Creative Design Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

OVERVIEW

Experience the possibilities of our progressive, omnichannel approach to beauty retail. At Ulta Beauty, our Marketing team is applying the latest technologies to personalize the buying experience of true beauty enthusiasts—in ways that surprise and delight. Building love and loyalty, one communication, one experience, one brilliant idea at a time. We represent the perfect blend of strategy and creativity. Of tactics and analytics. To make Ulta Beauty a brand guests will advocate for. Growing share of heart. Delivering with disciplined consistency. Whether your deepest passion is for design or content, strategy or data, or some combination of all things marketing, Ulta Beauty will provide significant latitude to explore your talents and passions, with opportunities to stretch and deepen, to grow and build. Truly, the possibilities are beautiful.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE 

The Creative Operations Specialist plays a critical role in supporting the day-to-day operational excellence of the In-Store and Print Creative team. This role partners closely with the Creative Operations Associate Manager to ensure creative projects are efficiently briefed, planned, tracked, reviewed, and delivered on time across promotional, planogram, print, and ad-hoc initiatives.

This individual is highly organized, detail-oriented, and collaborative—serving as a key connector between Creative, Marketing, Merchandising, Photography, Production, and cross-functional partners. The Specialist helps translate business needs into clear, actionable workflows, supports intake and briefing processes, manages timelines and tracking, and ensures consistent communication throughout the creative lifecycle.

By maintaining strong operational rigor, and proactive communication, the Creative Operations Specialist helps enable the creative team to focus on producing best-in-class creative while ensuring projects remain organized and delivered on time.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY:

Creative Operations & Project Execution

• Support end-to-end creative operations across In-Store and Print projects, including intake, briefing, timelines, proofing, and delivery tracking.
• Assist with the creative intake and briefing process by reviewing requests for completeness, gathering required information, assigning work to the appropriate resources, and flagging gaps or risks to the Creative Operations Associate Manager.
• Build, maintain, and update detailed project timelines, status documents, and tracking reports to ensure milestones, review dates, and production deadlines are clearly defined and met.
• Orchestrate day-to-day project activities, ensuring tasks move efficiently through each stage of the creative workflow.

Workflow, Communication & Coordination

• Coordinate communication between internal creative teams and cross-functional partners to support a smooth, efficient process.
• Organize, schedule, and support internal status meetings, kickoffs, planning sessions, and creative reviews; prepare agendas and capture feedback, decisions, action items, and follow-ups.
• Communicate creative best practices, timing expectations, and workflow guidelines to partners, helping reinforce consistency, accuracy, and quality across deliverables.
• Escalate potential risks, timeline challenges, or resourcing conflicts early to the Creative Operations Associate Manager.

Tools, Systems & Reporting

• Maintain accurate project tracking and documentation within creative operations tools (e.g., Workfront, Monday.com, Microsoft Office).
• Support the ongoing improvement of workflows, templates, calendars, and SOPs in partnership with Creative Operations leadership.
• Assist with organizing and maintaining creative documentation, process resources, and best practices materials.

Collaboration & Team Support

• Partner closely with Creative, Photography, and Production teams to ensure projects are scoped and supported appropriately.
• Work with Marketing, Merchandising, and cross-functional partners to coordinate materials, timelines, feedback, and expectations across In-Store and Print initiatives.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative, detail-oriented, and solution-focused team environment.

THE ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Design, Project Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience in creative operations, project management, trafficking, production coordination, or creative services.
• Experience working with creative, design, marketing, merchandising, photography, or production teams.
• Familiarity with in-store marketing, print production, promotional creative, planogram workflows, or related physical-channel deliverables preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and shifting priorities simultaneously.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Workfront, Monday.com, Figma, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint).
• Detail-oriented, proactive problem solver who remains calm, adaptable and organized in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for creative excellence, operational rigor, and supporting high-performing creative teams.
  

#LI-JR1

#LI-Hybrid

The pay range for this position is $57,300.00 - $78,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company's bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta

ABOUT

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.

Qualifications:

THE ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Design, Project Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience in creative operations, project management, trafficking, production coordination, or creative services.
• Experience working with creative, design, marketing, merchandising, photography, or production teams.
• Familiarity with in-store marketing, print production, promotional creative, planogram workflows, or related physical-channel deliverables preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and shifting priorities simultaneously.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Workfront, Monday.com, Figma, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint).
• Detail-oriented, proactive problem solver who remains calm, adaptable and organized in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for creative excellence, operational rigor, and supporting high-performing creative teams.
  

#LI-JR1

#LI-Hybrid

Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME