Senior Production Artist

VML South Africa; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

VML South Africa is seeking a Senior Mac Artist to lead production on a high-profile automotive account. In this role, you'll ensure precision in creative executions across print, digital, and out-of-home media while leading and mentoring your team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in a fast-paced production setting and a strong command of Adobe Creative Suite.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in high-volume production environment, preferably in advertising or design.
• Expert proficiency in Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop.
• Strong background in multi-channel campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead production of campaign assets across multiple channels.
• Oversee production artists, ensuring quality and brand consistency.
• Collaborate with teams to manage workflows and resolve challenges.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Creative production

Attention to detail

Leadership

Collaboration

Job description

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

As the Senior Mac Artist on a high-profile automotive account, you will be the lead production expert, responsible for the flawless execution of print, digital, and OOH assets across all campaign deliverables. Working under tight deadlines, you’ll bring creative concepts to life with precision, efficiency, and strict adherence to brand standards.

Beyond hands-on production, you’ll provide leadership and oversight to other artists on the campaign - ensuring consistency, quality, and timely delivery at every stage. Thriving in a collaborative, world-class team environment, you are solution-oriented, up to date on industry best practices, and skilled at managing priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities :

Creative Production & Execution :

• Lead the production of campaign assets across print, digital, and out-of-home channels.
• Preflight, correct, and finalize working files (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) to meet precise technical and brand specifications.
• Translate creative direction into technically accurate, production-ready files.
• Adapt key visuals across multiple sizes, formats, and languages according to media plans.

Leadership & Oversight :

• Oversee production artists and freelancers working on the same campaign.
• Provide clear direction and feedback to maintain visual and brand consistency.
• Serve as the go-to expert for all production-related technical queries.
• Perform quality control checks on all work to ensure flawless final output.

Collaboration & Workflow Management :

• Partner closely with creative directors, art directors, project managers, producers, and account teams to meet delivery expectations.
• Participate in briefings and kickoff meetings, identifying potential production challenges and offering proactive solutions.
• Collaborate with the Studio Manager and Resource team to manage workloads and ensure balanced task distribution.
• Maintain a calm and collaborative demeanor under pressure, positively influencing peers and contributing to a supportive team environment.

Qualifications & Experience :

• 7+ years of experience in a high-volume, deadline-driven production environment—preferably in an advertising or design agency.
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
• Proven experience operating at a senior level on complex, multi-channel campaigns.
• Deep knowledge of traditional and digital production processes, including file prep, resolution, bleed, and print specifications.
• Strong background in versioning and templating for large-scale campaign rollouts.
• Meticulous organizational skills and a sharp eye for typography, layout, and detail.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence working across all levels of a team.

Nice to Have :

• Prior experience working on automotive brands or global-scale accounts.
• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) systems and prepress workflows.
• Working knowledge of HTML / CSS or motion asset production.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through ourRecruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read ourCalifornia Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

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When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.