Global Finished Artist Studio Manager

AESOP; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global retail organization is seeking a Global Finished Artist Studio Manager in London to lead creative production and ensure the flawless delivery of visual assets across all channels. You will inspire and manage a team, ensuring alignment with brand standards while optimizing workflows and processes. Key responsibilities include overseeing global campaigns, driving innovation in production, and fostering collaboration across teams. Candidates should possess strong leadership skills and technical expertise in design tools, and have a passion for creative excellence.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in creative production or studio management within a global brand or agency, preferably in beauty or fashion.
• Proven leadership skills with multi-market workflows.
• Strong eye for detail and visual storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team to deliver high-quality assets.
• Oversee global campaign production workflows.
• Champion brand standards and ensure visual consistency.

Skills

Open mindset and curiosity

Leadership and motivation

Technical expertise in Adobe Creative Suite

Project management

Collaboration

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Global Finished Artist Studio Manager | London

For over 35 years, Aesop has carefully cultivated an inspiring and inclusive environment in which our employees are supported and encouraged to thrive. As a global retail organisation, we offer professional development and advancement opportunities to complement career goals and aspirations.

Our approach to skin care involves meticulous attention to detail, using only the most efficacious ingredients to create formulations which stir the self and senses. The same meticulous approach is taken during our recruitment process, seeking out considered and inspired individuals with a wealth of perspectives who bring out the best in themselves and others.

We aim to strike the right balance between people, planet and profit, actively reducing our footprint on the planet that generously sustains us. So far, this journey has led us to become a certified B Corp. We are committed to building a more sustainable and inclusive society.

Since 2023, Aesop has been part of the L'Oréal Groupe, founded in 1909 by Eugene Schueller and is home to 37 global brands including Kiehl's, Lancôme, SkinCeuticals, Nyx, YSL and L'Oréal Paris; presenting wide-ranging opportunities for long-term career growth.

"A business doesn't consist of walls or machines, but people, people, people." - Eugene Schueller

Role purpose

Aesop is a place where creativity, brand consistency, and efficiency all intersect. Our role within the organisation is to deliver impeccable creative execution that ensures that every campaign reflects our strong brand ethos, premium aesthetic, and global consistency. The Creative Services team operates as the internal agency for the Aesop brand, a dedicated partner to both the Marketing and Creative teams. We act as the bridge between creative concept and flawless execution, serving the broader organisation with agility, precision, and craftsmanship. We provide production expertise, ensure visual consistency across our 400+ retail stores and fidelity across all touchpoints. Our main role is to deliver consistent, beautiful, and impactful campaigns respecting timing and budget.

Key contributions:

• Manages global campaign delivery through efficient production workflows
• Protects brand equity through consistent, premium-quality assets
• Inspires the creative team and helps them achieve their creative vision
• Drives innovation in production, processes, and creative technology

The Finished Artist Studio Manager leads the finished art studio, ensuring the flawless delivery of all visual assets across Aesop's channels. This role manages the team responsible for finalising, adapting, and producing brand visuals, ensuring creative excellence, consistency, and technical precision across every market and touchpoint. As the operational and creative lead of the studio, the Studio Manager serves as the bridge between creative direction and global execution, maintaining the highest standards of quality while optimising workflow efficiency and resource management.

This position plays a key role within Aesop's Creative Services team, supporting the Marketing and Creative teams by delivering timely, fit-for-purpose assets, whether for global campaigns, regional activations, or internal communication needs. This includes managing requests for both internal and external purposes (e.g., light edits, layout development, or visual adaptations).

Beyond day-to-day coordination, this role drives continuous improvement through process optimisation and technology integration. Reporting into the Head of Creative Services, the Studio Manager acts as both an operational leader and a change agent - streamlining workflows, championing AI adoption, ensuring rigorous asset management, and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation across the Finished Artist team.

Role responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Studio Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of Finished Artists to deliver premium-quality creative assets on time and on brand
• Foster a culture of craftsmanship, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Oversee workload allocation, resourcing, and prioritisation to balance speed, quality, and efficiency
• Conduct quality reviews and ensure creative output aligns with our visual and brand standards

Creative Production Oversight

• Oversee the adaptation and finalisation of creative materials across global campaigns (print, POS, packaging, e-commerce, social, and digital)
• Ensure seamless execution from creative concept to delivery - maintaining creative integrity and technical accuracy
• Partner closely with Art Directors, Production and Category Teams to ensure smooth delivery of assets

Quality, Consistency & Brand Governance

• Champion Aesop global brand standards and ensure visual coherence across all materials and platforms
• Implement robust quality control processes to minimize errors and rework
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of brand guidelines, technical specs, and emerging production standards
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align creative execution with sustainability, accessibility, and digital best practices

Workflow, Process & Tool Optimisation

• Develop and optimise studio workflows to increase speed, transparency, and efficiency
• Identify opportunities for automation, templating, and smarter versioning
• Manage relationships with external vendors and print partners
• Support the integration of Opera, our digital asset management system to ensure proper file organisation

Innovation & Adaptability

• Drive the adoption of new tools, technologies, and processes that enhance creative production - including AI-assisted design, 3D visualisation, and automated adaptation systems
• Stay ahead of industry trends in design, digital production, and content delivery to ensure the studio remains at the forefront of creative operations
• Encourage experimentation and creative problem-solving within the team to continuously improve quality and efficiency
• Adapt swiftly to new campaign models, evolving market needs, and changing creative formats - ensuring agility without compromising excellence
• Champion a mindset of curiosity and growth, fostering a studio culture that embraces change and innovation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the key liaison between Creative, Marketing, and Production Operations teams
• Provide expert guidance on technical feasibility, production timelines, and resource planning during project scoping.

This is a full-time position operating with a hybrid working pattern of three days per week based on-site and two days per week working remotely.

What we are looking for

• Open mindset and deep curiosity seeking to understand others, listen without judgement and act on diverse perspectives
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and psychologically safe work environment
< in creative production, studio management, or artwork operations within a global brand or agency. Experience in beauty, fashion, or luxury industry preferred
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and grow creative production teams; experience managing multi-market or regional workflows
• Technical expertise: Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere and/or After Effect); deep understanding of colour management, prepress, digital file formats, and localization workflows
• Operational acumen: Strong project management, resource planning, and process optimisation skills
• Creative sensibility: Exceptional eye for detail, layout, and visual storytelling aligned with L'Oréal's aesthetic standards
• Collaboration: Excellent communicator, able to partner effectively across creative, marketing, and production disciplines in a fast-paced global environment.