How to hire a creative services manager

How to hire a creative services manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step creative services manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a creative services manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new creative services manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a creative services manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The creative services manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a creative services manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a creative services manager that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of creative services manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Creative Services Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Creative Services Manager	Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.	$25-55
   Marketing Director	Marketing directors are responsible for the overall branding and marketing direction of the company. They are in charge of identifying goals and strategies related to marketing... Show more	$32-92
   Manager, Strategy	A strategy manager is a professional who reviews a company's objectives for growth and works with executives to formulate actionable plans to achieve these objectives. To make comprehensive recommendations, strategy managers must conduct data analysis of the organization as well as the overall industry... Show more	$37-73

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Graphic Design
   • Project Management
   • Photography
   • Video Production
   • Digital Marketing
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • Creative Direction
   • Creative Projects
   • Marketing Campaigns
   • Creative Process
   • Creative Development
   • External Agencies
   • HTML
   • Design Projects

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve thorough, accurate and edit proofreading for all package designs and cage instructions.
   • Initiate RFP process for agency selection and manage all advertising agency activities.
   • Review HTML code to ensure compatibility with major email clients and adherence to creative guidelines.
   • Design and oversee creation of HTML email blasts, web newsletters and web landing sites.
   • Partner with designers to develop annual reports, direct mail vehicles, flyers, and brochures.
   • Design all creative work including, flyers, billboards, videos, promotional material, and print/digital ads.

   More creative services manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your creative services manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A creative services manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, creative services managers' average salary in colorado is 47% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level creative services managers earn 54% less than senior-level creative services managers.
   • Certifications. A creative services manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a creative services manager's salary.

   Average creative services manager salary

   $78,567yearly

   $37.77 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level creative services manager salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average creative services manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$117,809	$57
   2	New York	$98,480	$47
   3	Pennsylvania	$96,315	$46
   4	Virginia	$92,525	$44
   5	Oregon	$91,498	$44
   6	Washington	$89,963	$43
   7	Connecticut	$87,569	$42
   8	Illinois	$83,844	$40
   9	Ohio	$80,683	$39
   10	Delaware	$80,562	$39
   11	Texas	$79,103	$38
   12	Georgia	$71,916	$35
   13	Florida	$71,873	$35
   14	Minnesota	$69,881	$34
   15	Missouri	$64,293	$31
   16	Kansas	$61,949	$30
   17	Colorado	$59,274	$29

   Average creative services manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$142,096	$68.32	46
   2	SEGA	$121,652	$58.49	2
   3	Netflix	$112,216	$53.95	36
   4	Goldman Sachs	$110,882	$53.31	6
   5	Kabam	$108,250	$52.04	3
   6	Forever 21	$105,224	$50.59
   7	Fenwick & West	$101,117	$48.61	1
   8	The Walt Disney Company	$93,421	$44.91	61
   9	Entravision Communications	$92,207	$44.33
   10	Resilience	$91,685	$44.08
   11	DENTSPLY IH	$90,998	$43.75	2
   12	ZS	$89,059	$42.82	3
   13	Audacy	$87,966	$42.29	7
   14	Minnesota Historical Society	$83,102	$39.95
   15	Carle Foundation	$82,852	$39.83	13
   16	Portland State University	$82,465	$39.65	1
   17	Baxter International	$81,966	$39.41
   18	Amazon	$81,093	$38.99	352
   19	Robert Half	$78,080	$37.54	43
   20	Sunbelt Rentals	$77,911	$37.46	2

4. Writing a creative services manager job description

   A creative services manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a creative services manager job description:

   Creative services manager job description example

   Make an impact at Goodwin, where we partner with our clients to practice law with integrity, ingenuity, agility and ambition. We are in the business of building authentic, long-term relationships with our clients, who are some of the world's most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. Our immersive understanding of these industries - combined with our expertise across high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions - sets us apart. Our Global Operations Team - all business professionals of the firm - was named the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer.
   
   The Manager, Creative Services (Temporary) is a key project management position in the firm's Marketing and Communications Department. The Manager oversees the creative teams' project plans and serves as the liaison between the creative, communications, editorial and marketing technology teams within the department. The role project manages thought leadership initiatives, production of creative assets and marketing materials, ideation around creative concepts for marquee external and internal firm events, and other brand projects. The Manager collaborates with the Client Development Department to prepare marketing and communications creative briefs that deliver against the firm's business objectives. The Manager also works with internal stakeholders to help develop and manage compelling internal campaigns and communications, and - in collaboration with key leaders in the department - ensures that the firm's brand positioning and standards are upheld both internally and externally.
   What you do:
   Oversees intake of all creative requests firmwide Project manages the creative process from concept to completion Prepares creative briefs that translate client development and marketing objectives into clear creative strategies Organizes and leads internal brainstorms and concept meetings to support the department's plans and projects Collaborates with leaders and team members from communications, editorial and marketing technology teams to share creative project management best practices, and helps the teams build out similar processes using the department's project management software; seeks to standardize and move all marketing requests into a single system Troubleshoots and improves processes, including proactively planning for increasing number of requests and tailoring systems and processes to ensure that they work as intended; continuously meets with internal stakeholders to listen and understand how current processes work for them and tailors and improves processes accordingly Meets with internal stakeholders and partners to obtain knowledge of the clients' objectives and collaborates with the creative and core marketing teams on campaign concepts Partners closely with creative team members, including art directors, graphic designers, multimedia producers, digital artists, and copywriters Manages a workflow coordinator; provides guidance on their projects and workflows Manages our relationship with an outsourced production studio; contracts and relationship with creative vendors Ensures efficient and effective global service using workflow management and centralized digital asset management tools Ensures availability of production services during normal working hours in all time zones where the firm operates
   
   Who You Are:
   Exceptional project management skills and superior attention to detail Experience working with layers of approval and multiple stakeholders and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people and projects under hard deadlines Experience collaborating with and organizing efficient workflows with designers, copywriters, digital and video producers and outside vendors Strong communication skills, with the ability to write effective creative briefs and to intellectually engage with content Experience with a variety of marketing channels and tactics Professional services marketing preferred Minimum 6+ years professional experience in creative roles, and 4+ years in a creative project management roles, preferably in a creative agency or a professional services organization Knowledge and experience with project management software, specifically WorkfrontBA, BS or equivalent Note: This is a temporary role that is anticipated to last approximately 6 mos. in duration
   
   #LI-HF1
   
   Goodwin Procter LLP is an equal opportunity employer. This means that Goodwin Procter LLP considers applicants for employment, and makes employment decisions without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or other legally protected status.
   
   Please note: Various agencies of the United States government require employers to collect information on applicants and employees. The National Association of Law Placement (NALP) and certain clients request us to keep track of certain aggregate information regarding lawyers. EEO information requested on this application is for purposes of compliance with these recordkeeping and reporting requirements and to determine recruiting and employment patterns. Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right creative services manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your creative services manager job on Zippia to find and recruit creative services manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit creative services managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new creative services manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the creative services manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new creative services manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a creative services manager?