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ArtCenter Credits

Executive Director of Production and Operations

ArtCenter Credits, WorkFromHome

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ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Executive Director of Production and Operations to join our team.

The salary range for this position : $115, - 125,

Finalsalary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

About ArtCenter

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College.This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

The Marketing and Communications division at ArtCenter College of Design provides overall vision and strategic direction for allinternal and external communications and marketing activities for ArtCenter. The division leads the way to increased visibility and awareness of ArtCenter’sunique characteristics, its programs, and its positive impact in the world, thereby creating a positive halo effect for the College.The division drives focused,well-coordinated, thoughtfully created and curated messaging, delivered effectively to key audiences to support goals and strategies throughout the college. It also works with internal colleagues providing guidance and consultation services to ensure brand values and desired positioning are consistently expressed, and marketing and communications messaging are cohesively delivered as we engage with key audiences including prospective and current students, donors, trustees, alumni, educational and industry partners, faculty and staff.

Reporting to the senior vice president of Marketing and Communications (MarCom), the executive director of Production and Operations will oversee and enhance the operational workflow within the MarCom division. This pivotal role focuses on managing the development, implementation, and continuous optimization of processes and project management systems, ensuring efficient production workflows across the division. The incumbent will also help oversee the divisional (and dept’s) budget to recommend and implement tools and systems that support strategic operations and divisional goals. This position will work closely with MarCom division leaders, campus partners, and external vendors to synchronize efforts and enhance productivity. Responsibilities include setting operational flow, quality standards, conducting productivity analyses, and monitoring divisional and dept capacity to effectively manage and forecast workload.

Additionally, the Executive Director will lead the selection and implementation of technological solutions and project management systems to bolster strategic operations. The position is poised for growth, with the potential to hire, train, and supervise an expanding team of project managers, and possibly production artists, and an asset manager, aiming to maximize departmental efficiencies and support the production of strategic work.

This is a full-time position. Normal division business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 or as defined by the division, or as needed by assignment or initiative. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and limited hybrid, with the expectation to be in the office 3 days a week. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The College reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.

Essential Functions

Workflow Optimization and Process Management– 25%

  • Manage and refine production workflows across all MarCom projects, ensuring efficient operations and quality control, regardless of medium or channel
  • Oversee system and project trafficking using project management tools for all division projects, ensuring systematic reviews, inputs, and approvals.
  • Develop and maintain systems to support the development and documentation such as creative briefs, strategy briefs, and intake documents to optimize workflow operations.
  • Direct workflow and monitor progress against schedules and milestones, addressing any issues to maintain project timelines and quality standards.
  • Coordinate the timely production of necessary video and photoshoots, maintaining comprehensive production schedules and collaborating with external partners as needed.

Technology and System Integration – 20%

  • Oversee the organization and maintenance of internal and external servers, including robust archiving and unarchiving processes for easy retrieval of projects as requested by department partners.
  • Collaborate closely with Information Technology (IT) to effectively manage MarCom’s work processes and data infrastructure, ensuring access to the necessary technological equipment and software updates, maintaining functional server architecture, and establishing job numbering and naming conventions. Additionally, provide appropriate training to maximize the utilization of these resources.
  • Recommend and proactively manage the procurement and implementation of additional tools and electronic applications to enhance service to internal teams and project partners, optimizing resources, improving operational efficiencies, and reducing production and operational costs.
  • Work with division leadership to set standards and IT to ensure budget and strategic resource allocation are in place for Digital Asset Management system. This partnership will also focus on establishing robust processes and planning for future needs, which includes optimizing the management and use of digital archives. This includes. The management of systems such as Photoshelter.

    • Strategic Resource and Performance Management – 20%

  • Oversee and strategically manage budget and resource allocation, collaborating closely with department leadership to align resources with the organization's strategic objectives.
  • Conduct detailed performance and productivity analyses, including creating productivity summaries and analyzing fiscal year workloads, to project future needs and inform strategic planning.
  • Implement cost-saving measures and strategic resource solutions to enhance operational efficiency and meet strategic imperatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
  • Regularly report to senior management on resource management strategies, operational performance, and progress toward strategic objectives, facilitating informed decision-making and long-term planning.
  • Foster continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and optimizing budgeting processes, resource allocations, and performance metrics to ensure they are effectively supporting the organization’s strategic direction.

