Creative Operations Manager

At Wizards of the Coast, we connect people around the world through play and imagination. From our genre-defining games like Magic: The Gathering® and Dungeons & Dragons® to our growing multiverse, we continue to innovate and build new ways to foster friendship and connection. That’s where you come in!

Magic: the Gathering, the world’s first and best-in-class Trading Card Game, is hiring a new Creative Operations Manager! We have an immediate need for a Creative Operations Manager to support our flagship game brand, Magic: The Gathering.

An ideal candidate will have a proven track record in creative production and working with a high volume of freelancers. The candidate should be well-versed in outsourcing strategies and process enhancements that drive efficiency and minimize risk. They must possess exceptional skills in comprehending and interpreting the intricacies of creative vendor contracts and must demonstrate outstanding project management abilities, meticulous attention to detail, and excellent communication skills. An affinity for working with artists and writers is a plus!

What You'll Do:

Under the direction of the Senior Creative Manager, you will:

• Forge strong collaborative partnerships between the creative and business teams (purchasing, finance, and legal), provide strategic thought leadership, and act as the creative team liaison, supervising vendor outsourcing and contract management workflows.
• Act as the primary contact for communication and coordination with external creative vendors regarding their contracts and permissions. Review public or consumer-facing materials and advise teams and vendors on contractual implications.
• Support the creative team in roster expansion efforts. Work closely with Producers to set up statements of work, source vendors, and negotiate contracts. Conduct due diligence to ensure vendor capabilities align with organizational needs.
• Supervise vendor databases and workflows, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and standardization across multiple teams. Deliver and maintain comprehensive reports on vendor management databases, while proactively driving continuous improvement to elevate workflows.
• Monitor and report on contract terms, proactively addressing risk, and ensuring timely updates and amendments as needed.
• Lead and implement improvement initiatives for vendor outsourcing workflows and databases, ensuring smooth transitions while maintaining an engaging and encouraging environment throughout the change process.
• Create and distribute detailed documentation for cross-functional vendor management workflows. Build information resources, conduct trainings, and provide 1:1 support as needed.

What You'll Bring:

• 3-5 years experience as a producer or vendor manager, with a focus on outsourcing creative work and managing freelancers.
• Deep understanding of dependency-driven pipelines, scheduling, and project management practices.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, fostering collaboration and motivating cross-functional teams. Experience leading organizational change and a strong understanding of process improvement workflows and methodologies.
• Proficiency in risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies. Exceptional negotiation skills and experience in contract management.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills that build strong relationships with both external vendors and internal team members. Ability to adapt communication style to various audiences, convey expectations clearly, and be responsive to inquiries and concerns.
• An analytical mindset, using data to advise decisions. Proactively adept at problem-solving, anticipating challenges, and implementing timely solutions.
• Technical experience using Excel or other project management tools for planning, tracking, and reporting.
• A forward-thinking attitude that eagerly embraces new technologies and innovations, consistently seeking ways to enhance outsourcing processes.
• Outstanding time management abilities; capable of prioritizing and balancing multiple projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines.

Nice to Have:

• Experience using contract management tools like DocuSign.

Compensation Range, Currency USD:

• Starting Pay Range: $96,960

• Pay Range End: $168,480

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for satisfactory performance in this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the duties, responsibilities, or requirements of the position.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you are selected to move forward in our application process and need to request an accommodation, please let your recruiter or coordinator know.