Creative Studio Manager

SkillsMap; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

SkillsMap is seeking a senior leader to drive the Creative Studio, ensuring design and written-content outputs reflect approved briefs, brand standards and business objectives. You will oversee studio leadership, creative interpretation, quality assurance, workload management and timely delivery across channels.

The role requires 6+ years in a creative studio or related field, with experience guiding designers, content writers and freelance support.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Marketing, Communications, Brand Management, Design Management, Creative Production, Visual Communication or a related field.
• Leadership and studio-management training would be advantageous.
• 6+ years of experience in a creative studio, marketing, brand, design management, visual communication, marketing collateral or a related environment.
• Experience leading or coordinating designers, content writers, freelance support and creative workflow.
• Strong ability to understand campaign goals, marketing priorities and creative intent and translate them into clear Studio execution.
• Working understanding of design, artwork, print, digital collateral, written content and creative production requirements.
• Ability to review and guide design and content outputs for alignment with brief, brand, tone, message, technical requirements and intended use.
• Ability to manage priorities, workload, deadlines, feedback, WIP visibility and delivery expectations across multiple briefs and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Creative Studio and ensure outputs reflect approved briefs, creative direction, brand standards and business objectives.
• Guard design quality, brand application and content integrity across Studio outputs.
• Guide the Content Writer and review written content for tone, accuracy and fit with design.
• Maintain visibility of active work, priorities, blockers and internal deadlines.
• Deliver approved Studio outputs on time and in the correct format.
• Interpret briefs accurately and plan execution with Marketing Operations and agreed timelines.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Studio management

Workflow management

Campaign goals

Design & content

Deadline management

Brief alignment

Education

Diploma or Degree in Marketing, Communications, Brand Management, Design Management, Creative Production, Visual Communication or a related field.

Job description

Job Reference Number: AM-22
Department: Marketing
Business Unit:
Industry: Manufacturing
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1
Salary: Market Related To lead and manage the Creative Studio, ensuring that design and written-content outputs accurately reflect approved marketing briefs, creative direction, brand standards and business objectives.

Job Description

Purpose of the Role

To lead and manage the Creative Studio, ensuring that design and written-content outputs accurately reflect approved marketing briefs, creative direction, brand standards and business objectives. The role is accountable for Studio leadership, creative interpretation, design and content quality assurance, workload management, workflow visibility and the timely delivery of marketing collateral that is ready for approval, production and execution across required channels.

Key Performance Areas

Studio leadership and team management

• Set clear priorities, allocate work and provide practical direction and feedback.
• Manage Studio capacity, performance, accountability and development.
• Address workflow and performance concerns directly and **escalate** only where additional management support is required.

Design quality and brand application

• Maintain high design quality, consistency and brand application across Studio outputs.
• Review layouts, artwork and technical files before submission for final approval or release where authorized.
• Reduce recurring errors and unnecessary rework through clear standards and feedback.

Content oversight and message alignment

• Guide the Content Writer and review written content for message, tone, accuracy, grammar and fit with design.
• Ensure design and content work together as a complete communication.
• Resolve content gaps and proofreading concerns before final submission.

Studio workflow and delivery control

• Maintain current visibility of active work, priorities, blockers and internal deadlines.
• Keep work moving through direct follow-up and appropriate communication without creating a gatekeeper layer.
• Deliver approved Studio outputs on time and in the correct format.

Brief interpretation and execution planning

• Identify missing inputs or conflicting requirements early.
• Keep Studio execution aligned to approved scope, audience, channel and intended use.
• Work from formal briefs and agreed timelines supplied through Marketing Operations, ensuring Studio requirements are sufficiently clear before execution begins.
• Confirm that required approved visual assets from Visual Content are available at the appropriate stage of Studio execution.

Job Requirements

Minimum Skills and Education Required

• Diploma or Degree in Marketing, Communications, Brand Management, Design Management, Creative Production, Visual Communication or a related field.
• Leadership, people-management, studio-management or workflow-management training would be advantageous.
• 6+ years of experience in a creative studio, marketing, brand, design management, visual communication, marketing collateral or a related environment.
• Experience leading or coordinating designers, content writers, freelance support and creative workflow.
• Strong ability to understand campaign goals, marketing priorities and creative intent and translate them into clear Studio execution.
• Working understanding of design, artwork, print, digital collateral, written content and creative production requirements.
• Ability to review and guide design and content outputs for alignment with brief, brand, tone, message, technical requirements and intended use.
• Ability to manage priorities, workload, deadlines, feedback, WIP visibility and delivery expectations across multiple briefs and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify incomplete briefs, missing assets, capacity pressure, quality concerns and deadline risks before they affect delivery.

Competencies

• Leadership
• Creative judgement
• Brand stewardship
• Design and content oversight
• Planning and prioritization
• Workload management
• Attention to detail
• Coaching and constructive feedback
• Problem-solving
• Accountability
• Clear communication
• Quality orientation