Studio Planning Manager, Creative Direction

Job Introduction

Creativity is at the heart of what makes Selfridges special. From creative schemes to sustainability, our website to our architecture, the Creative Direction team is the in-house agency that makes sure everything we do sits at the intersection of commerce and creativity. If you want to be a key part of that team and work for a company that will further your career and provide you with an exciting, inspiring and fun place to work then apply below

Role Responsibility

The Creative Direction team provides the business with creative concepts and future-thinking research material spanning creative schemes, advertising campaigns, architecture and retail spaces, customer experience, brand guardianship, customer behaviour, business culture, alternative business models, and future opportunities and risks. 

As our new Studio Planning Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the Creative Direction team works in harmony, whilst maximising its efficiency and productivity as part of the wider business. As part of this, you will: 

• Be the friendly face that talks to a wide range of stakeholders where you’ll be managing project timelines from inception to delivery. 

• Be proactive in identifying inefficiencies, and developing processes that help ensure the smooth running and organisation of the Creative Direction studio (this includes budget systems, briefing processes and the sharing of information across the business)

• Ensure the Creatives’ time is managed beautifully and that they are armed with inspiring briefs and all the necessary information they need. 

• Manage and prioritise workflow and traffic for the team where you’ll make sure that the right team and resource is mapped against each project.  

• Keep the senior creative direction team updated on the capacity and output of the studio so that they are fully in the loop at all times. 

• Lead and manage weekly creative meetings that are designed to evaluate and monitor brand health, share thoughts on zeitgeist and future thinking, team wellbeing and WIPS. 

• Act as the wellbeing champion for the team where you’ll get to experiment with and implement wellbeing and morale initiatives.  

• Provide administrative support to the team; think everything from travel booking to trip itineraries and travel guides. 

• Build strong, meaningful relationships across the business as the first port of call for team members looking to engage with the Creative Direction team. You’ll live and breathe our values and act as a positive, motivational influence on the rest of the team.  

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience running a studio is essential, preferably with a creative agency background

• You’ll be a creative thinker by nature who appreciates creativity in others.  

• You’ll be a strong, confident communicator with good commercial awareness who is genuinely motivated by being full immersed in the creative department.  

• You’ll absolutely be a ‘people person,’ with the ability to work well with all stakeholders across the business, no matter their seniority.  

• Sometimes you will have to give people the answers they don’t want to hear, so it’s really important that you’re able to decline projects outside of the Creative Direction remit when it’s necessary to do so. A gatekeeper if you like! 

• Being an excellent team player and an attentive and active listener will make you perfect for this role that really is as much about communication as it is about project management. 

• You won’t need your hand held at all. You’ll be proactive, flexible, calm and decisive as well as heavily solution-focused – there will be no problem that can’t be solved when you’re around! 

• If you’ve got experience working in digital in the fashion, retail, media or art world, that would be amazing! (But of course, not strictly necessary.) 

This job is a fantastic opportunity to join an exceptionally talented team who are passionate about pushing the Selfridges brand to its creative limits. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a creative environment, then this role will be perfect for you. It doesn’t just stop at Creative Direction either - we have lots of opportunities to get involved and collaborate on projects and in communities internally, so no two days will ever be the same. As Harry Gordon Selfridge once said, ‘There’s no fun like work!’ 

About the Company

Our creative spirit 

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome. 

Our awards cabinet 

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign.  

Our future 

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences. 

THE FUN STUFF  

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year. 

Other benefits and rewards include: 

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme 

• Discounted gym memberships 

• Pension contributions  

• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes 

• A volunteer day for all team members 

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development 

Selfridges