Creative Services Manager

ZS is a professional services firm that works side by side with companies to help develop and deliver products that drive customer value and company results. From R&D to portfolio strategy, customer insights, marketing and sales strategy, operations and technology, we leverage our deep industry expertise and leading-edge analytics to create solutions that work in the real world. Our most valuable asset is our people—a fact that’s reflected in our values-driven organization in which new perspectives are integral and new ideas are celebrated. ZSers are passionately committed to helping companies and their customers thrive in industries ranging from healthcare and life sciences, to high-tech, financial services, travel and transportation, and beyond. ZS’s Corporate Enterprise functions operate the firm’s core internal functions. Our global teams comprise team-oriented, pragmatic and results-driven people who thrive in a challenging work environment. Our people come from diverse backgrounds but share a passion for quality customer service and dedication—whether our customer is a client or another ZS employee. The Marketing & Communications team helps build the ZS brand, champion thought leadership, support business development and engage our past, present and future workforce. We seek a Creative Services Manager to join our Marketing Operations team in Evanston, IL. You may be a terrific fit for this role if you are a creative visionary who understands client needs, creative strategy, user experience, and the latest technologies to elevate ZS’s brand promise via design. In this role you will inspire and lead our creative teams to make the hard work of producing blockbuster campaigns look like magic. You will also keep the day-to-day production work rolling smoothly. Most likely you are a Jack-of-all creative trades and have deep mastery in many of the disciplines you will lead. You have a passion for sharing that experience with a diverse and growing global team. You will report to the Marketing Operations Director. Responsibilities Lead the firm’s primary market-facing design vision, creative department, team, workload, and financials Supervise all work completed by the creative department, including assets for web, videos, interactive online experiences, social media, digital advertising, print adverting, events, books, collateral and more Cast the creative vision for the firm and guide your Art Directors and teams to achieve it Plan and/or oversee the development of company advertisements and major campaigns Consult with the Brand Manager on design interpretation of the brand Recruit, hire, and train team leads and managers Supervise, challenge, and encourage creative team Drive use of latest appropriate digital mediums and general ongoing transformation of the team’s processes Pitch ideas and concepts to executive stakeholders Work with executives and other creative leaders to set project deadlines and content goals Present project information, including deadlines and budgets, to executives and internal clients Counsel internal creative agencies on ZS design standards (ZS has an internal agency that supports design work for some of ZS’s clients and one that supports ZS proposal work) Facilitate creative project kickoffs Lead brainstorming sessions with creative teams (or delegate to Creative Director) Benchmark budget expenditures against projections Analyze work to ensure projects stays within brand standards Suggest changes to workflows to improve efficiencies and cut costs Spot-check team’s work for quality and creativity Negotiate contracts with external vendors Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in related discipline + 10-12+ years relevant work experience (RWE), or master’s degree + 8-12 years RWE Creative thinking – master of big ideas and small innovations A good storyteller Leadership: You need to work with a range of personalities to harness the potential of the unified process Organized and efficient multitasker A people person with excellent interpersonal skills Ability to empathize with clients and team members Cool under pressure A strong, decisive decision maker Flexible yet able to stay on point Collaborator that knows the whole is greater than the sum of its parts Skills in graphic design with a good sense of layout best practices Digital or print production guru Sales and/or customer service experience Adobe Creative Suite expertise Project management expert Time-management skills Public speaking skills Analytical and problem-solving skills Attention to detail Exceptional planning, change management and organization skills Ability to oversee projects, budgets, and the creative department ZS is a global consulting firm. Fluency in English is required; additional fluency in at least one European or Asian language is desirable. Candidates must possess work authorization for their intended country of employment. An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered. ZS offers a competitive compensation package with salary and bonus incentives, complete medical/dental/life insurance programs and retirement savings benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.