Project Manager, Creative Operations

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Universal Products & Experiences Overview:

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and 3rd party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s three lines of business include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, as well as Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. https://www.universalproductsexperiences.com/

Universal Products & Experiences is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest caliber. We are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments that honor the experiences, perspectives, and uniqueness of each colleague.

It is the policy of NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal's affiliated businesses to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

The Project Manager, Creative – Live Action & Character Art will support and manage creative initiatives for the UP&E Brand Creative and Character Art teams. The role is responsible for driving creative process development as well as the milestones and approvals for design guides, packaging guides, retail and marketing guides as well as character art generation and submission reviews.

Working cross-functionally, the Project Manager will oversee timelines, resource planning, and workflow optimization. This individual will play a key role in keeping projects on time, on budget, and on brand—bringing structure to fast-moving creative workstreams and helping establish efficient ways of working.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Creative Operations – Live Action & Character Art, this position is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, proactive and passionate about building operational rigor in a creative environment.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $90,000 - $120,000 (bonus eligible)

Essential Responsibilities

• Works in partnership with the creative team to ensure seamless management of projects across UP&E’s consumer products business
• Delivers creative tools against bi-annual development calendar and flexes to deliver new IP creative tools on shorter timelines, as needed. Facilitates reviews of creative development with product design partners to ensure alignment in proof of concept, work in progress and creative rollout phases.
• Develops and manages timelines for all assigned projects; proactively and continuously manages updates to project trackers, project management tools or other ad hoc reports
• Manages communications and updates to all stakeholders providing status reports, information, and visibility across relevant projects
• Manages approvals waterfall for all projects, including executive-level approval moments
• Acts as liaison for legal, trademark, and 3rd party partner approvals
• Facilitates creative reviews across lines of business, including but not limited to Strategy, Studio, Parks, Games, Live Entertainment, and Publishing
• Works closely with Global Asset Production & Management teams for seamless and timely posting of creative deliverables 
• Leads weekly character art and creative meetings and keeps character art project trackers updated
• Provides creative agenda points for POD and/or meetings led by other teams within the organization
• Builds relationships across the organization and with outside agencies to drive efficiency, productivity and to meet executional goals
• Keeps security of assets top of mind and guides team on tools usage and distribution
• Assists with creative character art and guide audits and/or any research relating to guides developed over the lifecycle of the brand, including but not limited to identifying past character art styles, creative thematics in guides, management and knowledge of the style guide inventory, generating reports and/or pulling PDFs of guides
• Partners with finance to manage budgets, including opening POs, processing invoices and vendor set up
• Supports best-in-class culture for innovation, proactive problem-solving and a positive culture of feedback
• Contributes to Universal’s diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments through collaborative and inclusive project work
•  Additional duties as needed to meet business needs

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 5 years or more of related work experience, ideally in Creative Operations at a film studio
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting/competing priorities and stretch assignments
• Ability to problem solve and be agile in a complex matrixed environment
• Strategic, critical thinker and creative problem solver
• Ability to collaborate, take initiative, follow through and work through ambiguous situations
• Actively contributes to best-in-class culture by embracing change, collaborating with others at various levels, learning from adversity and driving for solutions, proactive problem-solving, sharing best practices and a positive culture of feedback
• Stays current with understanding of business/organizational priorities and evolving industry trends
• Effective communication, including speaking, writing and active listening as well as a professional presentation
• Highest-level project management skills, including attention to detail, time management, prioritization, and multitasking abilities
• Must be self-motivated & enjoy working in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment
• Experience in licensing preferred; understanding of product development cycles desired
• Strong MAC skills and highly proficient in Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Keynote. Proficient in project management software; knowledge of Workfront preferred.
• Knowledge of Acrobat, Photoshop and Illustrator

Eligibility Requirements:

• Interested candidates must submit a resume/CV online to be considered
• Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States
• Must be willing to work in Universal City, CA

Desired Characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree
• PMP Certification
• Comfortable dealing with people at all levels and easily collaborates
• Develops and maintains strong relationships
• Enthusiastic and energetic when interacting with others
• Comfortable in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment
• A passion and interest in consumer products, film/content, franchise/marketing strategy and studio process
• Team player who’s curious, likes to brainstorm ideas & collaborate

Additional Requirements:

• Travel may be required
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the needs of the team
• Hybrid: This position currently has a hybrid schedule, which requires contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time. 

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].