Manager, Studio Production

Merge Storytelling and Technology

We MERGE storytelling with technology by offering marketing and technology clients full-service capabilities including strategy, creative, experience engineering, performance marketing, media, and marketing operations platforms. MERGE has enduring client partnerships with American Express, T-Mobile, LG, Kate Spade NY, Coach, The Northface, Meta, Subway, BlueCross BlueShield, Abbott, Supernus, Seqirus, GE Healthcare, CVS/Aetna, Brigham Health, Indiana University Health, and Eaton Vance to name a few. With 750+ employees across offices in Chicago, Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Costa Mesa, and Montreal, MERGE uses a talent-to-task process that enables clients to think higher and feel deeper about their customers.

Promote Health, Wealth & Happiness

We are committed to promoting health, wealth, and happiness in the world by partnering with purpose-driven clients in purpose-driven industries such as healthcare, financial services, and consumer products. Our deep vertical expertise and category insights stem from decade-long partnerships with our top clients.

Emerge to the Top of Your Career

At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.

As our Manager, Studio Production you will… 

You'll be responsible for managing client deliverables, providing guidance to your direct reports, and collaborating with Studio Leadership when necessary. Take ownership of the Studio's relationship with assigned client teams, particularly Art Directors and Program Management. Your overarching objective is to expedite project transitions from Art Directors to the Studio. Your role involves enhancing connections with project managers and creative teams, ensuring their vision is translated into high-quality deliverables that align with industry standards.

You’ll oversee the performance of Studio Artists, offering thoughtful recommendations to motivate and enhance their capabilities, ensuring alignment with role expectations. Identify skill gaps and provide targeted training to address areas of improvement. Cultivate a supportive environment that communicates a "we have your back" ethos, fostering an atmosphere where Studio Artists can work efficiently and effectively.

Be Accountable and Responsible

• Ambassador for MERGE licensed assets and platform tools (MAX, Google Shared Drive, Webvantage/Workfront) to ensure consistent, efficient use and best practices of the tools among Studio Artists
• Train, mentor, and supervise Studio Artists across the organization in Chicago, Kansas City, Boston, and remote areas; including potential travel to office locations
• Directs and guides studio artists in preparation of files
• Be able to fully execute rough templates or loose ideas created by Art Directors 
• Calmly troubleshoot issues with solutions as they arise with direct manager and the creative and program management teams
• Identifies image deficiencies and takes action to flag or seeks approval to directly correct
• Provide high-quality image retouching to mid-level tasks as needed
• Proficient in the practice of converting images to feature effective resolution for print and digital projects
• Able to create initial layout and die-lines from generic specifications
• Initiate specification sheets from visual references
• Understands color print separation process, including methodology
• Experience with building mockups and 3-dimensional comps, understanding structure 
• Knows the effective, separate file build for print and digital files
• Understands the surface level tasks, performed by peers from other groups (Creative, Program Management) so you know

These are the qualifications we’re looking for

• 8 + years of studio/production experience, preferably with varied experiences in Advertising and 3+ years of supervisory experience
• An associate (2 year) degree or bachelor (4 year) degree (preferred) in Graphic Design or equivalent work experience
• Expert of Adobe InDesign, PhotoShop, Illustrator, XD and more
• Understanding of Figma, After Effects, AEM, Sprout Social, Moveable Ink, XD, Sketch, etc. a plus
• Print production knowledge required
• Strong working knowledge of digital tactics 
• Experience in all Microsoft Office applications ( Powerpoint, Excel, and Word) and proficient in Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs and Slides)
• Must possess a thorough understanding of agency traffic, workflow and resource management
• Strong organizat