Creative Services Manager

Creative services manager with the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden leads a lean team in the concept, design, production of all creative (in-park & outside) for Oklahoma’s most popular cultural attraction. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (320+ members worldwide) and is consistently ranked as one of the best Zoos in the United States (USA Today). The mission of the OKC Zoo is to connect visitors with the world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action.

The CMS and team, produce hundreds of creative items ranging from animal IDs, wayfinding signs, social media graphics, email templates, animal feeders(!), annual reports, print ads, printed brochures, in-park maps, multi-media commercial campaigns, photo shoots, Halloween props, photo ops, style guides and more. No project is too big or too small. Think of OKC Zoo’s creative services team like Disney Imagineers, but with a fraction of the resources and a bigger mission!  The CSM reports to the chief marketing officer and services all departments of the OKC Zoo comprised of 180 full-time and 150 part-time team members as well as 23,000 annual ZOOfriends members and over a million annual visitors.

CSM must have superior graphic design skills, excellent communication skills (written, spoken and in-person) and also be comfortable delegating projects as well as providing coaching and hands-on production. Experience with video production, editing strongly encouraged.  Ideal candidates will be sticklers for detail, obsessed with innovation, be willing to react quickly and be comfortable with meeting deadlines as well as compromising on creativity.  The creative services team strives to elevate every guest touchpoint and always think like a first-time visitor.

While most creative work is developed in-house, this role frequently works with local vendors to design, produce and sometimes install creative. In addition to managing a team of two full-time employees, the CSM will manage a small production budget. The OKC Zoo, which first started in 1902, has evolved into a nationally admired and frequently imitated conservation organization. We’re seeking a creative services leader who will elevate the OKC Zoo experience and inspire millions in the years to come.