Manager - Copy

The Manager - Copy is a conceptual leader and brand steward responsible for leading the copy team in the development of persuasive, strategic, innovative, customer-centric copy for all marketing channels. Under the general supervision of the Copy Director, the Copy Manager is a creator and guardian of the brand voice and works closely with partners in design, brand and life cycle marketing, paid media, merchandising, e-commerce and store environment to achieve the Michaels brand objectives through effective brand voice and message strategies. Using proven talent and consistent conceptual thinking, the Copy Manager is responsible for the integrity and evolution of the distinctive Michaels voice and ensuring copywriters are using the brand voice to fuel joy as they communicate brand strengths in a uniquely fresh, memorable and persuasive way. Major Activities Lead, inspire, motivate and manage team of staff and freelance copywriters as a visible, engaged leader that communicates easily and frequently Demonstrate resilience and flexibility in the face of change; model strong core competencies; maintain high morale Identify and address barriers to success, escalate appropriately, adjust workload and assignments to meet productivity standards and accommodate changing business needs Lead team to stay current in researching creative trends in competitive markets and apply that knowledge and learning to development of new marketing and signage projects Research retail copy trends in competitive markets and apply that knowledge and learning to development of new marketing projects Recruit talented, high-performing copywriters that consistently deliver brand-right solutions Develop talent and leadership succession plan Prioritize work effectively to meet team deadlines Give constructive feedback to enhance performance and build skills within department Creative Concept Development Guide message development through the entire creative process, from ideation to release. Translate business and marketing strategic objectives into clear, compelling, on-brand customer-facing copy Lead concept, toolkit and sourcebook development as requested by creative leadership and brand marketing Work closely with design partners to architect and implement the overall look and language of customer-facing materials. Collaborate with design and marketing partners to create synergy and integration, from concept to execution Copy Direction Oversee all copy team efforts to support digital and print marketing, including online video, social media and digital display ads, email, website marketing, direct mail, brand collateral and signage Ensure marketing objectives have been met within creative guidelines Effectively interpret and adapt information for marketing initiatives based on briefs, merchant input, internal reports and other supporting documents Edit copy team’s work to ensure consistency across channels Master and continue development and evolution of Michaels brand voice Develop hard-hitting, promotional value messaging for the Michaels brand for all business categories Contribute creative input and ideas to creative kick-off and brainstorm meetings Write, manage and own high-priority projects as assigned by Copy Director Communication/Presentation Effectively present work to leadership, conveys copy strategy and demonstrates alignment to creative brief Align with and act on feedback Model strong communication and presentation skills to direct reports, teaching and coaching through modeling, feedback and practice sessions Communicate clearly and effectively; address challenges and issues in a timely manner Foster strong partnerships with peer managers in Creative Service, Store Environment and Marketing, as well as cross-functional partners Prepare for and actively participate in department meetings Present work to senior leadership, effectively communicating creative strategy Other duties as assigned Bachelor’s degree or equivalent Minimum Special Certifications or technical skills Expert working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite Minimum Type of experience the job requires 5+ year managing / leading copywriters 7+ years copywriting experience Experience at large in-house creative team or agency Retail copywriting experience, preferred — samples require Portfolio demonstrating creative and strategic strength Other Digital, social media, video and print expertise Strategic, conceptual thinking, strong organizational skills, accuracy and deadline focused with a bias for action when it comes to problem analysis, decision making and issue resolution Detail oriented Able to juggle multiple projects while meeting demanding deadlines, producing high quality work and projecting a positive attitude Strong self-manager with ability to work at high level of independence Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job. #J-18808-Ljbffr Michaels Stores