is the lead communicator and cross-function liaison across the business globally with key partners in franchise strategy, category management, product design studio, retail development/marketing, legal and global asset production and management. A master of the Operations craft, this role will report to the Director, Creative Operations.
This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.
Salary range: $110,000 - $140,000 (bonus eligible)
Essential Responsibilities
- Leads seamless management of projects across Consumer Products business in partnership with the Live Action and Character Art creative leads
- Leads production and execution of the Brand Creative process to ensure efficient workflow, driving key milestones within project life cycles
- Develops and manages robust project plans and timelines for all Live Action and Character Art projects; proactively and continuously manages updates to project trackers within the department project management tool
- Partners with strategy team to project business needs up to two years in advance of delivery; regularly connects with global business teams for alignment of creative deliverables to business needs
- Accurately defines scope and timing of creative deliverables based on business priorities and briefs
- Sets clear goals and objectives for the team, monitors progress and provides regular feedback and performance evaluations. Identifies areas for improvement and implements strategies to enhance team performance
- Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation, creativity, and efficiency within the team and the organization as a whole
- Defines and manages approvals waterfall for all projects, including executive-level approval moments
- Owns and drives agendas and presentations for cross-functional and executive-level creative meetings
- Liaison for legal, trademark and 3rd party partner approvals for creative projects, including all creative deliverables
- Works closely with Global Asset Production & Management teams for seamless and timely posting of creative deliverables
- Manages creative guide audits and/or any research relating to guides developed over the lifecycle of the brand, including but not limited to, identifying past creative thematics in guides, management and knowledge of the style guide inventory, generating reports and/or pulling PDFs of guides
- Facilitates creative reviews and works across lines of business, including but not limited to, Strategy, Studio, Parks, Games, Live Entertainment, and Publishing
- Partners with finance and operations team lead to manage the Live Action Creative and Character Art budgets, including quarterly forecasting and pacing. Ladders up to global Creative budget
- Builds relationships across the organization and with outside agencies to drive efficiency, productivity and executional goals
- Leads meetings including, but not limited to, weekly creative meetings. Provides creative agenda points for POD and/or meetings led by other teams within the organization
- Implements, champions and drives tools and processes that unlock the business and increase partnership and collaboration between teams
- Influences talent, including cross-collaboration with other operations team members as well as other team leadership within the organization
- Supports best-in-class culture for innovation, proactive problem-solving and a positive culture of feedback
- Contributes to the advancement and actualization of Universal’s diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments
- Additional duties as needed to meet business needs
Qualifications/Requirements:
- 7 years or more of related work experience, ideally in Creative Operations at a film studio
- Works independently and is self-directed with exceptional ability to execute on tasks and understand their contribution to the bigger picture
- Strategic, critical thinker and creative problem solver
- Effective communication, including speaking, writing and active listening as well as a professional presentation
- Experienced manager with demonstrated team leadership ability
- Must be self-motivated & enjoy working in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment
- Actively contributes to best-in-class culture by embracing change, collaborating with others at various levels, learning from adversity and driving for solutions, proactive problem-solving, sharing best practices and a positive culture of feedback
- Stays current with understanding of business/organizational priorities and evolving industry trends
- Experience in licensing preferred; understanding of product development cycles desired
- Strong MAC skills and highly proficient in Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Keynote
- Knowledge of Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator and Project Management software preferred
Eligibility Requirements:
- Interested candidates must submit a resume/CV online to be considered
- Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States
- Must be willing to work in Universal City, CA
- Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, employees will be required to work from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.
Desired Characteristics:
- Bachelor’s degree
- PMP Certification
- Comfortable in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment
- Comfortable dealing with people at all levels, and easily collaborates to develop and maintain strong relationships
- Enthusiastic, energetic and positive when interacting with others
- A passion and interest in consumer products, film/content, franchise/marketing strategy and studio process
As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].
