External Resourcing Manager - ICHI

Keywords Studios; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working - hybrid

Company Pension Scheme

Private Healthcare

Income Protection

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Team Social Events

Tech Scheme

Electric Car Scheme

Cycle Scheme

Training

Job summary

ICHI, part of Keywords Studios, is seeking an External Resourcing Manager to bridge the studio with top freelance talent across the UK and beyond. Based in London or Brighton, you will build and curate a high-caliber external bench, negotiating terms and ensuring best-in-class fits for projects.

You will partner with senior leadership to evolve onboarding tools, freelance workflows, and global resource sharing while maintaining a people-first approach and strong diversity values.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of freelance and production roles.
• Understanding of IR35 and employment legislation.

Responsibilities

• Identify, connect with and qualify top-tier freelancers.
• Maintain an encyclopaedic knowledge of external network including skills and rates.
• Proactively match talent to project DNA with Producers/Creatives.
• Lead fee/rate negotiations and contracting.
• Qualify external partners and suppliers for value and risk.
• Collaborate on onboarding tools and freelance workflows.
• Bridge UK and North American teams to optimize resource sharing.
• Support internal scheduling during peak periods.

Skills

Industry knowledge

Compliance (IR35)

Proactive mindset

Communication

Business intuition

Tools

Resource management software

CRM tools

Job description

The Opportunity - External Resourcing Manager

At ICHI, our work is only as strong as the people behind it. We are looking for a proactive, high-energy External Resourcing Manager to be the definitive bridge between our studio and the world's best creative and production talent.

Working from either our London or Brighton offices, this isn't just a "booking" role. As the External Resourcing Manager, you are the face of ICHI to the external market. You'll be responsible for curating an elite bench of freelancers, contractors, and partners, ensuring we have the right skills available the moment a project kicks off. You'll blend sharp intuition with operational rigour to ensure every external hire is a "best-in-class" fit for our culture and our clients.

You will have significant reach across the agency, working directly with senior leadership to shape how we work. We value those who take ownership and bring a "people-first" energy to everything they do.

At ICHI (part of Keywords Studios), we know a diverse workforce only elevates the great work we do. As such, we are an equal opportunities employer and we take diversity and inclusion seriously.

External Resourcing Manager- The Impact You'll Make

• Talent Scouting & Curation: Proactively identify, connect with, and qualify top-tier creative and production freelancers. You don't just wait for a need; you build the pipeline in advance
• The "Human Database": Maintain an encyclopaedic knowledge of our external network: skills, software proficiency, tech setups, day rates, and real-time availability
• Strategic Matchmaking: Work closely with Producers and Creatives to proactively suggest the best talent matches based on specific project DNA, not just availability
• Negotiation & Contracting: Lead the charge on fee/rate and contract negotiations. You'll ensure all engagements are commercially viable and compliant
• Partnership Oversight: Beyond individuals, you will qualify external partners and suppliers. You possess the intuition to know when a partner adds value versus when they might pose a competitive risk
• Process Evolution: Collaborate with Senior Leadership and Operations to refine our onboarding tools, freelance workflows, and talent management systems
• Bridging the gap: Work with Operations to build a seamless workflow between the UK and North American teams to look at how we can strategically share resources before going fully external
• Collaboration: Work in lockstep with the Resourcing Manager to provide seamless coverage of capacity and pipeline of the creative department, stepping in to support internal scheduling during high-volume periods and holiday gaps

Requirements

What You Will Bring to ICHI

• Deep Industry Knowledge: You know the difference between a good portfolio and a great one. You understand the nuances of creative roles and the tech/tools they use
• Compliance Savvy: You have a solid grasp of IR35 and employment legislation to ensure our freelance engagements are always above board
• The "Proactive" Mindset: You go above and beyond "filling a seat." You anticipate production bottlenecks before they happen
• Exceptional Communication: You are friendly, passionate, and persuasive. You can represent ICHI's values to high-level talent and negotiate firmly but fairly
• Business Intuition: You understand the big picture, identifying partners who align with our goals while being protective of ICHI's USP and competitive edge

Technical & Professional Requirements

• Proven experience in a talent management, traffic management, resource management, or high-volume creative recruitment role within a medium-large sized agency
• Confidence in working with production teams to draft and execute contracts
• Ability to manage complex data (availability, rates, skills) with precision
• Experience with resource management software or CRM tools

Benefits

• Flexible Working - hybrid home and office working, Working Abroad Policy and Summer Hours
• Company Pension Scheme
• BUPA Private Healthcare
• Income Protection Cover
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Team Social Events
• Employee Schemes - Tech Scheme, Electric Car Scheme, Cycle Scheme
• Training

Role Information: EN

Studio: ICHI

Location: Europe, United Kingdom, London

Area of Work: Marketing

Service: Engage

Employment Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time, Hybrid