Head of Creative Operations

Description Pop! Promos is looking to add a Head of Creative Operations to our growing team! We are looking for someone who is equal parts strategy and operator, energized by AI and automation, obsessed with quality at scale, and fluent in the language of both technical design and creative. This role will lead the department responsible for creating hundreds of on-demand designs every week and own the vision, output, and performance of the Creative Services team. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-moving environment where big ideas get implemented, not just talked about. If you've ever wanted to reimagine what a modern creative operation can look like, this is the seat for you. ****This is not a creative role. It is an operations and leadership role inside a creative environment. The right candidate understands design at a technical level, can coach artists, set standards, and hold them accountable. This person knows how to run a team that produces hundreds of pieces of artwork per week without letting quality slip. If you've led high-volume creative operations and have the data instincts to match, this could be the job for you! Pop! Promos is one of the fastest-growing suppliers in the $25 billion promotional products industry. We create on trend, full color, promotional products that help brands stand out and connect with their audiences. Voted one of PPAI's 2025 "Greatest Companies to Work For" in our industry, we pride ourselves on our great company culture and strong values, propelled by our ambitious and forward-thinking team. At Pop! Promos, we enjoy the flexibility of our hybrid policy, providing two work-from-home days a week! What You'll Do: Provide strategic leadership over the Creative Services department: Shape how Pop! Promos uses virtual artwork to create demand, accelerate sales cycle and win distributor loyalty Team Leadership : Direct management of the Creative Services Manager plus oversight of the creative services team. Set annual and quarterly goals aligned to company priorities and maintain accountability for team performance. Technical design quality at scale: Establish and maintain a quality review framework that scales with volume to ensure all artwork meets technical standards, product specifications and brand accuracy. Departmental reporting: Own all departmental metrics including artist productivity, capacity and quality. Analyze data to identify inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement. Workflow and process optimization: Partner with Business Operations to evaluate and improve processes. Lead the department’s adoption of automation platforms and AI tools to increase output capacity and reduce turnaround time. Sales Enablement and client support: Work with sales leadership to understand client requirements and translate feedback into improved artwork quality. Identify opportunities to expand Creative Services capabilities in ways that create measurable client value. Requirements What We're Looking For: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, Creative Management or a related field. 10+ years of experience in a creative environment, with 5+ years in a supervisory or management role. Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop Proven track record of using data and reporting to drive operational decisions and improve team performance. Hands-on experience with AI tools and automation platforms, with genuine enthusiasm for technology adoption Experience managing remote or overseas teams preferred Background in branded merchandise, promotional products, or apparel is a strong plus Why You’ll Love It Here Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and market Comprehensive Benefit Package including health Insurance, dental and vision, STD and LTD, company paid Life Insurance and retirement plan with company match. Hybrid work environment, Paid time off, company holidays. Frequent company-sponsored team activities Exceptional career advancement opportunities Fun, dog friendly office Summer Fridays We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status .