Offer summary

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or Project Management., 15+ years of experience in creative or marketing operations within large organizations or agencies., Proficiency in creative workflows, financial management, and resource planning., Strong knowledge of digital, video, packaging, and retail production..

Key responsibilities:

Lead and manage the end-to-end creative asset production process.

Develop and optimize workflows, systems, and tools to enhance efficiency and quality.

Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and vendor negotiations for creative projects.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of creative outputs.

Job description

Job Description:

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities.

If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.

The Role:

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Global Director of Creative Operations to lead and optimize the full concept to production lifecycle for creative assets that power our global brand and marketing initiatives. This role ensures our creative teams deliver exceptional work, on time, on budget, and at scale. You will drive operational excellence across production, process, tools, and resourcing within a fast-paced, tech-driven environment.

We’re looking for a strategic, detail-oriented leader with a proven track record in creative operations, production management, process optimization, financial oversight, and vendor partnerships, someone who thrives at the intersection of creativity and execution.

What You'll Do:

Lead Production & Resourcing for Creative Projects

Ensure on-time and on-budget development of creative assets, including branded content, video, website graphics, social visuals, product packaging, event materials, and in-store creative.
Manage the allocation and mix of resources (i.e. designers, copywriters, editors) based on project requirements, assigning internal, external and temporary resources as needed.
Translate briefs into actionable, scoped production plans with clear deliverables and timelines.
Ensure efficient handoffs between design and development (especially for web assets and app visuals).
Develop and manage a scalable resourcing model to support fluctuating global demand.
Forecast and allocate talent across initiatives based on business priorities.
Maintain a strong freelance and vendor network to support peak workloads.

Build Scalable Systems, Infrastructure & Processes

Design and implement streamlined workflows to improve speed, consistency, and quality across creative projects.
Identify production bottlenecks and drive process improvements informed by KPIs and performance data.
Align creative operations with broader marketing priorities and campaign timelines.
Build scalable systems for asset storage, reuse, localization, and version control.
Maintain brand and packaging guidelines and document creative workflows and systems.
Implement and manage platforms for asset management, reviews, and version control (ClickUp, Figma, Adobe CC, DAM, etc.).

Oversee Financials, Tools & Vendor Operations

Own and forecast the global creative operations budget.
Track project costs, monitor ROI, and maintain financial reporting mechanisms.
Negotiate and manage contracts with vendors and agencies to optimize quality and value.
Evaluate and implement creative tools and project management systems to enhance team collaboration and efficiency.
Champion adoption of new technologies across global teams, including emerging AI tools.
Stay up to date with industry trends and recommend strategic tech investments.

Drive Collaboration, Leadership & Creative Excellence

Partner with the Global Creative Director to bring the creative vision to life within operational realities.
Collaborate with the Brand and Product Marketing Director to align on priorities, timelines, and project planning.
Act as the go-to operational lead for internal stakeholders, ensuring transparent communication on project status, risks, and delivery.
Ensure all creative outputs are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards.
Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing creative operations team.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
Provide coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities for team members.

What You'll Bring:

A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Project Management, or related field.
15+ years of experience in creative operations, studio production, or marketing operations in large organizations or agencies, preferably with a global scope.
Proven expertise in managing creative workflows, financial operations, and resource planning.
Deep understanding of creative development processes and agency/vendor models.
Strong background in digital, video, packaging, and retail production.
Proficiency in tools like ClickUp, Asana, SharePoint, DAM platforms, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Analytical mindset with experience using data to inform and optimize operations.
Ability to thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments with multiple priorities.
PMP or relevant project management certification is a plus.

The Perks:

Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment
Subsidized in-office lunches
Full benefits starting from your first day
Paid Volunteer days, unlimited sick days, and 3% RRSP matching
Monthly commuting allowance for those who are hybrid
Lifestyle spending account
Talent and development training budget
Free Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobook
Weekly Kobo Tech University sessions
Maternity/paternity leave top up
Dog friendly office

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global ecommerce companies, with the world’s most innovative e-reading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million + customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning e-readers, and top-ranking mobile apps. Kobo is a part of the Rakuten group of companies.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.

Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from Rakuten. Rakuten does not send unsolicited job offers or request money during the recruitment process. Learn more: https://rakutenemploymentalert.com/

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