Creative Operations Manager Jobs in Ontario (NOW HIRING)

Job Description:

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported.

If you're looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth - join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.

The Role:

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is seeking an experienced Marketing Producer to lead the end-to-end delivery of integrated marketing projects, ensuring seamless execution from concept through launch. This role serves as the operational backbone of the marketing team, partnering with creative, brand, product, marketing technology, product and other stakeholders to deliver high-impact campaigns on time and at scale.

The successful candidate is a highly organized, strategic, and detail-oriented project leader with a proven ability to manage complex workflows, coordinate cross-functional teams, and balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. They will be responsible for driving project planning, resource alignment, scope and timeline management while maintaining the highest standards of quality and execution. In addition, this individual will champion process optimization, identify opportunities to improve efficiency, and implement scalable ways of working that enable the marketing team to deliver exceptional results consistently.

Responsibilities:

Project Management & Coordination:

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of marketing projects, ensuring projects are delivered on time, per the agreed scope, and to the required quality standards.
• Identify and understand the steps required to complete various types of projects, develop detailed project plans, and workback schedules (WBS) to manage timelines and tasks across cross-functional teams. Collaborate with team members to validate and adjust timelines as needed.
• Organize and facilitate project kick-off meetings, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on project goals, scope, and deliverables.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings, track action items, and follow up to share status and secure approvals.
• Act as a central point of contact for project-related communication, ensuring clear and consistent information flow between cross-functional teams (e.g., Creative, Marketing, Development, Product, Retail, Content, etc.).
• Take and distribute meeting minutes, ensuring key decisions and action items are documented and communicated effectively.

Process Optimization:

• Continuously review project processes, identifying opportunities to streamline and optimize workflows.
• Develop and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.
• Document and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for project management processes.
• Monitor project performance and identify areas for improvement.

Resource Management:

• Assist in the allocation of resources to projects, ensuring teams have the necessary tools and support to succeed.
• Track project scope, ensuring projects align with the request

Communication & Reporting:

• Prepare and distribute regular project status reports to stakeholders, highlighting progress, risks, and issues.
• Proactively identify and escalate potential risks and issues to the Director, Global Creative Operations in a timely manner, recommending viable solutions to keep projects on track.
• Maintain clear and organized project documentation.

Project Prioritization:

• Work with the Director, Global Creative Operations, to organize and prioritize projects based on business objectives and strategic priorities.
• Help to manage the project pipeline and ensure resources are allocated effectively.

General Marketing Support:

• Provide general support to the marketing team as needed.
• Stay up-to-date on industry best practices in project management and marketing operations.

The Skillset:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in marketing project management within a corporate or agency environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in fast-paced, dynamic environments while balancing competing priorities.
• Strong understanding of marketing processes, workflows, and creative development lifecycles, with a deep knowledge of creative and technology development processes.
• Experience managing digital, video, packaging, retail, and other integrated marketing production projects.
• Advanced project management expertise, including workback schedule (WBS) creation, resource coordination, scope management, tracking, and reporting.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as ClickUp, Asana, Slack, and DAM platforms.
• Excellent organizational, time management, prioritization, and attention-to-detail skills, with a strong commitment to quality and executional excellence.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, interpersonal, negotiation, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a proactive approach to identifying risks, resolving issues, and driving projects to completion.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies is considered an asset.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or an equivalent project management certification is also a plus.

The Perks:

• Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment
• Subsidized in-office lunches
• Full benefits starting from your first day
• Lifestyle spending account
• Talent and development training budget
• Free Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobook
• Weekly Kobo Spark sessions
• Dog friendly office

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global e-commerce companies, with the world's most innovative e-reading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million + customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning e-readers, and top-ranking mobile apps. Kobo is a part of the Rakuten group of companies.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.

Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from Rakuten. Rakuten does not send unsolicited job offers or request money during the recruitment process. Learn more: https://rakutenemploymentalert.com/

#RKIND

Five Principles for Success
Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.
Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen
Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best
Hypothesize - Practice - Validate - Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory
Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team

Rakuten is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

Rakuten would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.

Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from Rakuten. Rakuten does not send unsolicited job offers or request money during the recruitment process. Learn more: https://rakutenemploymentalert.com/

At the time of posting, Rakuten expects the compensation for this role to be within the range shown below. Individual compensation may vary based on job-related factors, including the skills, qualifications, and experience of the successful candidate as well as business need and geographic location. The successful applicant for this role may be eligible for employee benefits as the company implements.