Manager, Creative Operations

Job Description:

Are you passionate about streamlining creative processes and leading high-performing teams? NerdWallet is looking for a Manager, Creative Operations to join our dynamic Brand Studio Team (BST). In this central role, you’ll champion operational efficiency, oversee project intake and resourcing, and ensure seamless collaboration across creative disciplines and cross-functional partners. We’re seeking a strategic leader adept at navigating fast-moving environments, with a strong focus on empowering teams and delivering high-impact creative solutions for internal stakeholders. If you're excited about optimizing team performance, aligning creative work with business goals, and fostering a culture of operational excellence, we’d love to hear from you!

The Brand Studio team operates as the internal agency for all things creative at NerdWallet. Our team of designers, copywriters, producers, editors, and developers produce creative for NerdWallet, evolve our brand guidelines, manage our roster of creative agencies and freelancers, and maintain self-service resources and templates to enable everyone in the company to create on-brand experiences.

This role reports to the Senior Managing Director, Brand Studio.

Where you can make an impact:

• Partner across teams to strengthen existing relationships and ensure alignment on deliverables, while enhancing and customizing our established systems for intake, prioritization, and feedback.

• Support, guide, and grow a talented team of operations and production professionals—fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment where people feel empowered to learn, lead, and succeed.

• Oversee the full intake process for creative requests, aligning team capacity with business goals while managing the responsible staff and partnering with stakeholders to set priorities and drive clarity.

• Take a player-coach approach to lead high-priority programs—balancing hands-on project execution with strategic oversight, while coordinating cross-functional teams and making informed decisions that drive successful outcomes.

• Lead and continuously refine our resourcing approach to thoughtfully allocate team talent, manage contractor support, and anticipate resource needs—helping ensure projects are delivered on time and with impact.

• Evaluate and enhance existing workflows and assist creative leads in team management to support a more efficient, empowered creative team—enabling smooth collaboration, clearer decision-making, and stronger results.

• Define, track, and share key success metrics (like project flow, team bandwidth, and resource usage) to inform smart, data-driven strategies and improve how we work together.

• Partner closely with the team’s Sr. Director and business partners to manage budgets, track spending, and support vendor relationships—keeping things on track and aligned with company policies.

Your experience:

We recognize not everyone will meet all of the criteria. If you meet most of the criteria below and you’re excited about the opportunity and willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

• 8+ years of experience in creative operations, production, project management, or account management within an internal agency or brand studio.

• 2+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams and managing direct reports—including mentoring, team development, and career growth support.

• A strong understanding of resourcing models, creative workflows, and operational systems that help teams do their best work.

• Experience managing budgets, vendor contracts, and overall financial processes.

• Hands-on knowledge of project management tools (like Wrike, Asana, or Jira) and creative collaboration platforms—you know what works and how to set teams up for success.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across teams and bring people together.

• A knack for using data and insights to identify opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness.

• A track record of successfully leading complex projects that involve design, copy, production, marketing, and product teams.

• Familiarity with agile workflows and iterative creative processes is a plus.

Where:

• This role will be remote (based in the U.S.).

• We believe great work can be done anywhere. No matter where you are based, NerdWallet offers benefits and perks to support the physical, financial, and emotional well being of you and your family.

What we offer:

Work Hard, Stay Balanced (Life’s a series of balancing acts, eh?)

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents

• Rejuvenation Policy – Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + 4 Mental Health Days Off

• New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care

• Mental health support

• Paid sabbatical for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge and pursue their interests

• Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contribution

• Monthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend

• Work from home equipment stipend and co-working space subsidy

Have Some Fun! (Nerds are fun, too)

• Nerd-led group initiatives – Employee Resource Groups for Parents, Diversity, and Inclusion, Women, LGBTQIA, and other communities

• Hackathons and team events across all teams and departments

• Company-wide events like NerdLove (employee appreciation) and our annual Charity Auction

• Our Nerds love to make an impact by paying it forward – Take 8 hours of volunteer time off per quarter and donate to your favorite causes with a company match

Plan for your future (And when you retire on your island, remember the little people)

• 401K with company match

• Be the first to test and benefit from our new financial products and tools

• Financial wellness, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) through Northstar

• Disability and Life Insurance with employer-paid premiums

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.

NerdWallet is committed to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, so all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

NerdWallet will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the San Francisco Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice.

NerdWallet participates in the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify program for all US locations. For more information, please see:

• E-Verify Participation Poster (English+Spanish/Español)

• Right to Work Poster (English) / (Spanish/Español)

#LI-DNI

Compensation Range: $124K - $228K