Resource Manager

SOCIALDEVIANT•Chicago, IL

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Resource Manager at SOCIALDEVIANT is a strategic operator at the center of the agency- equal parts problem solver, planner, relationship builder, and execution lead. This role is responsible for ensuring that the right people, skills, budgets, and tools are aligned to deliver exceptional work efficiently and sustainably. Working in close partnership with Operations and Account leadership, the Resource Manager develops and maintains a holistic view of agency capacity and demand. They proactively allocate and optimize resources across all active and upcoming work, balancing short-term delivery needs with long-term business health. The Resource Manager plays a critical role in preventing bottlenecks, resolving conflicts, forecasting staffing needs, and maintaining financial discipline. They are deeply embedded in the flow of work–monitoring utilization, identifying risks early, and proposing thoughtful solutions that keep projects on track and teams supported. This role requires fluency in project and resource management tools, systems, and best practices, as well as the confidence to continuously refine processes as the agency evolves. The Resource Manager thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment and works seamlessly across disciplines, including account, strategy, creative, production, and operations. The ideal candidate is energized by complexity, motivated by solving problems, and passionate about building smart, flexible systems that enable people to do their best work.

Requirements

5+ years of agency experience
Ability to manage multiple assignments and internal teams across a diverse client portfolio
Demonstrates effective relationship skills with internal teams. Has the ability to adapt to different work styles.
Ability to take initiative, think independently, but know when to seek advice of supervisor and other team members
Effectively works both independently and as a team member; demonstrates autonomy over assigned work while working towards goals shared by the team
Communicate clearly, diplomatically, and proactively to align expectations and resolve issues
Willingness to be both a “thinker” and a “doer”, linking the two to create breakthrough campaigns
Above all, kindness, composure, and relentless curiosity

Nice To Haves

Experience with multiple project and resource management tools is a plus

Responsibilities

Partner with Account Leads, Creative Leads, and the Operations Lead to plan, assign, and optimize internal and external resources across all projects and retainers.
Ensure staffing plans align with project scope, timelines, budgets, and client expectations.
Balance competing priorities across accounts while maintaining team health, fairness, and productivity.
Identify and resolve resource conflicts, gaps, and overlaps before they impact delivery.
Monitor day-to-day project activity and resourcing to ensure work is progressing efficiently and within scope.
Proactively flag risks related to capacity, timing, or budget and collaborate with leadership to course-correct.
Support internal teams in making real-time adjustments to staffing and timelines as project needs evolve.
Step in as a problem-solver when issues arise, generating practical and creative solutions to keep work moving forward.
Partner with Operations to ensure projects are properly resourced to meet financial goals.
Track resource usage, utilization rates, and burn across teams, individuals, and freelancers.
Identify patterns of over- or under-utilization and recommend adjustments to improve efficiency and sustainability.
Support forecasting and reporting to provide leadership with visibility into staffing, capacity, and financial health.
Build, maintain, and actively manage a robust freelance database across all disciplines (strategy, account, creative, production).
Vet, contract, onboard, and manage freelance talent, ensuring quality, availability, and cultural alignment.
Maintain strong relationships with top freelance partners to ensure quick access to trusted talent.
Match talent to work based on skill set, experience, availability, and team dynamics.
Own and refine resource management workflows, documentation, and best practices.
Ensure consistent and effective use of project and resource management tools.
Identify opportunities to improve visibility, efficiency, and collaboration across teams.
Develop and support training initiatives to address skill gaps and evolving agency needs.