Project Manager Lead

Marks, an sgsco company, needs an AWESOME Project Manager at our Toronto, ON location

WHO WE ARE:

Marks is a brand design and experience agency that is uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change. Fueled by our dual vantage points – embedded partners and future-forward experts – we build brand momentum to move fast, move forward and move confidently. As a full-service agency, our expertise extends across all facets of the branding spectrum: strategy, innovation, design, adaptation integrated marketing communications. Together, we are 600+ people across 12 studios and 8 countries. Marks is part of SGS & Co, a brand impact group built with the agility and inventiveness that enables our clients to thrive. Our sister company, SGS, is an integrated packaging and market company. Together, we shift brands to impact.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

As a Project Manager on the Marks team, you’ll wear many hats, but a day in life generally includes:

As a Team Lead you will manage a team of Project Managers:

• Work/Manage a team of PMs to provide day to day support, these PMs will work on a variety of client(s).
• Provide training, guidance and mentorship on all matters related to Project Management, Process/Workflow, and Client Services/Career growth
• Be the first point of contact for any escalation to PMs on your team, laddering up as necessary to PM Director.
• Conduct routine 1:1 meetings with PM’s in your team to check on progress, workload, issues or challenges.
• Together with the PM Director, work on Performance Development Planning for PMs on your team, helping to establish personal career goals and setting up regular check-ins to assess progress.
• Help with setting up work-flows and processes for new clients/accounts, or big scope projects.
• Keep Studio Manager and PM Director informed in a timely manner of work coming in so resources can be allocated properly.
• Load level, notifying PM Director of any capacity issues. Also advising when the team has capacity to take on more work.

Being a project management pro.

• Lead and manage relationships with our Client(s) and internal and external stakeholders
• Participate in process improvement efforts
• Acts as central liaison point between Studio Teams in all matters during project execution.
• Drives projects forward, maintaining ownership of each task, and feeding back information to the stakeholders at every stage.
• Confirms the scope of each task, and then prioritizes tasks to ensure all projects are well organized and completed efficiently whilst allowing flexibility.
• Monitors workflow on assigned projects, across multiple disciplines, interacting with creative, account management, digital and production departments and external suppliers where required to implement efficient project plans.
• Monitors project teams with a goal of a balance of quality and creativity, constantly flagging any potential issues to the appropriate parties.
• Upholds the integrity of the design process, providing push back when necessary.
• Provide training and mentorship to junior and intermediate level PMs
• Attends briefings and design presentations with Account Lead, participating to ensure positive client relations, and performing as an information source.
• Lead external and internal meetings
• Quarterbacks the budget from external partners and ensures things stay on track.
• Writes up work order and briefs all projects into studio
• Prepares creative briefs to brief projects into studio
• Develops and manages timelines on projects, tracking/reporting on time delivery or alterations of the timeline to the key stakeholders.
• Manages circulation, following up on all jobs that are out for approval to process approvals in a timely fashion.
• Maintains a project status report. Attends/holds weekly status meetings as required.
• Intercompany collaboration with Marks/SGS production managers to identify resources/requirements for upcoming projects.
• Is comfortable with 3D CGI requests as required.
• Manages sales samples through sgsco’s printing facilities.
• Prepares job for billing and hands off to Account Manager for final billing.
• Audits folder structure and archive projects upon completion.
• May provide training and guidance to junior Project Managers
• Comfortable delegating tasks and possibly leading a team – or account

Keeping a close eye on production.

• Reviews and validates mandatory project information required prior to project kick-off.
• Verifies information is accurate on design briefs, and specifications received from the account team and/or client.
• Gathers dielines, copy, packaging specs and reference materials to complete Design. Places all documents within the assigned folder structure on the server.
• Helps procure all assets needed for production and provides flexible solutions to potential production roadblocks.
• Works in a project management tool to download information from client and writes up project into job information system, uploads pdfs into project management tool and routes with client.
• Enters accurate data for all jobs into current order entry system(s) and design briefs.
• Provides accurate and clear briefing to the creative team and external partners in a timely fashion in partnership with the Account Manager.
• Acts as a liaison between the creative team, external partners, and the account team to obtain missing information and materials.
• Writes up revisions/feedback once consolidated by account team and/or client.
• Maintains detailed and timely project notes in our project management platforms with all team members.
• Attends technical review of projects via pre-pro meetings or onboarding meetings providing valuable insight into project process and next steps.
• Ensures timely and complete handover of files from Design to Production Art.

Controlling quality like no one’s business.

• Provides the final rounds of QA on all assets – checking all design files to ensure work has been executed to the client brief prior to releasing for final delivery.
• Has unparalleled attention-to-detail prior to deployment and can provide feedback efficiently.
• Participates in meetings to review completed packaging projects.

WHAT KIND OF SKILLS SHOULD YOU HAVE?

The obvious qualities: Flexible, Friendly, Dedicated, Detail-Oriented and…

• Completion of post-secondary university or college degree, preferably in graphics/media communication management and/or design or similar.
• 7+ proven experience in client service, preferable in a packaging environment.
  • Strong understanding of Packaging Design requirements.
  • Strong understanding of Flexo, Litho and gravure printing processes
  • Strong understanding of digital media is an asset
  • Experience with CGI process is an asset
  • Good understanding of adaptive media – is an asset
  • Knowledge of Creative Cloud and other similar systems is an asset.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Good client service skills and ability to deal effectively with difficult client situations.
• Freelance production experience and flexibility working with traditional and non-traditional agency settings are strong assets.
• Someone willing to take initiative on projects and has passion to constantly learn and grow.
• Someone who is super collaborative and focuses on the solution vs. the problem.
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Ability to multi-task in high-pressure situations.
• Ability to work independently.
• Desire to lead and develop best in class design Project Managers

Required

Bachelors

Required 7 years

Years of proven experience in client service, preferable in a packaging environment