Associate Director of Resource Management (EMEA Creative Services) 

Associate Director of Resource Management (EMEA Creative Services) 

Title subject to change based on level.

London or Manchester

We are looking for an experienced and strategic-minded Resource Management leader for our EMEA Creative & Media services. This role is critical for ensuring efficient resource allocation and capacity management while accommodating the dynamic digital marketing landscape and supporting our business growth

JOB PURPOSE

In this role, you will be responsible for the effective utilisation of our billable team members across the EMEA Creative & Media craft. The Creative & Media craft is made up of approximately 1,000 billable individuals across a number of service lines and departments including; Creative, Design, Digital Marketing, Media, Production and more. The Director of Resource Management will be responsible for ensuring that our casting practices uplevel the potential of our people, that we operate nimbly and flex at pace with client needs, and that we have appropriate billable headcount to achieve our business goals. 

This means vigilant balancing of the supply and demand of our most important asset, our people. You will be an expert matchmaker - understanding project needs, the team’s skills (aptitudes and appetite), and how to curate the best team for the best work possible. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for a team of 8 Resource Managers across EMEA Creative & Media and will have 4 direct reports.

The EMEA Director of Resource Management will proactively partner with the Client Services and Sales team to evaluate our new business pipeline to plan for future resourcing needs and optimise our utilisation and bench capacity within the team. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal relationship skills, an analytical mindset, as well as a deep understanding of the digital marketing craft (specifically within Creative, Media, Social, Programmatic, SEO and Search).

Key Responsibilities:

• Capacity Planning Strategy: Work closely with operations, client service, project managers, finance, and department heads to forecast hiring needs and ensure adequate capacity to meet revenue, project and sales needs.
• Resource Optimisation: Identify and evaluate capacity constraints and opportunities within the organisation (bandwidth and burnout), making data-driven recommendations for resource allocations, nearshoring, and utilisation optimisation.
• Skill Management: Identify skill gaps within the regional teams and work with craft leads as well as P&C to address talent needs through hiring, training, or reassignment.
• Demand Forecasting: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop accurate demand forecasts, encompassing both short-term and long-term client requirements.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify potential risks and challenges in capacity planning and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with various departments, including account management, creative teams, operations, and sales, to ensure alignment between capacity planning and client satisfaction.
• Conflict Resolution: Act as a mediator in resource conflicts, prioritisation challenges, or overlapping project demands, ensuring equitable distribution of resources.
• Performance Monitoring: Track key resource metrics and provide regular reports to regional and global leadership on resource utilisation, bench capacity, and nearshore and freelance ratios.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure compliance with company policies and guidelines related to resource management, including time tracking, resource allocations and reporting.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Extensive experience in strategic capacity planning (resource management) and utilisation optimization in the digital marketing industry, with a minimum of 5 years in resource management roles
• Strong understanding of digital marketing, technology, and creative services and how projects are delivered and staffed to meet client expectations, on time and on budget
• Proficiency in resource management software and tools
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with proficiency in data analysis and forecasting tools
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across various departments
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Well organised, process-driven and dedicated, with an outgoing personality and can-do attitude
• Exceptional diligence and attention to detail as well as resourcefulness and quick, practical thinking in a demanding environment
• Team-oriented mindset with a focus on collaboration
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

WE OFFER:

• An excellent salary based on experience and equal pay policies
• Hybrid working: you have the choice to work from our office or remotely, and we have core working hours where you can choose your start and finish times to suit you
• Pension, free private healthcare, mental health support, and company sick pay scheme
• 25 days paid holiday with the opportunity to buy extra days
• Refreshments are provided in the office all week, as well as drinks at 4 pm on a Friday.
• We celebrate successes by rewarding teams when big projects go live and honouring the year’s top achievements at our annual awards ceremony
• A reputation for doing good. DEPT® has been a Certified B Corp® since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards.
• Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together!
• The opportunity for possibility. We want to enable you to do what you do best and help you develop your skills further with training, development and certifications.
• Global annual DEPT® Cares Month in which employees come together and donate their skills to support local charities.

WHO ARE WE? 

We are pioneers at heart. What does that mean? We are always looking forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating. 

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 30+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, and your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our client's problems, no matter where you are in the world.

DEPT® is committed to making a positive impact on the planet and since 2021 has been Climate Neutral and B Corporation certified.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION 

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.