Dale Smith

As Senior Operations and Production Leader with a strong background in the creative and agency sector, I'm passionate about collaborating closely with teams and building meaningful relationships that empower people to do their best work. I bring experience across operational leadership, production strategy, and large-scale programme delivery, with a focus on creating collaborative environments and aligning teams around shared goals. I've developed operating models that improve efficiency while supporting team growth, and I enjoy partnering with clients and stakeholders to turn ideas into clear, scalable delivery approaches, always prioritising trust, clarity, and high-quality outcomes across global and multi-market projects.

Operations Director at The Frameworks (2018-01 – 2026-04)

Led Operations and Studio management at The Frameworks; a B2B marketing agency specialising in brand strategy and creative communication. Working closely with teams and clients, I supported the delivery of thoughtful, insight-driven work for organisations including Adobe, IBM, Microsoft, G42, Siemens, The Ardonagh Group and Wates.

• Built and supported a cross-functional operations team, creating a collaborative environment that improved resource utilisation and strengthened overall delivery capacity
• Managed a range of integrated marketing programmes, balancing budgets (project budgets spanning £25k–£500k), timelines, and quality while working closely with teams to keep delivery smooth and aligned
• Partnered with ERP, finance, and production teams to refine end-to-end workflows, improving productivity and making cross-team collaboration more seamless
• Supported the successful delivery of multi-region marketing programmes across EMEA, APAC and the US
• Helped establish clear and consistent delivery frameworks across client accounts, bringing structure while allowing teams the flexibility to do their best work
• Acted as a trusted point of support across global teams; helping to resolve challenges, remove blockers, and ensure projects maintain momentum
• Led an IT partner consolidation programme across 5+ suppliers, managing the full vendor journey from selection through to transition, and contributing to a 50% cost reduction over 18 months
• Introduced a flexible freelance model to support delivery needs, improving utilisation by 25% and maintaining a high standard of work
• Supported studio operations and day-to-day business needs, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes
• Known as a 'go-to' person for guidance, problem-solving and practical support

Project Management Director at The Frameworks (2016-06 – 2018-01)

Led studio project delivery across multiple client accounts, working closely with teams to keep things running smoothly, maintain consistency, and support the delivery of high-quality work.

• Worked across different time zones keeping projects moving smoothly, supporting teams and ensuring work stayed on track
• Improved resourcing and scheduling to help teams balance multiple projects more easily
• Worked closely with creative and department leads to align on quality and keep standards consistent
• Managed budgets, timelines, and delivery in a clear, organised way across client work
• Built strong client relationships, acting as a steady point of contact and helping resolve issues when needed
• Coordinated print production and suppliers to support smooth end-to-end delivery
• Introduced simple workflow improvements to help teams work more consistently and with less friction

Studio Manager at OLIVER Agency (2016-03 – 2018-06)

Managed an in-house creative team for AXA Insurance, acting as the main point of contact for internal clients. Responsible for taking briefs directly, building strong day-to-day relationships, and working closely with the team to turn requirements into clear, actionable delivery.

• Managed day-to-day studio operations, making sure people had what they needed and work was prioritised in a clear, practical way
• Acted as a main point of contact for our client clients, helping turn briefs into clear, workable plans for creative and production teams
• Improved how work flowed through the studio by introducing more structured briefing and simple, consistent ways of working
• Updated and reported job tracking and resource planning software to help teams stay organised and see what was coming down the line
• Built and maintained good relationships with suppliers, supporting print procurement and keeping costs under control in a fair and transparent way

Head of Production / Studio Manager at The Frameworks (2013-07 – 2016-03)

Responsible for production across multiple client accounts, leading a team of artworkers and ensuring consistent quality control across brand guidelines and templates.

• Helped set up and shape the production function, focusing on building smooth workflows, sensible resourcing, and reliable delivery processes
• Introduced simple, scalable ways of working and quality standards to help teams deliver consistently
• Managed budgets and timelines across multiple client accounts, keeping delivery organised and on track
• Worked closely with creative and client services teams to make sure briefs were understood and executed accurately
• Supported print production delivery, balancing cost awareness with a focus on maintaining quality

Freelance Artworker at MerchantCantos (2010-11 – 2013-06)

Delivered high-profile annual reports for FTSE 100 clients, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and delivery against strict reporting deadlines.

Production Director at BlackSunPlc (2005-10 – 2010-10)

Led production teams delivering award-winning annual reports for FTSE 100 clients, overseeing end-to-end production, scheduling, and quality assurance. Partnered with clients to improve efficiency and integrate digital and print reporting solutions.

Diploma in Electronic Publishing – Mediatek Training Institute, KZN, South Africa (1998 – 1999)

Foundation Course in Graphic Design – Natal Technikon, KZN, South Africa (1998 – 1999)