Operations Manager

About Us

Cheil Worldwide is the 11th-largest creative agency in the world. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Cheil was founded by Samsung in 1973 to grow its local and global business. We are driven by our passion to create mind-blowing ideas, technologies, and one-of-a-kind experiences by connecting advertising with digital; online and offline; data and events; and consumers and brands. Cheil North America has offices in Toronto, NYC and Dallas, and serves as the lead agency for all Samsung projects across the continent. Collectively, we are a unified force of creative problem-solvers who share a passion for developing ground-breaking ideas rooted in data, driven by insights, and enabled by innovative technology

Position Summary

The Operations Manager leads agency project management, resourcing, and operational execution across all initiatives. This role owns project intake, workflow, timelines, budgets, and prioritization, partnering closely with Finance and Leadership to ensure work is delivered efficiently, profitably, and at the highest creative standard. The Operations Manager is the central authority on how work moves through the Agency

Key Responsibilities

Studio Operations & Workflow

• Manage the end-to-end workflow of creative projects from briefing to final delivery
• Allocate resources effectively among designers, copywriters, and other studio members
• Track project progress and flag potential bottlenecks, ensuring deadlines are met without compromising quality
• Partner with Creative Director, and Account Services, to prioritize work based on business and client needs
• Maintain project status documentation and production calendars

Financial & Resource Management

• Oversee daily and long-term resourcing, including freelancer scheduling and onboarding
• Work with HR and leadership to forecast future resource requirements and talent needs
• Partners with Finance to track budgets, burn, billing accuracy, and utilization.
• Maintains visibility into project profitability and flags issues early.
• Support vendor and freelance contract management (e.g., designers, video editors, copywriters)
• Monitor studio capacity and utilization reports

Process & Quality Control

• Implement and maintain efficient creative production processes, tools, and systems
• Ensure all creative output meets brand standards, technical specifications, and deadlines
• Conduct quality assurance checks on deliverables before final submission
• Help evolve studio workflows to align with Cheil's operational and creative objectives

Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as a key liaison between Creative, Account, and internal teams
• Lead regular studio status meetings and ensure clear communication of priorities
• Partner with the Creative Director to maintain consistency of creative direction and execution
• Support RFPs and pitch development by coordinating timelines, design resources, and deliverables

Leadership & Culture

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented studio culture
• Mentor and guide junior designers and studio staff, supporting their growth and performance
• Champion best practices in project management, creative production, and time management
• Ensure all studio team members adhere to agency policies, timelines, and quality standards

Requirements / Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in agency operations, resourcing or project management,
• Proven experience in a creative production or studio management role within an advertising, design, or digital agency
• Experience with operations management, building schedules and developing efficiency reports and financial tracking
• Experience with generating PO#s and vendor management
• Experience with sourcing suppliers, freelancers and completing associated agency onboarding
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities under tight deadlines
• Strong understanding of creative processes, from concept development to production
• Experience using project management tools (e.g., , Workfront, Asana, Trello)
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and communication skills
• Ability to balance creative freedom with operational efficiency
• Strong problem-solving mindset and a calm approach under pressure
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and general design/production terminology
• Understanding of digital, social, and print production workflows

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Design, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a related field
• PMP certification or training in project management is an asset

What Happens After You Apply

Application review: Our Human Resources Manager reviews every resume. We get upwards of 100+ applications for some roles, it can take a few days, if your resume is shortlisted, we'll be sure to reach out. We thank you for your patience

Salary range:
$65,000 - $75,000 CAD annually

Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, and certifications

Work Arrangement:

While this position follows a hybrid work model, with three (3) days in-office (Tuesday through Thursday) and two (2) days work-from-home (Monday and Friday), during business requirements, needs, client deadlines, you may be required to be in office on all 5 days.

Company Address: