Freelance Project Manager Jobs in Alberta (NOW HIRING)

Ideas with Intention 

zag (that is right, no capital) is a full-service, marketing and advertising agency that is hell-bent on getting to know brands inside and out. We ensure we capture the perfect blend of creativity, strategy, and management to catapult brands in the right direction with ease. With us, there is always room to grow, and we are currently looking for a Studio Manager to do just that.  

We come to work every day to solve challenges, and we lean on our teammates to do it. We all have titles, but we are not defined by them. By working together and bending our disciplines, we bring unique perspectives to the table, learn from each other, and stick the landing. 

We have six guiding principles that help keep us grounded along the way: 

Be Better. 

We strive for unicorn-level greatness. 

Own It. 

We care about what we create. 

Think Beyond. 

We outsmart challenges with creative and forward thinking. 

Get Real. 

We dare to show up as ourselves. 

Team Up. 

We take the carpool lane, working together to achieve the best results. 

All In. 

We make it count. Every day. 

Why zag?

• You’ll be the person who keeps the work moving — the connective tissue between account, creative, and agency.
• You’ll own two things that matter: the quality of work going out the door, and whether it gets there on time.
• You’ll work inside an agency that is growing and evolving — this role has a direct hand in shaping how production operates at zag.
• You’ll be trusted to set the production standard — not just follow it.
  

Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on production experience in an agency or design studio environment.
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite — InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop are non-negotiable.
• Deep knowledge of print and digital production standards.
• Experience managing or supervising production artists and/or freelancers.
• Demonstrated ability to manage workload and deadlines across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Strong communication skills — comfortable working across account, creative, and leadership on a daily basis.
• Organized, proactive, and capable of holding others accountable without creating friction.
  

Primary Objective for This Position

The Studio Manager at zag carries two responsibilities simultaneously: they are a working production artist and a workflow owner. On any given day, they are building or quality-checking files and making sure every other active project in the agency is on track to land on time.

This is not a purely administrative role, and it’s not a purely technical one. It requires someone who can move between doing and overseeing — someone with enough production depth to set the standard for how work leaves the agency, and enough organizational awareness to know when a job is in trouble before it becomes a crisis.

This role does not replace what Account Services does. Account Services owns the client relationship and the delivery commitment. The Studio Manager owns the internal execution of that commitment. The two functions need to be in constant communication, but they are not the same job.

Key Responsibilities

The day-to-day will evolve, but core duties include:

Production & Quality Control

• Act as the lead agency production artist for assigned projects — responsible for mechanicals, file prep, and final output.
• Serve as the quality control checkpoint for all work leaving the agency — print-ready files, digital assets, and everything in between.
• Ensure all outgoing work meets production standards: correct colour profiles, fonts, linked files, bleed, resolution, and format specs.
• Provide guidance to designers on proper file preparation: colour modes, layer organization, font management, guides, and packaging.
• Supervise and review the work standard, maintaining consistency and accuracy across all deliverables.

Workflow & Scheduling

• Maintain visibility across all active jobs — knowing what’s in production, what’s due, and what’s at risk.
• Flag projects that are off-track early and escalate to Account Services when delivery commitments are in jeopardy.
• Estimate production time and turnaround based on current agency capacity — factoring in what is already in the queue.
• Track daily agency workload and manage shifts in priority as jobs move or timelines change.
• Coordinate with Account Services to align on what has been committed to clients and what the studio can realistically execute.
  

You will also:

• Onboard new jobs into the agency workflow in a structured, consistent way.
• Contact, onboard, and supervise freelance production artists as project demand requires.
• Maintain studio filing systems, archiving conventions, and asset organization.
• Provide production support for new business and pitch materials as needed.
  

What we offer you: 

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive Dental and Health benefits
• Competitive vacation time, PTO days, and zag days.
  
• Extracurriculars (holiday parties, summer party, Party Planning Committee, etc. – and more!)
  

Applying 

Shortlisted applications will receive an email from us requesting a 15-minute screening interview. Following the screening interview, successful applicants will receive a request for a formal interview.  

We understand how uncertain the application process can be, so we promise not to leave you hanging. If at any time you are not selected to move forward, you will receive an email from us letting you know.