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VP, Agency Operations

Brooklyn, NY

Who We Are

We are a well-established independent agency and thriving music business, built to help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges. As a unique mix of experts in culture, technology, and storytelling, we are united by a passion to grow brands in ways that advertising alone can never do. 

We are an entrepreneurial business – not a traditional “ad agency.” That means we value resourcefulness and tenacity just as much as we value creativity and intelligence.  In 2022, Translation was awarded the number three spot in Ad Age’s Agency A-List and AdWeek’s Multicultural Agency of the Year. One year before, Translation was awarded Ad Age’s Small Agency of the Year. We’re unapologetically ambitious, but we’re also a tight-knit crew. 

We are looking for a VP, Agency Operations to join Translation! The VP, Agency Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall operational efficiency, financial health, and scalability of the agency. This leader will bridge the gap between creative vision and business execution, ensuring that our systems, processes, and resources enable our teams to deliver exceptional, impactful creative work on time and on budget.This position requires a strategic thinker who can design and implement operational frameworks that support a high-growth, fast-paced, and highly creative environment.

Please note that this role is a Hybrid role: four days in office and one day remote.


What You'll Do

Agency Process and Workflow Optimization

  • Design & Implement Processes: Establish, document, and continuously optimize agency-wide Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the entire project lifecycle, from client brief and scope definition through creative execution, production, delivery, and post-project review.
  • Creative Operations Management: Work closely with Creative, Account, and Program Management teams to streamline creative workflows, production processes, and asset management to maximize creative output and quality.
  • Technology & Tools: Evaluate, select, and manage the agency's operational technology stack (e.g., project management software, resource planning tools, etc.) to drive efficiency and transparency.
  • Onboarding & Training: Partner with the People team and agency leadership to assess training and action training needs including agency specific new hire onboarding & integration.

Financial & Business Management

  • Budgeting & Forecasting: Collaborate with Finance and Senior Leadership on annual budget planning, operational forecasts, and monitoring agency profitability.
  • Resource Allocation & Capacity Planning: Oversee agency resource management, including staffing, freelance utilization, and project assignments, to ensure optimal utilization rates and prevent bottlenecks or burnout.
  • Scope & Pricing: Partner with Account Leadership to develop accurate project scopes, estimates, and pricing models that ensure profitability and value for the client.
  • Vendor/Partner Management: Negotiate and manage contracts and relationships with key operational vendors, technology providers, and external consultants.

Team Leadership and Management

  • Lead Operations Team: Direct and mentor the Program Management and Resourcing teams, setting performance goals and promoting professional development.
  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as the primary operational liaison between all departments (Creative, Account, Strategy, Finance, HR) to ensure cohesive collaboration and communication.
  • Culture & Performance: Champion a culture of accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement while protecting the creative environment.
    Business Development & Strategy
  • Strategic Planning: Contribute to the agency's long-term business strategy, identifying operational capabilities needed to support growth and new service offerings.
  • RFP/Pitch Support: Oversee the operational and staffing components of new business proposals, ensuring the agency's delivery approach is sound, efficient, and compelling.
  • Operational Reporting: Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting dashboards (e.g., utilization, profitability, on-time delivery) for the leadership team to drive data-informed decisions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to influence without authority across creative, account, and strategy teams
  • Strategic thinking capability to translate business objectives into operational frameworks and processes 
  • Financial modeling and forecasting skills, including scope development and pricing strategies
  • Change management expertise with proven ability to implement new processes in fast-paced environments
  • Systems thinking approach to problem-solving and process optimization
  • Ability to balance operational rigor with creative flexibility and agency culture

Minimum Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in Operations Management within a creative agency, advertising, or marketing environment, with at least 3-5 years in a senior leadership role.
  • Deep understanding of the strategy, creative and production processes across various media (digital, video, print, social).
  • Proven track record in designing, implementing, and optimizing complex business processes that balance speed, quality, and cost.
  • Exceptional financial acumen, including experience with agency budgeting, forecasting, and resource management.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Proficiency with modern agency project management and financial software 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Fluent in Google Suite, with emphasis on Sheets and Slides
  • Monday.com or SmartSheets proficiency

About UnitedMasters, Inc.

UnitedMasters Inc. represents the creative solutions company, Translation, and the leading software and services platform for independent creators, UnitedMasters. UnitedMasters enables ownership, exposure, and new paths for financial return for independent creators, while Translation helps brands leverage the power of contemporary culture to achieve transformational growth. Combined, UnitedMasters, Inc. is the world’s leading marketplace for cultural capital, connecting independent artists and brands to realize a future in which all creators own their future. Backed by Alphabet, Andreessen Horowitz, and Apple, UnitedMasters, Inc. is reimagining how brands and artists come together to tell their stories, build profitable growth, and push culture forward.

Salary Hiring Range: $225,000 - $275,000

Our salary ranges are based on paying competitively for our size and industry, and are one part of many compensation, benefits and other reward opportunities we provide (e.g. bonus, stock options, 401(k) match, etc.)

Individual pay rate decisions are based on a number of factors, including qualifications for the role, experience level, skillset, and balancing internal equity relative to peers at the company.  We expect the majority of the candidates who are offered roles at our company to fall healthily throughout the range based on these factors. 

The range above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however we are often open to a wide variety of profiles, and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated with you as a candidate.

The salary range above is for the NY/CA.  As a company, we have a location based strategy, which means the salary range could be lower or higher than this if the role is hired in another location.

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