Creative Production Manager

Our client is hiring a full-time Production Manager!

Our client creates and distribute media including web, print, video, social and events and own a portfolio of the most well-regarded editorial brands in the country.

The Production Manager leads the people and production environment responsible for executing approved client programs. This role owns capacity, allocation, production standards, operational performance and continuous improvement. It works closely with the Senior Account Director, Project Managers and functional leaders, but does not own the overall commercial relationship or the detailed project plan.

Core Mandate

1. Deliver predictable, high-quality production across complex, high-volume retail and commercial programs for Walmart Canada.
2. Build a disciplined capacity and resource-management model that aligns labour with forecast demand.
3. Strengthen quality assurance, workflow consistency and operational accountability across all production functions.
4. Enable the adoption of Content Factori, automation, AI-assisted production and scalable hybrid delivery models.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning and Control

1. Translate approved account plans, project schedules and volume forecasts into practical production calendars and resource plans.
2. Manage day-to-day work allocation across creative, data, studio, production, digital, photography and quality assurance resources.
3. Balance work across Canadian and offshore teams while maintaining clear ownership, hand-offs and quality expectations.

People and Capacity Leadership

1. Provide direct and matrixed leadership to production resources supporting Walmart and Commercial clients.
2. Set clear performance expectations and coach team members on quality, productivity, collaboration and accountability.
3. Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, cross-training and succession for critical production roles.

Technology and Process Improvement

1. Lead practical adoption of Content Factori, workflow automation, AI-assisted production, proofing and digital asset management tools.
2. Partner with Product and Engineering to define operational requirements, test improvements and support successful releases.
3. Identify manual activities, duplicate effort and workflow friction that can be eliminated or simplified.

Financial and Operational Discipline

1. Manage production staffing and delivery decisions against approved budgets, margin expectations and volume forecasts.
2. Provide reliable labour, capacity and cost inputs for forecasts, estimates, proposals and new program mobilization.

Client and Project Support

1. Provide the Senior Account Director and Project Managers with clear operational status, capacity risks and recovery plans.
2. Participate in client operating reviews when production expertise, issue resolution or mobilization planning is required.
3. Support estimates, statements of work, RFP responses and implementation plans with realistic production assumptions.

Candidate Experience and Qualifications

1. Approximately 8+ years of experience in production management, creative operations, studio operations or integrated content delivery, including meaningful people-leadership responsibility.
2. Experience managing high-volume, deadline-driven retail, agency, marketing services or content production environments.
3. Strong understanding of production workflows spanning print, digital, e-commerce, photography and omnichannel content.
4. Demonstrated experience with capacity planning, resource allocation, workflow management and operational forecasting.
5. A track record of improving quality, productivity, turnaround times or operating costs.
6. Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in a matrixed environment.
7. Comfort using workflow data, productivity measures and financial information to guide decisions.
8. Experience implementing new production systems, workflow tools, automation or process improvements.
9. Experience with offshore or hybrid delivery models is an asset.