Manager Creative Operations, Photo Studio

Work Location Type: Hybrid 

As a leading industrial distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom, We Keep The World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. With 2023 sales of $16.5 billion, we’re dedicated to providing value for customers, fostering an engaging culture for team members and driving strong financial results.

Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a 2024 Glassdoor Best Place to Work and a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry over our next 100 years.

Position Details:

Visual content is critical to the success of our business. The Creative Operations Manager is a key member of the Publishing team who plays a crucial role in ensuring that Grainger has the best possible visual content to help customers choose products efficiently and with confidence. This role is directly responsible for Grainger’s Photo Studio. The role helps enforce quality standards across the team while managing and refining processes with a continuous improvement mentality.

This leader leverages commercial, operational, and visual experience to develop a deep understanding of our business, the customers we serve, and our content creation processes. They also develop strong relationships across the business with key stakeholders to create best-in-class customer experiences across our digital publications.  

You will report to the Senior Manager, Visual Rich Content.

This is a hybrid position and is onsite in Minooka, IL 4 days/week.

You Will:

• Ensure consistency and quality of visual assets meet evolving standards and guidelines.
• Ensure timely delivery of assets based on project plans and service level agreements.
• Ensure operations run smoothly and effectively by distributing workloads across creative functions and team members.
• Interpret key performance indicators to monitor operational health and provide visibility into opportunities to improve operational efficiency and flexibility.
• Ensure timely feedback to team members while tracking feedback trends to communicate themes to the broader leadership team for additional training needs.
• Support team members through 1:1 coaching and development.
• Monitor and report on team member quality and productivity including mid-year and annual performance reviews.
• Ensure photography equipment and software is up to date, work with third party vendors to evaluate and implement the best tools for the Studio, while balancing budget concerns.

You Have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent preferred
• 5-7 years of experience in commercial photography, creative operations, or visual production.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, teaching, and project management abilities.
• Experience applying continuous improvement / lean methodology to drive incremental change with internal, cross-functional, and external business partners.
• Experience improving customer experiences through the application of visual content.
• Excellent communication skills – written, interpersonal, and an ability to engage with senior leadership to discuss insights, best practices, and opportunities to improve.
• Ability to develop working relationships across the business with creatives, business partners, and technical personnel to drive exceptional results.
• Familiarly with industrial products and maintenance, repair, and operations customers.

Rewards and Benefits: 

With benefits starting day one, Grainger is committed to your safety, health and wellbeing. Our programs provide choice and meet our team members' individual needs. Check out some of the rewards available to you at Grainger 

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans 

• Paid time off (PTO) and 6 company holidays per year 

• Automatic 6% 401(k) company contribution each pay period 

• Employee discounts, parental leave, 3:1 match on donations and tuition reimbursement 

• A comprehensive set of emotional, financial, physical and social wellbeing programs 

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment.  With this in mind, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.