Studio Manager

Craft Agency Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Craft Agency Ltd in London is seeking an operational lead to run the studio's heartbeat. You will manage weekly resource planning in Paprika, balance immediate team needs with long-term project capacity, and allocate internal and freelance talent against budgets.

You will own studio operations from facilities to onboarding and offboarding, internal comms, and support high-profile client presentations. The role acts as the bridge to sister companies and protects the Creative Director's time.

Qualifications

• Three+ years as Studio/Traffic/Resource Manager in branding or advertising.
• Hands-on with Paprika or similar planning tools.
• Experience running weekly resource meetings and managing freelance onboarding.
• Knowledge of UK IR35 and freelancer invoicing.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end studio operations, from facilities to onboarding/offboarding.
• Lead weekly resource planning and ensure project capacity aligns with budgets.
• Coordinate internal and freelance talent and negotiate freelance rates.
• Protect the Creative Director's time and liaise with sister companies.

Skills

Studio Manager

Traffic Manager

Resource Manager

Tools

Paprika

Job description

The Role

You’ll run the operational heartbeat of the studio. Weekly resource planning through Paprika, balancing immediate team needs against long-term project capacity, and allocating internal and freelance talent against project budgets, with real commercial awareness of freelance rates and profitability.

You’ll own studio culture and operations end-to-end – facilities, onboarding and offboarding, internal comms, and the printed collateral and prep behind high-profile client presentations. You’ll also act as the operational bridge to sister companies and protect the Creative Director’s time and focus.

The Package

£40,000 – £45,000

Hybrid working

Growing agency with real scope for advancement

The Person

You’ve spent at least three years as a Studio, Traffic or Resource Manager inside a branding, design or advertising agency. You know Paprika or its equivalent, you run weekly resource meetings, and you carry a practical working knowledge of UK IR35, freelancer onboarding and invoicing.

A branding background is essential; editorial or production experience is a bonus. Above all, you’re the kind of operator who meets “I don’t know how that works yet” with “I’ll figure it out.”