Brand Operations Project Manager, 2669-1

Cypress HCM; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 137,760 - 241,080; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency in Los Angeles is seeking an experienced Creative Operations & Project Manager. In this role, you'll manage a multidisciplinary team, optimize workflow systems, and oversee key creative initiatives. Ideal candidates have over 10 years in project management and creative operations, along with strong interpersonal skills. The position offers a pay rate ranging from $100 to $175 per hour, reflecting the high level of expertise and leadership required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in creative operations and project management.
• Proven ability to build detailed schedules and forecast budgets.
• Experience managing global workstreams in entertainment.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize systems for creative studio workflow.
• Manage daily talent allocation and project scopes.
• Act as primary link between internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Creative operations

Project management

Strategic problem solving

Influential communication

Relationship management

Technical fluency

Tools

Airtable

Miro

Figma

Google Workspace

Job description

The Team

Our Experiences team puts fans at the center of their favorite stories, in real life, through permanent entertainment venues, Client retail house, and touring attractions around the world. Client retail houses are our permanent, always-on, constantly refreshable entertainment venues, where guests can step into their favorite stories. We aim for these experiences, along with our merchandise offerings, to foster a lasting love for our titles, making them part of the zeitgeist for extended periods and driving long-term value for Client.

Our Experiences team puts fans at the center of their favorite stories, in real life, through permanent entertainment venues, Client retail house, and touring attractions around the world. Client retail houses are our permanent, always-on, constantly refreshable entertainment venues, where guests can step into their favorite stories. We aim for these experiences, along with our merchandise offerings, to foster a lasting love for our titles, making them part of the zeitgeist for extended periods and driving long-term value for Client.

The Role

As the Experiences Creative Studio – Creative Operations & Project Manager, you’ll serve as both the operational lead and a hands-on project driver. You will act as a strategic thought partner to the Director of Creative, supporting a multidisciplinary team of designers, producers, and storytellers to bring Client IP to life. You’ll help define priorities, build the systems that allow ideas to move from blue-sky concepting to fabrication, and directly support key creative workstreams for the studio.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Architecture: Design and optimize the systems that power the creative studio workflow; personally lead project management for high-priority creative initiatives.
• Strategic Resourcing: Define project scopes and budgets in partnership with creative leads; manage daily talent allocation to ensure work is correctly staffed.
• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Act as the primary link between internal teams and external partners, ensuring all work aligns with creative vision and business goals.
• Risk & Health Management: Proactively track project health and implement contingency plans to remove obstacles while protecting budget and timelines.
• Studio Visibility: Maintain a "single source of truth" for all project statuses, providing high-visibility reporting and ensuring timely creative approvals.
• External Partnerships: Lead the casting, onboarding, and daily management of external vendors and agencies to ensure seamless integration with Client standards.

Qualifications / Experience

• 10+ years of experience in creative operations and direct project management, with a proven track record of operationalizing multidisciplinary teams across concept development, art direction, and design.
• Execution Mastery: Proven ability to build detailed schedules, forecast budgets, and lead teams through the full creative lifecycle (concept through fabrication).
• Multidisciplinary Expertise: Track record of delivering complex programs across creative disciplines (Brand design, retail, and experiential environments)
• Strategic Problem Solving: Ability to pivot seamlessly between "big picture" studio strategy and granular project troubleshooting.
• Influential Communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and negotiate complex vendor contracts.
• Technical Fluency: Deep proficiency in Airtable, Miro, Figma, and Google Workspace. Understanding of creative programs, 3D tools, and formats is a plus.
• Leadership & Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and inspire creative teams.
• Strategic Alignment: Ability to connect individual workstreams to broader brand and business objectives.
• Commercial Negotiation: Proven ability to negotiate vendor and contract agreements.
• Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with cross-functional teams.
• Industry Connections: Established network of agency and vendor relationships.
• Global Mindset: Experience managing global workstreams and a passion for entertainment and fandom culture.
• Cultural Fluency: Passion for entertainment, fandom culture, immersive storytelling, and experiences.

Pay Rate Range

• $100-175/hr.