Studio Manager

Cotswold Outdoor Group; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

33 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Critical illness cover

Staff discounts

EV Salary Sacrifice scheme

Job summary

Cotswold Outdoor Group is seeking a Studio Manager for our hybrid Swindon office. You’ll own the Creative Studio workflow, oversee Asana as the central tool, and balance capacity across brands to deliver projects on time.

The role emphasizes collaboration with stakeholders and driving improvements through AI and automation. You’ll lead a team of Retail and Digital Artworkers, ensuring briefs are clear and priorities are aligned with the wider business.

Qualifications

• Experience owning and managing workflows, projects and priorities within a Creative Studio or fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency using project/workflow platforms; Asana experience highly desirable.
• Proficiency with AI tools to improve productivity and automate workflows.
• Strong understanding of the creative process from brief to final delivery.
• Excellent organisational, planning and prioritisation skills with multi-project management.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence and align priorities.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building across all levels of the business.
• Proven people management or team leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the end-to-end workflow of the Creative Studio, ensuring projects are prioritised, resourced and delivered on time.
• Own and manage Asana as the Studio's central workflow tool, ensuring briefs are complete and timelines realistic.
• Own and manage Studio capacity, anticipate demand, identify risks and balance priorities across brands and channels.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to improve planning, alignment and collaboration across the business.
• Drive high-quality briefing standards and ensure teams have what they need to deliver great work.
• Lead continuous improvements to Studio operations through AI, automation and smarter ways of working.
• Provide visibility of workloads, deadlines, risks and resource needs to support decision-making.
• Manage and develop a team of Retail and Digital Artworkers.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Organisation & planning

Communication

Tools

Asana

AI tools

Job description

This is a hybrid role with a minimum of three days in the office per week (Office days rotate fortnightly: Week 1 - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; Week 2 - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday).

At Cotswold Outdoor Group, the outdoors isn’t just where we work, it’s who we are. Every day, our head office teams play a vital role in helping people get outside, explore more, and experience the world around them.

We’re looking for a Studio Manager to join us on that journey. This role is about more than just day-to-day responsibilities, it’s about shaping how we inspire our customers, support our stores, and grow our community of adventurers.

We’ve officially made the move to our new office in the heart of Swindon and couldn’t be more excited. Our brand-new sustainable office at 1 Newbridge Square puts us right next to the train station and the new bus boulevard, making it easier than ever to connect.

This move marks an exciting new chapter in our journey, and our new space has been designed with the future in mind – supporting collaboration, wellbeing, and our commitment to working more sustainably.

About us

We believe life’s better when it’s lived outdoors. From hiking and wild swimming to simply stepping away from the screen, nature helps us feel alive.

At our head office, every role helps make those adventures possible. Whether it’s shaping our systems, supporting our teams or driving key initiatives, you’ll play a vital part in helping people get outside and explore more.

We’re part of the Cotswold Outdoor Group, including Runners Need and Snow + Rock, offering trusted brands, expert advice, and a commitment to protecting the planet.

Whether it’s your first step or your next move, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and be part of something bigger.

What you’ll be doing

• Owning and managing the end-to-end workflow of our Creative Studio, ensuring projects are prioritised, resourced and delivered effectively.
• Owning and managing Asana as the Studio's central workflow tool, ensuring briefs are complete, timelines are realistic and projects progress smoothly from brief through to delivery.
• Owning and managing Studio capacity, anticipating demand, identifying risks and balancing competing priorities across multiple brands and channels.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders to improve planning, alignment and collaboration across the business.
• Driving high-quality briefing standards, challenging unclear or unrealistic requests and ensuring the team has everything needed to deliver great work.
• Owning and managing continuous improvements to Studio operations through the adoption of AI, automation and smarter ways of working.
• Providing clear visibility of workloads, deadlines, risks and resource requirements to support decision-making and planning.
• Managing and developing a team of Retail and Digital Artworkers, creating an environment where they can perform at their best.
• Acting as a key link between Creative and the wider business, ensuring priorities are aligned and projects keep moving forward.

We’re looking for someone who

• Experience owning and managing workflows, projects and priorities within a Creative Studio, Marketing or similar fast-paced environment.
• Strong experience using project and workflow management platforms, with Asana experience highly desirable.
• Proficiency in AI tools and technologies, with the ability to leverage AI and automation to improve productivity, streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency.
• A strong understanding of the creative process, from initial brief through to final delivery.
• Excellent organisational, planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to influence, challenge constructively and align competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the business.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment.
• Previous people management experience, or experience leading and developing team members.
• A passion for continuous improvement and finding smarter, more effective ways of working.

What you’ll get from us

Joining our team means more than just getting paid a salary, it’s about being part of a workplace that values you, your growth and your wellbeing.

• Starting salary of £40000 - £45000 with a yearly bonus of up to £3,825
• Hybrid working options to support your work-life balance
• 33 days holiday allowing you to recharge and explore the outdoors
• Holiday Buying Scheme - contract dependent
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice scheme - dependent on meeting eligibility
• Volunteer day with a charity of your choice
• Private medical insurance, life assurance and critical illness cover
• Staff discounts of 40-60% across our full range of outdoor brands
• Savings on everyday essentials including groceries, travel, fitness, and entertainment through our perks hub