Supervisor, Creative Services and Strategy (Temporary, Full-time) Vancouver

Are you ready to lead a creative team and bring meaningful campaigns to life that inspire hope and support lasting change in our community?

Reporting to the Manager, Marketing (MM) the Supervisor Creative Services & Strategy (SCSs) is responsible for overseeing creative strategy, the creative process and project management for Union Gospel Mission’s Creative Services (CS) team. Working closely with the Marketing & Communications team, the SCSS champions, stewards and elevates the UGM brand, developing brand guidelines, creative standards and consistency across channels. The SCSS leads the CS team in concepting and executing deliverables that meet fundraising, marketing and organizational goals. The SCSS coordinates the planning, resourcing, and scheduling of CS deliverables within established timelines and budgets. As the liaison between internal clients and CS, the SCSS provides excellent client service throughout all stages of a project.

This is a temporary, full-time (37.5 hours per week) position. The starting range for this position is $31.92 to $34.88 per hour.

Who We Are

Demonstrating the love of Christ, UGM feeds hope and changes lives through a faith-based continuum of care. We are a proud member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and have earned the Best Christian Workplace award again in 2021. We provide competitive salaries, generous vacation and sick leave, an RRSP matching program, as well as the potential for educational assistance and flexible work arrangements. In addition, our extensive benefits plan is fully employer-paid and includes extended dental and medical, as well as $4,500 per year in pooled paramedical expenses. A focus on employee resilience, support for professional development, engagement in meaningful work, and a fun and caring environment are all part of being a member of the UGM team. If you are someone who desires to learn and grow, has a passion to serve and make a difference, and connects with others with both humility and humour, then you will be a great fit at UGM.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Creative Strategy Lead

• With the Manager, Marketing, align creative direction and brand with UGM’s overall strategic plan, fundraising goals and multi-channel campaigns. Multi-channel campaigns include: advertising, print, digital, broadcast (radio, television), out of home (transit, billboards, bus shelters), signage, vehicle wraps, banners and special events.
• Work closely with Senior Development Officer, Marketing to ensure all creative assets effectively support campaign tactics and goals.
• Lead a collaborative creative process with the CS team, internal clients and project stakeholders to brainstorm and creatively solution marketing and communication pieces that meet a project’s goals, messaging, target audiences, and creative strategy as outlined in the creative brief. This includes Research & Discovery, Concept Development & Presentation, Storyboarding, and Design Development.
• Lead discovery meetings with internal clients to identify project goals, objectives and deliverables.
• Develop clear, actionable creative briefs based on client discovery meetings which outline a project's purpose, objectives, measurable goals, target audiences and insights, creative deliverables, creative direction, and details for each creative involved, ensuring CS team members have all resources needed to successfully execute on their assigned tasks.
• Develop creative strategy for deliverables based on client goals, objectives, budget, and target audiences, making clear recommendations on the deliverables and creative direction that will best meet the project's purposes.
• Conduct target audience insight as needed to develop creative strategy that informs the verbal and visual language so that CS team members have a unified creative direction, and so that final deliverables resonate with target audience motivations, needs, and goals.
• Communicate regularly with internal clients to provide updates and project proofs.
• Develop and maintain feedback loop process for internal clients and CS team.
• Submit UGM materials created by CS for award consideration in applicable arenas.

Project Management & Production

• Oversee production of creative, cost effective, engaging solutions for communicating UGM’s message to a vast audience of community members, donors, volunteers and internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage the efficient sequencing and execution of projects and campaign work by balancing schedules, deadlines and resources, and by ensuring timely rollout of all tasks.
• Coordinate the assignment and delivery of all incoming projects via Project Request Forms. Create and execute project work plans using Asana project management software.
• Assign production hours to projects and ensure projects stay within time and budget allocations.
• Assign projects to CS team members and support team members by ensuring all project information, resources, elements, and references are accessible and contained with Asana projects and creative briefs.
• Proactively develop and improve project management processes on Asana - such as developing and using project templates, setting up AI automations to reduce administrative tasks and creating processes to collect post-project feedback.
• In collaboration with the CS team, administer UGM’s digital asset management platform.
• Work with CS team members to oversee vendor relations and identify needs, assess capabilities, and make recommendations on print suppliers and external contractors.
• Develop and maintain intuitive and effective coding system for projects for shared folders and project management
• Process all vendor and supplier invoices, track expenditures and, with the approval of the MM and/or Director, Strategy & Marketing, manage the CS budget.
• Coordinate deliveries of marketing and promotional materials with internal clients and suppliers.
• Request stationary, office equipment, and supplies for CS team.

Leadership & Management

• Provide creative direction and communicate feedback to the CS team.
• Commit to providing servant-leadership nourishing a truthful, forgiving, approachable, joyful, healthy environment.
• Model open communication and work collaboratively within the External Engagement department, and UGM as a whole, for the good of the organization, in support of UGM’s mission, core values and strategic plan.
• Manage time effectively and diligently meets all deadlines, both internal and external.
• Supervise the CS Team and external contractors in the production and delivery of UGM branding, communication, fundraising, marketing, and promotional materials.
• In consultation with the MM, participate in the recruitment, training, development and performance management of the CS team.
• Implement People & Culture, Safety and operational policies and procedures.
• Approve annual vacation schedule; report and track Payroll time-logs including absences.

General

• Adhere to all UGM published policies, practices and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Post-Secondary education with a degree or diploma in business, marketing or related creative discipline(i.e. graphic design, photography, video production, content creation, UX, UI, web development).
• Consideration may be given to alternate combinations of lived experience and education.
• Minimum 2 years project management experience.
• Minimum 2 years supervisory experience.
• Previous experience working with or on a creative team.
• Strong project management skills and demonstrated ability to assign staff resources, coordinate project segments, and deliver projects on time and within budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a collaborative creative process.
• Ability to communicate creative direction and lead a team to execute creative vision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Intermediate computer skills (Excel, Word and Outlook).
• Proficient in project management software such as Asana and collaboration tools such as Microsoft SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive and MS Teams.
• Experience using an Apple iOS is an asset.
• Experience with digital asset management platforms is an asset.

Working Conditions

• Work Location

Work is generally performed indoors within an office environment, with standard office equipment available.

• Physical Requirements

Work is generally sedentary in nature, but may require standing, walking or reaching for up to 10% of the time. Employee is required to look at a computer screen and use a keyboard for up to 90% of the time.

• Work Conditions

Working environment is generally favorable. Lighting and temperature are adequate. Work is performed amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises.

• Hours of Work

Moderate overtime may be required.

• Hazards

Hazards are considered minor and controllable.

• Other

Due to the nature of the job, and our commitment to a safe environment, the candidate is subject to a criminal record check and must submit a current Driver’s Abstract.