Manager, Creative Resource Management

dentsu•Detroit, MI

6d•$78,000 - $126,500•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Manager, Creative Resource Management to join our team. In this role, you will support effective creative talent deployment by balancing supply and demand across our creative ecosystem—from art directors and copywriters to UX designers, motion graphics artists, and production specialists. You'll engage with creative professionals to align them with the right opportunities while understanding the nuances of creative workflow, campaign timelines, and the iterative nature of creative development. The Manager must speak fluent "creative"—understanding the difference between concepting and execution phases, knowing when a senior art director versus a mid-level designer is needed, and recognizing how creative burnout impacts quality output. You'll navigate the unique challenges of creative resourcing, from managing multiple rounds of client feedback to understanding how creative teams collaborate across disciplines (copy/design partnerships, creative technologist integration, etc.). This role requires deep knowledge of creative roles including but not limited to: Creative Directors, Associate Creative Directors, Art Directors, Copywriters, Designers (UI/UX, Digital, Print), Motion Designers, 3D Artists, Illustrators, Retouchers, Production Artists, Creative Technologists, Content Creators, and Social Media Specialists.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Operations, Advertising, Marketing, or related field (or equivalent experience).
4+ years of experience in creative resource management, creative operations, traffic management, or creative project management within an agency environment.
Deep understanding of creative agency structure, roles, and the creative development process from brief to delivery.
Proven ability to build relationships with creative teams and earn their trust as a strategic partner, not just a scheduler.
Strong analytical skills balanced with emotional intelligence to navigate creative personalities and preferences.
Excellent communication skills with ability to translate between "creative speak" and "business speak."
Understanding of creative project lifecycles, including typical timelines for different creative deliverables.
Experience managing creative teams through high-pressure situations like pitches, launches, and production deadlines.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning and managing creative resource assignments and extensions, understanding the ebb and flow of campaign cycles, pitch demands, and production schedules.
Monitor and review creative capacity across disciplines, recognizing when teams need breathing room between intensive projects versus when they're ready for the next creative challenge.
Lead creative staffing meetings with Creative Directors and department heads to understand impacts to resource needs (new pitches, concept revisions, production rushes, campaign extensions).
Understand the creative brief requirements and match talent based on portfolio strengths, industry experience, and creative chemistry with existing teams.
Maintain deep knowledge of each creative's specialized skills—who excels at pharma versus retail, who has automotive experience, which designers are strongest in digital versus traditional, who can handle both concepting and finish work.
Document creative team configurations that work well together and leverage these insights for future project staffing.
Navigate the delicate balance of creative preferences while meeting business needs—understanding when a creative needs variety versus when they need to stay on an account for continuity.
Track creative utilization with awareness that creative work isn't always "billable time"—accounting for concepting, inspiration, skill development, and creative refresh time.
Partner with Creative Directors to understand upcoming pitch needs and ensure appropriate creative firepower is available without burning out the A-team.
Facilitate cross-functional creative partnerships, understanding how strategy, account, and project management integrate with creative workflow.
Manage freelance creative relationships and understand when to tap into the freelance network versus stretch internal teams.
Proactively review the creative pipeline, from RFPs to production, understanding the different resource needs at each phase.
Serve as creative talent advocate, ensuring creatives aren't just "resources" but are matched with projects that develop their portfolios and careers.
Understand the impact of moving creatives between accounts, including knowledge transfer, creative continuity, and client relationship considerations.
Collaborate with other Resource Managers across dentsu's creative network to share talent and best practices.