Managing Director - Creative Agency, London, UK

Wolf & Badger Studios is a boutique creative and production agency with state-of-the-art East London photography and film studios. We provide our ever growing roster of well-known local and international clients, a wide range of creative services that sets their brands apart from their competition. We have built a strong community around our culture of creativity, innovation and collaboration, and with a talented team of 12, the business has limitless potential and growth aspirations to match.

Wolf & Badger Studios is a fun, open and honest place to work where we support each other for our mutual success and we are now looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial Managing Director to build on this, to devise and implement the studios business strategy and take a lead on the exciting next phase of growth. As both a hands-on and strategic leader, you will be responsible for our commercial business operations with a broad remit covering finance, operations and new business.

Reporting directly to the CEO of our parent company - Wolf & Badger - you will level up our operational efficiencies while innovating and successfully actioning new client acquisition strategies. You will have a depth of understanding and experience in creative agency businesses in order to drive our performance metrics and will be comfortable taking on full P&L responsibility for the Studios. You will thrive on the excitement and uncertainty that comes with rapid change and growth in a startup environment.

You will be supported onsite at our London studios by our collaborative and experienced Studios General Manager who leads our creative production team. While settling into the role, you also will have regular check-in meetings with our Australia-based Head of Studios who is transitioning to a new role within the group.

Responsibilities

Finance

• Design and implement a financial and operations strategy to set and meet the studio’s business goals
• Ownership of all P&L, financials and commercials
• Maintain, track and forecast our finances with best practice
• Produce finance reports regularly for our board and CEO

Operations

• Ensure team scheduling, recruitment and systems are running effectively
• Own the relationships with key 3rd parties such as our landlord
• Analyse and make improvements to production workflows and systems of large scale photography & videography projects (multi-set shoots, high volume e-commerce, big budget creative etc.)
• Roll out a CRM system (Hubspot preferrable) to manage a lead pipeline effectively
• Lead the studios team to achieve KPIs in line with our mission and goals
• Work closely with the Studios General Manager to effectively manage the team and nurture our positive, creative and unique team culture

Growth

• Conduct market research and identify industry trends to maximise new business opportunities
• Build and maintain a strong and consistent brand for Wolf & Badger Studios amongst clients and cultivate new and existing relationships
• Create new business leads and drive growth of our creative services offering
• Increase the visibility and brand profile of the business

Requirements

• Commercial management experience in an entrepreneurial and scaling creative agency or studio environment
• A track record of analysing and improving the effectiveness of operational processes
• Strong strategic business planning with advanced skills in forecasting, analysing performance metrics and project-management
• Knowledge across the creative services sector and an understanding of brand strategy, creative production, photography, video, web design, e-commerce, social media, email marketing and online advertising
• Experience in successfully implementing software such as CRM systems
• Experience managing client relationships, networking and building long lasting relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to clearly articulate ideas and innovative solutions
• Effective team management capabilities that support high performance and engagement in creative teams

Benefits

• £65-75k salary (dependent on experience) + growth incentives
• Exciting, fun, fast paced creative workplace in East London
• ClassPass membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible working from home policy
• 25 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays
• Paid 'pet-ernity' and heartbreak leave
• Discounts at our parent company Wolf & Badger Ltd

Wolf & Badger is an equal opportunities employer and actively supports Human Rights and all Equality legislation.