Job description | Managing Director
Who are Studio Giggle?
Established in 2006 Studio Giggle has been creating award-winning content for nearly two decades. Based in our studio in The Paintworks in Bristol, we specialise in designing and producing interactive, immersive and extraordinary events. In addition, our wonderful team also creates animated and filmed content for global brands and their communication and marketing campaigns.
Studio Giggle’s culture:
We are a small, tight-knit team of curious creatives.
We work on creative technical projects. This could be a complex event installation; a new way of creating streaming events; a real-time generated XR studio environment, or simply a beautiful explainer animation. Most of our work is animation or mixed media, motion graphics and film. All our work is technically very advanced. We pride ourselves in being the people you come to create creatively challenging and technically advanced immersive content for your event.
The successful candidate will be joining a team of respectful, brilliant colleagues who enjoy working together and support each other in their personal development throughout everything we do. We seek to challenge ourselves and thrive in tackling any obstacles each project may present on a day-to-day basis.
Giggle's studio is situated in The Paintworks, in Bristol, a creative hub where you'll find similar companies working around us and, more importantly, The Bocabar, a local feature for socialising after work.
Position Overview:
To help ensure Studio Giggle is run effectively as a business and ultimately on a sustainable and profitable path. Working closely with the CEO, the Board, our Non-Exec Chairman and shareholders to deliver the businesses goals and strategy.
We're all excited about the bright future as we take our next big step as a business. The leadership teams at Studio Giggle (and Distortion Studios) are positive about the future of our companies and believe the right candidate will help us develop. We strive to ensure success, supporting our incredibly talented team, champion the amazing creative work we do, our unique blend of services, and the fantastic clients we’re working with.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
1. Operations
* Maintain oversight of all operational functions, ensuring systems, processes, and resources are implemented, reviewed and optimised to meet business goals.
* Continuously assess and improve operational workflows to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
* Ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements relevant to the company’s operations.
* Deliver a high level of technical operations at a key time for the business as we seek to grow and add more clients
* Work to support the board to define, refine, and deliver upon strategic goals.
* Ensure the company remains agile and competitive, adapting to industry trends and client needs.
* Monitor progress against strategic business objectives, addressing challenges and identifying opportunities to achieve targets.
* Translate strategic objectives into actionable plans across all areas of the business.
* Ensure the company is industry compliant and that governance is best in class, in key areas such as HSE and staff welfare among others
* Take a leadership role in all aspects of operations and effective running of the business making key recommendations to the board where relevant
2. Finances
* Collaborate closely with all internal teams and the finance function to ensure disciplined financial management.
* Overseeing all budgeting processes, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and financial sustainability.
* Making recommendations and reporting to the board on key financial decisions and identifying opportunities for growth and cost optimisation.
* Lead on the key parts of the management of our accountants and financial advisors, supporting our CEO
3. Account & Project Direction
* Responsible for ensuring client satisfaction and handling strategic issues or problem resolution of one-to-one marketing issues
* Manage and ensure quality of our services to clients
* Day-to-day management of clients and their requests including presentations, documentation, and client activity administration
* Management and handling of key client briefs, projects and requests
* Effectively manage and interpret client feedback; guide/lead team to implement projects smoothly and effectively
* Financial control of billings and third-party costs
* Ensure briefs are created and shared for internal stakeholders, mainly production, creative and delivery teams
* Take ownership of the quality of creative responses in conjunction with Creative Director
* Attention to detail and quality control relating to any client deliverables, whether creative or or production based
* Oversee project briefings (both written and actual briefing) and client approval
* Assume responsibility, and demonstrate proactive and energetic working attitud e
4. New Business
* Being a brand ambassador for the Studio
* Supporting on business growth and contributor to sales and marketing initiatives within the business
* Attending networking and industry events
* Helping ensure the business has an active new business culture and is achieving its growth targets
5. People & Culture
* Working closely with the CEO to provide leadership and direction to the business, cultivating an inclusive and high-performing culture.
* Support and develop the senior leadership team, ensuring clear accountability and alignment with company objectives
* Develop and evolve company culture. E.g. openness, fairness, transparency and decisiveness. Supporting team members and encouraging them to be honest, open and challenge in the appropriate way
* Act as a role model for company values, promoting a collaborative and supportive environment.
* Conducting 1:1s and annual reviews for the team
Key Skills and Attributes:
* 10+ years of related experience
* Industry experience preferred
* Team-leading experience
* Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
* Strong verbal and presentation skills with the ability to speak knowledgably with high level internally and with clients
* Knowledge of working software (Office 365, etc.)
* Operational excellence – ability to oversee and lead complex business functions
* Strong operational management skills with high attention to detail
* Strategic mind-set with the ability to translate high-level objectives into actionable plans
* Significant experience in professional client relationship management
* Senior level event and film production management
* Proven ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary creative teams
* A persuasive and confident approach to creative projects
* Financial acumen and experience in disciplined budgeting and financial planning
* Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced, dynamic and sometimes high pressure environment.
* We would also consider applications from Operations Director level candidates who are looking to make the next big ambitious move in their career