Chas Clarkson is a leader in Christmas, Illumination, and Experiential design, creating award-winning installations for iconic public spaces and retail hubs across Australia and New Zealand, including Westfield, QIC Shopping Centres, Capital City Airports, and The City of Sydney.
We're seeking an experienced Design Studio Manager to join our dynamic Cross-Discipline team at our Botany headquarters. Reporting to the Creative Director and working closely with the Experience Project Managers and Production Team, you'll help deliver large-scale projects that bring JOY to life for our client's communities.
The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator, comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders, and thrive under tight deadlines. A positive, people person with a can-do attitude is essential in our fast-paced, creative environment. The Creative Manager / Design Studio manager will play a key role in delivering Chas Clarkson's signature Christmas landscapes, lighting activations, and experiential roadshows.
Primary Responsibilities Include : Collaborate with the Creative Director to maintain a profitable, high-performing design studio. Manage annual leave and time-off scheduling for the design team, ensuring adequate resources for business needs. Lead recruitment, resource management, and onboarding of full-time and casual team members; maintain a talent pool and build strong relationships with external creative suppliers. Work with Experience Project Managers (EPMs) to forecast and secure approval for creative hours for client and internal projects. Ensure all creative hours, kits, and external resources are logged in our quoting system in the correct project phase before work begins. Manage workflow scheduling via the project capacity planner, ensuring deadlines are met and resources are aligned with business expectations. Identify and resolve resource challenges during the Design phases of client projects. Track and report Creative labour budgets weekly. Manage the creation of product specifications (CSD) and instruction manuals during the Product Specifications phase. Oversee management, upgrades, and seat allocation of creative platforms and subscriptions. Manage storage of historical and current Design files. Champion Smartsheet (Project Management Tool) and our quoting platforms, developing them to meet studio needs and training team members. Handle Purchase Orders and manage invoices from external creative suppliers. QC / Editing Creative Presentations & Documentation : Review and edit creative presentations and documentation for accuracy and clarity. Maintaining and Updating Presentation Templates, Floor Plans : Update and manage presentation templates and floor plans. Marketing Tools, Content & Website Management : Oversee content creation, marketing tools, and website updates. Perform other duties as assigned by the Creative Director & CEO. Candidate Requirements & Core Competencies : Creative Problem Solver : At least 5 years of experience managing a design studio or creative team. Graphic Design Skills : Proficient in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) with strong attention to visual composition and branding. Highly Organised : Strong attention to detail, able to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Excellent Communicator : Confident and effective in communication. Team Player : Passionate about leading, motivating, and inspiring both internal and external teams. Negotiation & Stakeholder Management : Strong negotiation skills, focused on the bigger picture while maintaining attention to detail. Business Acumen : Ability to prioritise projects and tasks for maximum return. Technical Knowledge : Familiar with set, prop construction, and lighting (a plus). Photography & Management of Experiential Project Documentation : Skilled in managing the process of documenting experiential projects for portfolios, with photography skills as a bonus. Flexible Working Hours : Willing to adjust working hours to meet job demands, with a remuneration program rewarding flexibility. Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Design, Art / Creative, and Information Technology
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