Creative Projects Manager

This is a hybrid role that will require being onsite in Maryland on a weekly/monthly basis.

University of Maryland Medical System is a private, university-based regional health system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland.

We bring innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide. At the same time, we are educating the state's future physicians and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore.

As one of the largest private employers in the state, the health system's more than 29,000 employees and 4,600 affiliated providers offer primary and specialty care at 11 hospitals, in more than 150 locations and through a network of UM Urgent Care locations.

UMMS' flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in specialized care.

Our acute care and specialty hospitals in 13 counties across the state serve urban, suburban and rural communities.

The Creative Projects Manager manages the intake, workflow, prioritization, and resourcing of all creative projects across the system, including both requested and self-initiated work. The position is a direct report to the Senior Director and works closely with creative team colleagues.

• Manages all phases of creative project workflow using Smartsheet, from intake through completion, including prioritization, timeline development, and resource allocation.
• Acts as liaison between the creative team and internal stakeholders to evaluate project readiness, clarify scope, and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Provides direct support to a team of senior graphic designers, creative directors, and video production team (producer/director, videographer, photographer, motion graphics/editor).
• Provides project coordination for the content marketing and social media teams.
• Prioritizes and resources high-impact strategic initiatives, protecting creative development time from lower-tier or misaligned requests.
• Manages and enforces project revision and timeline standards.
• Collaborates with other project management roles in marketing and communications to optimize processes across disciplines, including external and internal campaigns.
• Collaborates with the Senior Director to manage vendor relationships and freelancers, including contracts, invoices, and renewals.
• Establishes, cultivates, and maintains freelance relationships for copy writing and copy editing, including freelancers who also conduct interviews and provide project management support for large publications and initiatives.
• Maintains up-to-date dashboards and Smartsheet records to support real-time project tracking and team accountability.
• Provides support in the administration of creative operations, including prepping files for production and packaging Adobe InDesign files when necessary.
• Represents the creative team across the organization with professionalism, confidence, and a strong sense of advocacy for quality creative output.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, design, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in creative project management or creative operations, preferably within an in-house creative team or agency environment.
• Proven experience managing projects for creative professionals (designers, videographers, editors, etc.) and navigating cross-functional teams.
• Experience with project intake and tiering models in a centralized marketing and communications environment.
• Experience with Smartsheet.

Preferred:

• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Experience working in a health care or large complex organization.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Good knowledge of and ability to use Smartsheets or similar project management tools, with the ability to build project timelines, assign resources, and maintain visibility into project progress.
• Deep understanding of creative processes, timelines, and deliverables across design, video, and production teams.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to diplomatically manage conflict and push back on unrealistic or misaligned requests.
• Ability to confidently redirect or decline projects that are out of scope or not properly planned; recommend templates or vendor referrals as needed.
• Charismatic, confident, and assertive, with a welcoming but firm presence in meetings and project discussions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Comfortable making decisions, setting priorities, and leading conversations to keep the creative team focused on what matters most.
• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational and time management abilities.
• Commitment to upholding the creative team’s standards and advocating for strategic alignment and quality execution.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation:

• Pay Range: $89,000 - $133,000
• Other Compensation (if applicable):
• Review the 2024-2025 UMMS Benefits Guide