Job Summary:

As Studio Traffic Manager you will be a self-motivated team player with working knowledge and experience in the packaging artwork and design processes. This role requires management of the workflow and resource within the creative teams across the business internationally. This is a great opportunity for someone who is currently a traffic/studio manager at a design or creative agency who would like to be part of a growing international creative business.

The Company:

Tjarks and Tjarks has 30 years-experience of designing and producing brands that win at the retail shelf. Our clients trust us time and again, over decades, to lead them through the changing dynamics of the shopper world and to design packaging that ensures their brands are picked first. We deliver our 360 design to artwork philosophy efficiently, faithfully and accurately, across the globe. We create and produce as one seamless, joined up team of experts, all under one roof.

Overall responsibility:

• Responsible for trafficking all creative work throughout the business ensuring all projects are executed within budget and to deadline.
• Liaising with key account team stakeholders across the business, managing timings and expectations, prioritising workflow & allocating resource (both in-house and freelance) accordingly.
• To make sure there is a seamless profitable operation of the complete design and artwork process throughout the business.
• Monitor processes and resource, continuously analysing to ensure the business runs at maximum efficiency.
• Educate and work with all teams (Brand Guidelines, QC, Artwork, Design, Retouching and Client Services) on what is required to ensure projects are run at maximum efficiency and on budget.
• Ensure all briefs are dispatched profitably in the studio based on individual’s strengths and skills, creating a workflow structure, reviewing daily work schedules and facilitating the best possible creative outcome on each project.
• You will hold team meetings across the groups to enhance understanding and better workflow from team to team.
• Drive high standards, identify efficiencies and keep all departments informed about project status.
• Coach and mentor, the junior team members on the workflow process.
• Manage studio resources including holiday sign-offs with the line managers to ensure sufficient resourcing levels at all times and ensure we have the best pool of reliable freelancers in place.
• Oversee studio housekeeping including folders and structure on the WIP server, archive fonts and archive stock imagery (line managers should own this task as part of their job description).
• You will continuously review working practice across all departments in order to identify and recommend improvements to efficiency and effectiveness of cost, resource and time.

Job Skills and Qualifications:

• Previous studio trafficking management experience, including excellent planning and forecasting skill.
• Experience of the creative and production processes and the ability to manage workflow, relationships, budgets and productivity effectively.
• An understanding of packaging artwork and of the demands for executing a high turnover of artworks for a major retailer (thousands of SKU’s per year) is highly advantageous.
• High level of technical ability and tech savvy highly advantageous.
• The ability to think outside the box and the confidence to make studio decisions unaided are essential together with proven problem-solving skills with a strong sense of urgency.
• Experience of motivating staff and inspiring teamwork to meet deadlines in a stressful, fast-moving environment.
• Extensive experience of commercial brand delivery processes and outcomes and the ability to work on multiple projects and manage multiple project managers and deadlines.
• Highly organised, deadline and results driven and possess the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• You will need to be flexible and be able to operate with maximum efficiency in an extremely fast paced and very well organised environment.
• Outstanding attention to detail and precision skills
• Ability to lead on the best process and to deliver on time and in budget
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to cope with shifting priorities
• Expert Knowledge in Adobe Creative Suite/CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Excellent print knowledge

Attributes:

• Highly organised, deadline and results driven
• Conscientious, reliable, good attendance and timekeeping standards
• Excellent attention to detail and works with precision
• Effective project manager, able to manage workload
• Honest, trustworthy, and able to work unsupervised
• Demonstrates initiative, is creative and contributes ideas
• Pragmatic approach to problem solving without cutting corners
• Friendly, approachable, respectful and a positive team player
• Flexible, adaptable, calm whilst working under pressure
• Professional with excellent communication skills
• Proactive, takes ownership of daily tasks with a can-do attitude
• Ability to adapt and learn quickly
• Must be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the business

Job Description – the job description is written at a specific time and is subject to change as the demands of the business and role develop. The role requires flexibility and adaptability and the employees of the company need to be aware that they may be asked to perform tasks and be given responsibilities not detailed on this job description.

Equal Opportunities – as a company, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of any characteristic as protected by law.

Data Protection – any information we receive as part of an enquiry about opportunities with Tjarks and Tjarks Design Ltd including personal contact details, CV and email address will be kept and used for recruitment purposes for a period of at least one year. You can view the Privacy Notice at https://tjarksandtjarks.com/en/job-applicant-privacy-notice/. Please contact us on careers@tjarksandtjarks.com if you wish us to delete any information you have given us and, subject to our rights and obligations under the GDPR, your information will be deleted upon request.

Application – we welcome direct applications either in response to one of our advertised vacancies or on a speculative basis. Please email your CV and covering letter to careers@tjarksandtjarks.com. Due to the volume of applicants only successful applicants will be contacted.

No search firms/agencies please.