Director, Systems & Operations

About the role

The Director of Systems & Operations will oversee the agency's core operational systems and tools, ensuring they are reliable, well-integrated, and aligned with how teams work. They will manage vendor relationships, licensing, and ongoing tool evaluations across the agency's tech stack. They will partner with IT and finance to ensure systems are implemented securely, sustainably, and in compliance with client data standards.

Responsibilities

• Own the agency's core operational systems and tooling, ensuring they are reliable, well-integrated, and fit how teams actually work
• Manage vendor relationships, licensing, and ongoing tool evaluation across the agency's tech stack
• Partner with IT and finance to ensure systems are implemented securely, sustainably, and in compliance with client data standards
• Audit existing workflows across creative, strategy, production, and account teams to reduce friction, improve speed, and free up creative energy. Ensure AI tools are evaluated and implemented
• Build and document new processes and standard operating procedures that scale as the agency grows
• Identify high-value opportunities for automation and AI integration where they genuinely improve the work
• Lead the agency's rollout of Google Workspace AI tools (Gemini for Workspace, NotebookLM, Google Meet AI features, and beyond), from technical implementation through adoption
• Develop an adoption roadmap that meets teams where they are and scales intelligently across the agency
• Evaluate and onboard additional AI platforms that improve how we brief, research, produce, and present
• Design and deliver training that builds real fluency in the agency's tools and processes — including, but not limited to, AI
• Create role-specific playbooks so writers, strategists, producers, account leads, and finance teams each understand how new systems fit their specific work
• Establish internal feedback loops to continuously improve adoption and surface new use cases
• Act as an internal advocate and translator for change — making the case clearly, addressing concerns honestly, and keeping Mekanism's creative values front and center
• Work with leadership to develop a clear point of view on responsible tool and AI use, including guidelines around client data, creative attribution, and vendor evaluation
• Stay current on the technology landscape and proactively bring recommendations to leadership before the agency falls behind

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in operations, systems, or technology roles — ideally within an agency, media, or creative services environment
• Demonstrated experience leading operational or technology change at an organizational level
• Strong project management and change management skills — you know how to bring people along, not just roll things out
• Solid familiarity with Google Workspace; hands-on experience with AI tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, or comparable platforms is a plus
• Excellent communication skills: you can talk to engineers, creatives, and executives with equal clarity
• A pragmatic instinct for separating signal from hype, and genuine curiosity about where technology is headed
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building structure where none yet exists

Bonus points

• Experience in advertising, marketing, or creative production environments
• Familiarity with AI governance, data privacy, and responsible use frameworks
• Background in L&D, training design, or internal communications
• Familiarity with Smartsheet

Pay

Pay Range $165,000 - $175,000