Traffic Manager

The Role

Working within the FinOps Team and reporting to the Operations Director, you will own the day-to-day resourcing and traffic of our studio, making sure the right people are on the right projects at the right time. You'll keep the data in Projectworks clean and accurate so that reporting can be relied on, and you'll build and manage a trusted network of freelance talent we can call on at short notice. We are looking for someone who is meticulous, spots the small things others miss, and can react quickly and calmly when plans change.

Resourcing & Traffic

- Day-to-day traffic and resource management for a shared global billable team based in London and New York

- Maintain a real-time overview of team capacity against project demand in Projectworks, proactively identifying bottlenecks, clashes and under-utilisation

- Negotiate competing demands between leaders of the business, staying calm and impartial and finding a solution that works for the business

- Run weekly resourcing meetings to resolve clashes and agree priorities

- React quickly to changes in deadlines, scope or availability, re-planning resourcing promptly and keeping everyone affected informed

- Resource all new project opportunities against shadow resource at proposal stage, ensuring that resourced time aligns with deliverables in the SOW and the tasks are clearly defined

- Keep pencilled bookings and placeholders up to date, converting them to named people and confirmed bookings as projects are won and roles are filled

- Work with the Project Managers to consistently update project timelines and resourcing as and when deadlines move

- Provide the Creative Leads and PMs with regular updates on the burn of their projects

- Understand the team's skill set, strengths, development areas and billable targets, and use this to balance workload fairly

Data Accuracy

- Own the accuracy of resourcing and project data in Projectworks so the Operations Director can run reliable capacity, utilisation and financial reports

- Take pride in data being right first time, and won’t let small errors slide because they know where they lead, have a natural instinct to question anything that doesn’t add up

- Ensure that all newly created projects are set up correctly, with defined budgets and hours, correct billable and non-billable lines, and the right team members and rates

- Run regular data checks, for example missing or £0 billable rates or proposal time set to billable, and resolve issues quickly

- Ensure that all timesheets are completed on a weekly basis, chasing any that are outstanding

- Ensure that approved holidays and public holidays have been logged in Projectworks for future planning

- Keep people records such as billable targets, agreements, teams and positions up to date as people join, leave or change roles

- Flag anything that doesn't look right as soon as it's spotted

Freelance Talent

- Build and maintain a black book of trusted freelancers for all roles across London and New York, recording skills, day rates, availability and past performance

- Proactively source new freelance talent through networks, referrals, portfolios and platforms so we can upscale quickly when needed

- Book freelancers within agreed rate bands, confirming dates, scope and budget with the Lead and PM before booking

- Onboard freelancers, coordinating briefings, studio and systems access, and setting them up in Projectworks with the correct agreement and rates

- Work with the People and Culture Manager on freelancer contracts and paperwork

- Track freelancer usage and cost against project budgets, and gather feedback from Leads after each booking to keep the black book current

- Stay in regular contact with key freelancers so we know their availability ahead of busy periods

Skills & Experience

- Minimum of 2 years experience in a Traffic Management or Resource Management role, ideally within a creative, design or agency environment

- Experience resourcing down to the hour in Projectworks, Smartsheet, Float or a similar resourcing tool

- Meticulous attention to detail and real satisfaction in getting the data right

- Able to react quickly to new information and stay calm when plans change

- Experience sourcing and managing freelancers, ideally with an existing creative network

- Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills

- Highly organised, able to manage many moving parts across two time zones

- Confident in holding people to deadlines for timesheets and data

- A team player with the ability to influence change

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Benefits

- 25 days holiday, 5 of these held for Christmas closure

- 1 additional day of holiday per year of service (up to 30 days)

- Private healthcare (from 6 months service)

- 5% matching pension (from 3 months service)

- Hybrid working, from the studio Tuesday-Thursday with Monday and Friday optional remote

- Half a day per month to pursue a new skill

- Enhanced maternity and paternity policies

Acrylicize is proud to be a certified B Corporation, reflecting our commitment to using business as a force for good. This certification underscores our dedication to balancing profit with purpose, ensuring that our decisions positively impact our employees, clients, communities, and the environment. We’re seeking passionate individuals who not only excel in their craft but also deeply believe in the values of sustainability, social responsibility, and community. If you’re inspired by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference through your work, we’d love to hear from you.

We are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, disability, national origin, gender and gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital and civil partnership status, veteran status or pregnancy or maternity.