Senior Studio Manager in Matthews, North Carolina at Jaizai Investment Inc

The Senior Studio Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the studio, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. This role bridges creative, technical, and operational teams, driving efficiency while maintaining a strong creative culture. The ideal candidate is highly organized, people-focused, and experienced in managing complex workflows in a fast-paced environment.

Studio Operations & Leadership

• Lead and manage studio operations, including scheduling, resource allocation, and workflow optimization
• Develop and implement processes that improve efficiency, communication, and output quality
• Oversee and manage studio budgets, including forecasting, tracking, and cost control measures
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, and legal requirements

Team Management & Development

• Manage, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary team, including photographers, videographers, designers, producers, and technicians
• Oversee the planning and execution of creative briefs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and project goals
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance studio culture
• Conduct performance reviews, set goals, and identify professional development opportunities
• Partner with HR on hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies

Project Oversight

• Collaborate with project managers and creative leads to ensure smooth project execution
• Lead the development and refinement of creative briefs to ensure clarity of objectives, scope, and deliverables
• Monitor project timelines, milestones, and deliverables
• Identify risks and proactively resolve bottlenecks
• Maintain high standards of quality control across all studio outputs

Client & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders and external clients when needed
• Support business development efforts by contributing operational insights and planning
• Ensure client expectations are met or exceeded through strong delivery practices

Technology & Infrastructure

• Oversee studio tools, systems, and technology to ensure optimal performance
• Evaluate and implement new tools or platforms to improve workflow
• Coordinate with IT and vendors to maintain studio infrastructure

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Creative Industries, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 7+ years of experience in studio management, operations, or production leadership
• Proven experience managing creative teams, including photographers and videographers
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and resources
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills

• Experience in a creative agency, production studio, or media environment
• Familiarity with Agile, Lean, or similar operational frameworks
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Jira)
• Ability to scale operations in a growing organization

• Strategic thinking and operational excellence
• Leadership and team development
• Time and resource management
• Adaptability in fast-paced environments
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Studio runs efficiently with clear processes and minimal bottlenecks
• Photographers, videographers, and creative teams are effectively managed and supported
• Creative briefs are well-structured, actionable, and aligned with project goals
• Budgets are effectively managed with strong cost control and forecasting accuracy
• Projects are consistently delivered on time and within budget
• Team engagement and retention are high
• Continuous improvement initiatives drive measurable gains in productivity