Creative Operations Lead

Translation (UnitedMasters); New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Translation seeks a Creative Operations Lead to manage resource planning and allocation across all active accounts. This role sits at the center of the agency's capacity ecosystem, partnering with Program Management to keep delivery on track and talent balanced.

The leader will own staffing allocations, lead rollout of a new resource management platform, surface capacity conflicts proactively, and balance competing demands across billable and non-billable work.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in resource management, project management, creative operations, or related field within a creative agency or marketing organization.
• Deep understanding of how creative agencies work, rhythms of production, and the distinction between billable and non-billable time.
• Proven track record managing complex, multi-account staffing in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities.
• Strong command of resource management tools and platforms.
• Freelance recruiting experience and negotiation skills.
• High integrity with discretion around people data and performance-adjacent information.

Responsibilities

• Own staffing allocations across all active client accounts, ensuring people are planned accurately and updated in real time.
• Lead rollout and ongoing adoption of Translation's new resource management platform, serving as the primary administrator and internal champion.
• Surface capacity conflicts, volume pressure points, and over-allocation risks proactively before they become delivery problems.
• Balance competing demands across billable client work, proactive creative opportunities, new business pitches, and internal initiatives.
• Proactively source and pipeline freelance talent in advance of high-volume periods.
• Own the end-to-end process for awards submissions and build and maintain a living library of agency case studies

Skills

Resource management

Project management

Creative operations

Freelance recruiting

Stakeholder management

Tools

Resource management platforms

Job description

Translation seeks a Creative Operations Lead to manage resource planning and allocation across all active accounts. This role sits at the center of the agency's capacity ecosystem, partnering with Program Management to keep delivery on track and talent balanced. The leader will own staffing allocations, lead rollout of a new resource management platform, surface capacity conflicts proactively, and balance competing demands across billable and non-billable work. Additional responsibilities include freelancer management, awards and case study management, and cross-functional partnerships with leadership teams.

What you'll do:

• Own and manage staffing allocations across all active client accounts, ensuring people are planned accurately and updated in real time;
• Lead the rollout and ongoing adoption of Translation's new resource management platform, serving as the primary administrator and internal champion;
• Surface capacity conflicts, volume pressure points, and over-allocation risks proactively before they become delivery problems;
• Balance competing demands across billable client work, proactive creative opportunities, new business pitches, and internal initiatives;
• Proactively source and pipeline freelance talent in advance of high-volume periods;
• Own the end-to-end process for awards submissions and build and maintain a living library of agency case studies

What they're looking for:

• 6+ years of experience in resource management, project management, creative operations, or a related function within a creative agency or marketing organization;
• Deep understanding of how creative agencies work, the rhythms of production, the difference between billable and non-billable time;
• Proven track record managing complex, multi-account staffing in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift quickly;
• Strong command of resource management tools and platforms;
• Freelance recruiting experience and negotiation skills;
• High integrity around people data with discretion in handling utilization and performance-adjacent information