Studio Manager
| Ref: | MON12727 |
| Salary: | Competitive |
| Department: | Visual |
| Location: | W11 4AN |
| Position type: | Permanent |
| Hours / Duration: | 37.5 |
| Closing date: | 30/09/2026 |
We're looking for someone to run our in-house creative studio as a high-performing, commercially accountable production engine — delivering premium, on-brand e-commerce and content output on time, on budget and to a consistently best-in-class standard across Monsoon, Accessorize, EAST, Monsoon Kids and Accessorize Angels.
This is a process-led operational leadership role for someone who thinks in critical paths and cost per asset. You will own everything between sample-in and asset-live: the schedule, the resource, the samples, the freelance network, the budgets and the workflow that connects them. A core part of the remit is building a single, repeatable production process that serves both our own web estate and every marketplace and third-party retail partner we trade with — and driving the cost of that output down year on year without touching quality.
What you'll do as Studio Manager
Studio operations and critical path
- Own the studio's end-to-end critical path, from buy sign-off and sample call-off through to retouched assets live on site and in channel.
- Build and maintain the master shoot calendar across all brands and categories, sequencing e-comm, campaign, video and social requirements against trade launch dates.
- Set and protect turnaround SLAs by asset type; flag risk early and re-plan proactively rather than reactively.
- Chair studio WIP and pre-production meetings; act as the single point of accountability for delivery dates across Buying, Merchandising, Digital, Trade and Marketing.
- Drive daily shot-rate, capacity and utilisation planning so studio days are fully loaded and productive.
Premium output for own web and marketplaces
- Guarantee consistent execution of the e-comm style guide across stills, cut-outs, on-model and video, with zero drift between brands, categories and shoot days.
- Own quality control at every gate — set, styling, lighting, retouch spec, colour accuracy and file delivery.
- Design and run a “shoot once, deliver everywhere” model: capture and retouch to a master standard, then flex to each destination’s requirements without reshooting or rebuilding.
- Maintain a live specification matrix for every channel — owned sites, third-party retail partners and marketplaces — covering crop, ratio, background, file type, resolution, naming and metadata, and keep it current as partners change requirements.
- Own the marketplace asset pipeline end to end: onboarding new partners, meeting their technical and compliance standards, hitting their feed deadlines and resolving rejections at source rather than by rework.
- Partner with Digital and Ecommerce on asset naming, metadata, upload workflow and go-live accuracy, driving first-time-right delivery as a tracked measure.
- Keep the e-comm style guide and shot-list architecture under regular review as product, site and partner requirements evolve.
Sample management
- Own the sample workflow end to end: call-off, booking in, tracking, prepping, on-set control, return and archive.
- Maintain a live, accurate sample tracker with full visibility of status by option, and escalate gaps that threaten shoot dates or launch.
- Build strong working relationships with Buying, Merchandising and the warehouse to secure samples to deadline and resolve shortfalls fast.
- Ensure sample handling, steaming, storage and security standards protect product integrity and minimise loss and write-off.
- Freelance network and resourcing
- Build, maintain and continually refresh a strong, trusted network of freelance photographers, videographers, stylists, hair and make-up artists, retouchers, set designers and production assistants.
- Own model casting logistics, agency relationships, options, usage terms and booking schedules.
- Negotiate rates, terms and usage; maintain rate cards and benchmark regularly for value.
- Manage onboarding, briefing, contracting and compliance for all freelance and third-party suppliers, ensuring consistent standards and a positive experience that keeps the best talent coming back.
Budget optimisation and commercial control
- Own and manage studio budgets across freelance, models, samples, equipment, consumables and studio hire; forecast, track and report monthly with clear variance commentary.
- Establish cost per asset by type and channel as the studio's core commercial metric, and set a year-on-year reduction target against it.
- Interrogate the full cost base — in-house versus freelance mix, model and usage fees, retouch routing, equipment and studio hire — and build the business case for where spend should sit.
- Model and manage the in-house versus outsourced decision by category and volume, flexing capacity to peak trade rather than carrying it year-round.
- Reduce the cost of waste: rework, reshoots, sample loss, unused shot volume and assets produced but never published.
- Manage purchase orders, invoicing and supplier payment in line with finance process, and give Finance and the Creative Lead a clear, early view of spend and risk.
Team leadership
- Lead, coach and develop the studio team across three brand streams; set objectives, run reviews and build clear development paths.
- Structure the team and rotas to balance workload, skills and peak trading demand.
- Recruit for capability gaps and succession; foster a collaborative, high-standards, low-drama studio culture.
- Represent the studio at senior stakeholder level, communicating capacity, trade-offs and priorities with clarity and authority.
Process, systems and innovation
- Continuously improve production process, workflow and asset management systems (DAM, PIM, tracking tools) to remove friction and increase throughput.
- Lead evaluation and responsible adoption of new production technology, including AI imaging and retouching tools, with clear guardrails on brand and quality.
- Own studio health and safety, equipment maintenance, insurance and compliance.
- Report on studio performance against agreed KPIs and use the data to drive change.
What you'll need to succeed as Studio Manager
Essential
- Substantial studio or content production management experience in fashion, retail or e-commerce, including significant time running a team
- Proven track record delivering high-volume e-commerce content to a premium standard, at pace
- Expert critical path and project management skills, with the confidence to hold dates and manage upwards
- Demonstrable experience owning and managing sample workflows at scale
- An established, credible network of freelance creative talent and agency relationships
- Strong commercial capability with a demonstrable record of budget optimisation — reducing cost per asset, restructuring the in-house versus freelance mix, or renegotiating a supplier base
- Process-led mindset: has built, documented and embedded production workflows that scaled with volume
- Experience delivering assets to both an owned e-commerce estate and multiple marketplace or third-party retail specifications
- Excellent working knowledge of studio craft — photography, lighting, styling, video and retouching — sufficient to set and judge quality
- Strong systems literacy: asset management, tracking tools, production workflow platforms
- Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills across creative and commercial functions
- Calm, decisive and highly organised under pressure
Desirable
- Multi-brand or multi-category studio experience, including kidswear and accessories
- Exposure to AI-assisted imaging and retouching workflows
- Experience of studio set-up, relocation or capability expansion
What will we offer you in return?
- Competitive salary
- 23 days holiday with the option to purchase additional holiday through our salary sacrifice scheme
- Bonus day off each year after 6 months service
- A pension that you will automatically be enrolled in after 3 months
- Life assurance (subject to participating in the pension scheme)
- A flexible working approach
- Early pay day Friday finish
- A generous staff discount with up to 50% discount on our products
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Additional discounts such as Westfield discount, Taste card membership etc
If this all sounds great and you feel you are who we are looking for, let us know and apply today.
At Monsoon Accessorize we don’t focus only on what we do, we also care about how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce and an environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people and are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will also consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
We provide reasonable accommodations as needed to people with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at careers@monsoon.co.uk to request discuss any specific requirements.