Operations Director

WHAT WE NEED FROM EVERYONE:

Live our values & do the brave thing.

Our Values: Good Enough is Not Enough. Grab an Oar. Be More Human. Play Like a Pirate.

Doing the brave thing is about courage. It’s about never being a spectator. Speaking up with clarity and conviction and kindness. Not hedging our points-of-view with clients or each other. Saying what we think when it’s in the best interest of the idea or the people, even if it’s uncomfortable. Being willing to take smart risks. Making tough decisions without agonizing. And, being transparent and vulnerable in search of the best. This is the expectation for all of us. In turn, we commit to perpetuating a culture where bravery is rewarded and support is always within reach.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

This role is the operational head of a pod of accounts, driving the process and principles behind the orchestration of agency projects, staffing systems, delivery plans, and SOW approaches.

Operations Directors are highly strategic, empathetic, innovative and efficiency-oriented leaders that have their eye on the full scope of cross-agency operations and their accounts’ activities. They partner with our Business, Strategy and Creative leadership to orchestrate and optimize the agencies efforts.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

• Develop and manage the organizational structure of a group of accounts
• Orchestrate the yearly (retainer based) cadence and dependencies for pod
• Establish processes and working structures to maximize operational efficiencies for the full project lifecycle, from kick-off to completion
• Oversee staff utilization for pod in agency tracking software
• Interact with clients as the agency expert to all things operations
• Develop strategically driven recommendations regarding process, staffing and planning
• Translate ideas and feedback from multiple stakeholders into actionable requirements
• Manage complex projects involving multiple internal stakeholder groups as well as external vendors and agency partners
• Exhibit strong decision-making skills
• Analyze and develop opportunities for continuous improvement
• Partner with creative, strategy and business leadership to produce major brand initiatives
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of dependencies and how they interlink to create successful campaigns
• Develop budgets and operating plans for initiatives
• Evaluate department strengths and weaknesses, with a keen focus on resource utilization
• Track, monitor and generate timely reporting of project status and KPIs
• Support in staff resourcing, working closely with Core 4 and the heads of each department to communicate current and upcoming needs
• Proactively identify and orchestrate resources such as time, money, or external contractors necessary to support initiatives and complete projects accurately and on-time
• Manage teams with a diverse array of talents and responsibilities, lead, mentor and train Operations team
• Orchestrate and direct operations team (PM, AS, AE & Coordinators, as applicable) across clients for dependencies and contingencies
• Partner with Business Director to engages the right people in the business, at the right time to develop strategically robust and integrated, well thought through initiatives.
• Know the superpowers and new innovations of each department with eye toward agency growth and expansion
• Establish onboarding protocols for new team members
• Lead and advocate for new technology platforms (i.e., Teams) and collaboration tools

Internal Team Management

• Own overall team leadership
• Own management and training of PM, AS & full team, when applicable
• Own responsibility for including senior management, when appropriate
• Own ability to always push and lead team towards the vision
• Own hiring and turnover for direct teams
• Own upskilling for direct teams (MS, AS) to help achieve next level position (if Ops versus Biz)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8-10 years brand leadership and/or project management experience; ideally across 360 campaigns
• Expertise in overseeing operations and finances in a creative environment (advertising/PR, entertainment, media); from strategy development through production delivery and performance analysis
• Collaborative leader, able to multi-task and problem solve under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills applicable to both remote and in-person working models, able to establish strong working relationships and establish trust with cross-functional teams
• Professional and flexible demeanor to handle interactions with a range of people from entry level team members to executive leadership
• Highly self-directed and able to work autonomously but also collaboratively with team for solutions-oriented results
• Exceptional written and verbal skills and style; proficient in presentation (Google Slides, Keynote, PowerPoint) and workflow software (Smartsheet, Microsoft Project)
• Outstanding conflict management and negotiation skills
• Ability to effectively envision, develop, and implement new strategies to address competitive, complex business issues

The annual salary range for this role is $130,000-$165,000 and may vary depending on the candidate’s experience. Other compensation includes relocation costs, if applicable. Benefits for this role include health/vision/dental insurance, 401(k), stock purchase, vacation, sick and personal days, Also, you will be eligible (approximately thirty days after you commence employment) to participate in all disability, life, travel insurance plans and programs, retirement plans subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans. Please don’t let our posted ranges keep you from exploring this or any other exciting opportunities within TBWA.

This job requires you to have the COVID-19 vaccine.  If you have a medical or religious reason for not receiving the COVID vaccine, the agency will engage in a discussion with you about whether there is a viable accommodation that can be provided.