Director of Motion Studio

Simantel•Peoria, IL

1d•$120,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Simantel is seeking an experienced, strategic and collaborative Director of Simantel Motion Studio to lead the department and its skilled Motion team. The Director will oversee departmental performance, efficiency and profitability, while working with agency leadership and cross-functional teams to strengthen client relationships, expand production capabilities and identify growth opportunities. The role combines production expertise, business acumen and people leadership, including developing the team, improving studio operations and serving as Executive Producer on select projects. The Director will lead the department’s people, resources, operations and business performance, building on existing production capabilities and client relationships. In partnership with agency leadership, Creative, Strategy and Account teams, the role will help evolve the studio into a flexible, solutions-oriented offering that supports existing agency business and creates new opportunities. As Executive Producer on selected work, the Director will provide senior production leadership and confidence to clients and internal teams. The role is responsible for delivering high-quality motion content within creative objectives, budgets and timelines; selecting production approaches suited to each assignment; maintaining clear communication and dependable execution; and connecting teams with experienced internal talent and trusted external partners. It also aims to expand the studio’s motion and content offerings for both individual projects and ongoing marketing needs. For the agency, the Director will support a financially healthy department with improving profitability, utilization and operational efficiency; establish competitive estimating and production practices; allocate internal staff, freelancers and external partners effectively; and build clear roles, workflows and expectations. The Director will develop an accountable team, maintain strong agency relationships, increase the studio’s contributions to existing clients and new business, and guide a sustainable shift toward a versatile, growth-oriented studio. The position has decision-making authority over day-to-day departmental operations, priorities and resource allocation; staff assignment and utilization; production workflows and quality-control standards; internal-versus-external production recommendations within approved budgets; staff performance and professional development; vendor selection within agency policies; and operational improvements. It also includes senior production decisions on assigned Executive Producer projects within approved scope, budgets and policies. Recommendations involving major staffing changes, compensation, capital investments, agency-wide pricing or long-term strategic business decisions are developed with agency leadership. The schedule is remote or hybrid, with in-office work Tuesday through Thursday and the option to work remotely Monday and Friday. The position is based in Peoria, Illinois, or may be remote. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; Simantel cannot provide employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Significant experience in agency production, integrated production, content studio management or related creative operations.
Strong understanding of full-service advertising agency operations and the relationships among Creative, Strategy, Account, Finance and Production.
Demonstrated ability to manage people, budgets, resources and multiple production priorities.
Strong business judgment and understanding of factors affecting revenue, profitability, utilization and growth.
Experience with agency estimating, project financial systems, vendor management and production budgeting.
Working knowledge of commercial production practices, including internal production teams, freelance crews and external production companies.
Experience leading complex commercial, documentary, branded-content or other client-facing productions.
Ability to serve as a confident Executive Producer, providing sound judgment, client reassurance and effective production oversight.
Ability to recognize business opportunities and help develop services that respond to client needs.
Experience improving workflows, managing organizational change and introducing more efficient production practices.
Strong communication, leadership, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Ability to build trust and work effectively with creative teams, agency leadership, clients and production partners.
Sound creative judgment and ability to evaluate production quality without personally directing every creative decision.
Ability to balance creative ambition, client expectations, available resources and financial realities.
Curiosity about emerging production technologies, social-first content and changing industry practices.
Willingness to challenge established processes while respecting existing relationships and capabilities.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Responsibilities

Lead the day-to-day management, staffing and performance of Simantel Motion Studio.
Maintain service to existing agency teams and clients while implementing improvements to the department.
Work with agency leadership to develop and execute plans to improve studio profitability, efficiency and growth.
Monitor departmental revenue, utilization, staffing costs, project profitability and resource needs.
Identify opportunities to increase revenue through existing clients, new relationships and expanded production services.
Partner with Account, Creative, Strategy and new-business teams to develop and pursue motion-first opportunities.
Evaluate and refine studio offerings based on client demand, market conditions and available capabilities.
Work with Studio Operations and Finance to improve estimating practices, pricing models, budgeting and financial accountability.
Determine the appropriate balance of internal production resources, freelance talent and external production companies.
Lead personnel management, performance evaluations, professional development and staffing recommendations.
Establish production workflows, quality-control expectations and client-service standards.
Encourage early collaboration between production, Creative, Strategy and Account teams.
Develop and maintain relationships with production companies, freelancers and specialty vendors.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and expand capabilities through new technologies, tools and production methods.
Serve as Executive Producer on select projects requiring senior oversight due to production complexity, client relationships, financial risk or creative requirements.
Guide Producers through challenging production decisions involving budgets, staffing, schedules, vendors and client expectations.
Represent Simantel Motion Studio in important client presentations, production discussions and new-business opportunities.
Provide creative and production consultation when appropriate, drawing on agency creative teams and studio craft specialists.
Help establish a culture of proactive problem solving, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
Deliver high-quality motion content that meets creative objectives, budgets and timelines.
Select production approaches appropriate to the size, complexity and needs of each assignment.
Provide clear communication, dependable execution and confidence throughout the production process.
Support access to experienced internal production talent and trusted external production partners.
Develop a collaborative production team that contributes practical solutions and expertise to the creative process.
Help broaden motion and content offerings for individual projects and ongoing marketing needs.
Support improved departmental profitability, utilization and operational efficiency.
Establish clear departmental roles, responsibilities, workflows and expectations.
Build strong relationships with Creative, Strategy, Account and other agency departments.
Develop the team’s capabilities and support continued professional development.
Help create a practical, sustainable transition from a traditional production department toward a versatile, growth-oriented studio.