    • Team Leadership and Development – 15%

  • Provide departmental leadership and oversight, overseeing the department budget, strategic planning, projects, events, and administrative support to implement operations.
  • Lead and manage daily and weekly operations of Project Managers and the Production Team, aligning all staff with current project statuses and departmental goals to ensure operational efficiency and goal attainment.
  • Conduct regular team meetings to communicate priorities, resolve operational issues, and enhance team dynamics, providing guidance on resource allocation and logistics for new projects.
  • Evaluate and optimize team performance by efficiently coordinating and assigning staff to projects, overseeing their contributions, and ensuring the team operates at peak efficiency.
  • Champion cultural change and professional development, mentoring the team toward achieving a high-performance MarCom operation, effectively scaled and skilled to meet departmental and organizational needs.
  • Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, learning and development, and fair and equitable compensation; oversee performance evaluation process, ensure consistent use of all applicable policies and procedures, including Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA); counsel, discipline, and make recommendations in terminations.

    • Vendor Management – 10%

  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with pre-approved vendors, ensuring projects adhere to budget, timelines, and quality standards.
  • Manage interactions with vendors to ensure timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.

    • Stakeholder Engagement and Alignment – 5%

  • Enhance collaborative efforts with internal stakeholders, ensuring that project objectives are met and facilitating the approval process for all creative outputs.
  • Regularly gather and synthesize feedback to align project outcomes with client expectations and production standards.
  • Guide internal partners in accessing and utilizing vetted external resources, ensuring alignment with institutional standards and project requirements.

    • Non-Essential Duties– 5%

  • Keep abreast of the latest project management and workflow tools.
  • Keep abreast of the latest web and digital-related software, tools and best practices.
  • Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and / or councils as required
  • Attend College events, sometimes outside the scope of normal office hours, as needed for story development and messaging opportunities
  • Other duties as assigned

    • Required Qualifications :

  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing operations, production project management, or a related field
  • At least 7 years of proven experience in operational management, preferably within a marketing or creative agency setting
  • At least 3 years managing a department, experience with budgeting and project management and supervisory responsibilities, including developing teams, conducting performance evaluations and performance management
  • Demonstrated ability in developing, refining, optimizing, and implementing successful operational workflows to enhance efficiency and ensure quality control across comprehensive marketing and communication projects
  • Extensive project management expertise, including proficiency with advanced project management tools and systems, capable of managing large-scale, complex projects to meet strict deadlines and maintain high-quality standards
  • Expertise in budget management and strategic resource allocation, effectively managing departmental resources to align with broader strategic objectives and operational demands
  • Skilled in managing both vendor and client relationships, with a strong record of negotiating and maintaining high-quality standards to meet precise project requirements
  • Strong leadership and team management skills, focused on mentoring, professional development, and driving operational excellence within teams
  • Strong oral and written communication skills in order to communicate with staff and the campus community, contractors and vendors, collaborate, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships
  • Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office, database management, and publishing software, and experience with adobe software
  • Ability to enforce and implement policies and procedures
  • Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within ArtCenter’s diverse communities

    • Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in higher education environment a plus
  • Deep understanding of Adobe products including the creative suite is a plus

    • Physical Demands and Working Environment

    The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

    This is a full-time position. Normal division business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 or as defined by the division, or as needed by assignment or initiative. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and limited hybrid, with the expectation to be in the office 3 days a week. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The College reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.

    Environment : Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, chemicals, dust and noise.

    Physical : Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and / or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 20 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Ability to work nights and weekends to attend events.

    Vision : Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.

    Hearing : Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.

    The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may be changed from time to time as necessary.

    Diversity Statement ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.

    Equal Opportunity Employer ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex / gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and / or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV / AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medical leave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductive health decision-making, off-duty and off-premises cannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professional development, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagementat (626) 396-2470.

    Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)

    ArtCenter will not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from a criminal history about an applicant or employee’s prior cannabis use, unless ArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.

    Employment At-Will

    All employment with ArtCenter is for an unspecified term and is “at-will.” Employees are free to resign at any time, with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenter has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. This “at-will” employment, which includes the College’s right to transfer, discipline, demote, or change the conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without prior notice, cannot be modified, amended or waived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only by an express individualized written employment agreement signed by both the employee and the College president

    ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report

    All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the Director, Title IX Compliance and Programs or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.

    Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.

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