Production Manager

Overview:
The Production Manager is a key organizational role within WUSA, tasked with overseeing the marketing and communications department's production operations, focusing on the priorities and projects specific to the department's objectives. This role serves as the department's gatekeeper, managing tasks and assessing team capacity, keeping the Integrated Marketing team organized and running efficiently. The incumbent will closely collaborate with the Marketing Manager and Communications & Media Relations Manager, tracking deliverables and ensuring projects stay within scope, while looking ahead to future opportunities. This role is multifaceted, requiring strong leadership, project management, and strategic planning skills, with a significant focus on internal processes and team management.

**Responsibilities**:
Department leadership and team management
- Facilitate team meetings, set agendas, and ensure efficient team collaboration
- Conduct regular team meetings to facilitate effective communication, set agendas, and track progress against departmental targets
- Track team capacity and manage bandwidth effectively
- Oversee the professional development of marketing staff, including onboarding, administrative processes, part-time payroll, and ongoing training and coaching initiatives
- Foster a culture of collaboration within the department, promoting shared learning and supporting cross-functional project teams
- Act as a liaison between the team and marketing specialists and specialists communicating upcoming opportunities and initiatives
- Manage the Production Coordinator and Creative Lead, ensuring their work aligns with brand strategy and campaign objectives
- Ensures effective communication of departmental direction and initiatives to direct reports by establishing transparency through shared marketing goal setting
- Provides leadership and input into the vision, design, development, and delivery of evolving services to our clients and within the department
- Models the values of the Marketing and Communications department and the priorities of the Management Team in interactions with internal and external partners

Operational excellence and process optimization
- Develop and refine departmental processes and systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, including the utilization of project management tools such as Planner
- Implement process improvements within the department and document procedures
- Overseeing and tracking the progress of projects and campaigns
- Lead process improvement initiatives to ensure the department remains agile and responsive to changing organization and market demands
- Establish a robust framework for tracking the capacity and output of the marketing team, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and workload management
- Implement and maintain quality control procedures to guarantee that all marketing materials and campaigns are produced to the highest standards
- Establishes and maintains effective and timely processes and response times by liaising with Marketing Account Managers and off-campus partners
- Implement systems and processes to establish and maintain records for the operating unit

Financial stewardship and resource management
- Oversee the procurement and inventory management of promotional items, office supplies, and other marketing materials, including managing key supplier accounts with companies like Staples and Amazon
- Analyze financial data to forecast future spending, track the department's financial performance, and make recommendations for cost optimization
- Take responsibility for the management of the marketing and communication department's budgets, ensuring that spending aligns with departmental priorities and delivers value for WUSA
- Works with the Marketing Manager and Communications Manager, along with the Director and Account Managers to prepare the annual budget, and recommend, implement, and administer operating policies and procedures
- Responsible for ensuring that, within their areas of responsibility, equipment and inventory are managed effectively (e.g., handling obsolescence, shrinkage, promotional items, bookable resources)

Effective collaboration and strategic initiatives
- Develops and implements strong, cohesive promotional strategies and marketing campaigns with the Marketing Manager and Accounts Management team
- Work collaboratively on shared promotions and events, aligning marketing efforts with organizational milestones such as Welcome Week, New Student Campaigns, Orientation, and Student Elections
- Coordinate shared promotions, sponsorship opportunities, and other special projects
- Lead on Sponsorship agreements that benefit the department
- Strategizes with partners across campus to enhance production services, and processes that improve customer satisfaction

Project management and campaign coordination
- Plan and manage a diverse portfolio of marketing projects, ensuring each is delivered on tim